Punjabi Culture, Elements of culture, Hofstede Dimensions, Punjabi Festivals , Punjabi Customs ,Culture's Use of Gender, Punjabi Values and Beliefs, Sikhism, Sikh Symbols

1. THE PUNJABI CULTURE
Presented By:
Nishkam Dhiman

2. Preview
• Introduction
• Language
• Religion
• Symbols
• Behavior/Norms of Behavior
• Values and Beliefs
• Customs and Traditions
• Sex and Sextual Orientation
• Elements of Punjabi Culture
• Masculinity Vs Femininity
• Individualism Vs Collectivism
• Power Distance Index
• Uncertainty avoidance
• Display of emotions
• Views of Time
• World mindedness or Ethnocentric
• High or low context
• Indulgence
• Review of Argument
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jDn2bn7_YSM

3. Introduction: Punjab is a Northwest State in India. The word Punjab is a compound
of the Persian words punj (five) and ab (waters). Thus Punjab roughly means "the land
of five rivers".[a]
• Race : Indo - Aryan [Aryan are the
people who came from Persia]
• Ethnicity : South Asian

4. Language: Punjabi
• Origin: Sanskrit [b]
• Script: Gurmukhi
• Developed around 1500 BC
• Punjabi Greeting: “Sat Sri Akal” meaning “ True is the
name of God”
• “Namaste” is the way most Indians greet which means “I
bow to the divine in you”
Different slangs :
• Chakk de phatte: “Come on , keep it up”
• Hor ki chalda? : “What's Up”
• Kiddan : “How have you been so far”
Song demonstrating Punjabi Language :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DmNT89Rz3GU&list=RDnzhKAEYRH
ww&index=7

5. Religion
• In Punjab majority of the people
belong to Sikh Religion(57.69%
followed by Hindu Religion(38.49%) .
• Christianity, Jainism and Buddhism.
• Since majority people are Sikh, the
culture is mainly dominated by the sikh
values , attitude, beliefs and behavior.
• Meaning of Sikh: Disciple or
Student.[c]
Sikhs wear the turban to take care
of the hair, promote equality, and
preserve the Sikh identity. Sikhs do
not cut their hair, as a religious
observance. The turban protects
the hair and keeps it clean.

6. Symbols
• Turban(Headwear): Wearing turbans is
common among Sikhs. The headgear
also serves as a religious observance.
• Khanda : The Khanda is the symbol of
the Sikh faith.[d]
A double edged sword: Belief in one God.
The Chakkar(ring): God without
beginning or end.
Two crossed kirpans (swords): spiritual
authority and political power.
Kara :It is a round bracelet made of Iron .
The Kara is a symbol of unbreakable
attachment and commitment to God.
It reminds the Sikhs to always do a good
deed.
Khanda
Kara

7. Values and beliefs
• Unity in Diversity
• Kindness and Compassion.
• Faith
• Family
• Engaging in selfless
service(Community Kitchen)
• Harmony
• Pride
• Adaptability
• Modesty
• Caste
• Honesty (work hard and live honestly)
• Liberation {Karma}
Song demonstrating Values
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R1pQSRQgrpk
Caste: A caste system is one in which
people are born into their social standing
and will remain in it their whole lives.
People are assigned occupations
regardless of their talents, interests, or
potential. [e]
Karma: “Deed” or “Work/Action”[f]
Karma is the law of cause and effect.

8. Community Kitchen(selfless service)
Langar is the Community kitchen in
Gurudwara (Sikh Temple) where the food
is prepared and a free meal is served to
all the visitors, without distinction of
religion, caste, gender, economic status
or ethnicity.

9. Norms of Behavior
• Punjabi's are expected to behave respectfully with everyone. “JI” is the most
commonly used word to give respect.
• Giving gifts on festivals is a custom.
• Covering head with some cloth and removing the shoes while going to
Temple(religious place).
• Showing affectionate emotions are prohibited.
• Removing shoes before entering someone's house.
• Punjabi’s/Indians wobble head to answer a question.

10. Costumes
Females: Salwar, Kameez and
Dupatta
Males: Kurta, Pajama, Turban

11. Customs and Traditions
• Punjabis mostly live in joint families, and thus every occasion is enjoyed together
like a huge celebration.
• Every member of the family has unique duties and responsibilities, which can be
easily observed during births, festivals, marriages, funerals, as well as everyday
social occasions.[e]
• Mariages: Punjabi weddings are very loud, energetic, full of music,colors, fancy-
dresses, food and dancing.
• Marriages Last for 3 to 4 days.
• Arranged marriages are common.
• Lowest Divorce rate in the world i.e. 1%.
Customs and Traditions Songs : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FQpcUSzYFe0

12. Marriage traditions and customs
Bride side Bridegroom Side
Ring Ceremony Mehndi (Henna- tatoo)
Vatna ( face mask)
Barat (Wedding
Procession)
Churra

14. Festivals:
• Lohri: Marks the end of peak winter,
this festival is traditionally associated
with the harvest of the crops.
It is celebrated on 13th January.
• Baisakhi: It marks the start of the
Punjabi New Year, but it is also a day
to celebrate 1699 - the year when
Sikhism was born as a collective
faith.[g]
It is celebrated on 13 or 14 April.

15. • Holi: Festival of Colors.
People put colors on each other.
Bonfire is done to represent victory of
good over evil.
• Diwali: Festival of Lights.
It is believed that on this day Rama
returned to his people after 14 years of
exile during which he fought and won a
battle against the demons and the
demon king, Ravana.

16. Funerals
• Before a Sikh funeral service, the body is bathed and dressed in clean
clothing.
• Cremation is preferred for Sikh funerals.

17. Dance and Music
Bhangra: Its is the traditional dance of
Punjab. Highly energetic with vigorous
kicks, leaps and bends of the body on
the beats of drum or short songs.
Performed to celebrate happy occasion.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z821Ez8ugY4

18. Cuisine
• Punjabi Cuisine generally have lentils
curry, fried vegetables, cheese curry,
chicken, rice, bread called naan and
buttermilk.
• Butter Chicken
• Sarson Ka Saag Aur Makki Ki Roti.
• Tandoori Chicken
• Chole Bhature
• Masala Chana
• Dal Makhani
• Fish Amritsari.
• Dhaba Dal.
• Mango Lassi/ Buttermilk

19. Culture’s use of Gender
The Indian movie songs called ‘Item Number’ objectify women.The songs show
highly sextualized dancer usually performing in a bar or pub surrounded by men.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sONw3dihCRs
In Punjabi society, women continue to be in an even more vulnerable position
today, caught between the two worlds, one, that places them in the illusion of
gender equality, and the other, which objectifies them. However, masculinity
continues to be the accepted norm in Punjabi society.
Gender Discrimination:
Study done by CNN shows that 239,000 girls under the age of five die in India each
year due to neglect linked with gender discrimination.[i]

20. Sex and Sextual Orientation
• LGBT people face many social and
legal difficulties and are looked down
by the society.
• Kinner/Hijra(the third gender)[j]
• Individuals characterised as neither
man nor woman.
• No sexual orientation towards males
or females
• Live in well-defined and organised all-
hijra communities, led by a guru.
• Street performers - singing, dancing,
and performing blessings for
donations. It is also traditional to have
hijras perform at weddings and baby
blessings
Hijra's face extreme discrimination in health,
housing, education, employment,
immigration, law, and any bureaucracy that is
unable to place them into male or female
gender categories.
In 2014, Supreme Court passed a law that
officially recognized the existence of the third
gender. This has allowed for Hijras to opt for
third gender classification on official legal
documents such as driver’s licenses and
passports.

21. Elements of Culture.
• Masculinity Vs Femininity: Masculine 56 [k]
• Individualism Vs Collectivism: Collective
• Power Distance Index: High Power Distance 77
• Uncertainty avoidance: Low 40
• Display of emotions: Low
• Views of Time : Polychronic
• World Mindedness or Ethnocentric: World Minded
• High or low context: High Context
• Indulgence: Low Indulgence 26

22. Review of the Argument
The people from different cultures show different communication styles. The effect of
culture on the interpersonal communication can be seen in both verbal and non verbal
communication of Punjabi’s.
Verbal Communication:
• Indirect : The communication style of Indians tends to be polite and indirect. They
may try to speak appeasingly to those they are not close to in order to avoid conflict
or confrontation.[l]
• Refusals: Direct refusals, such as ‘no’, may be considered to be too harsh and open
disagreement is likely to be interpreted as hostile or aggressive.
‘maybe’ or ‘I'll do my best’ as a way to express ‘no'.
• Extreme respect is given to elders and high authorities (personal and
professional )
• People are more open to new ideas, welcome change and free to question.

23. Non-Verbal:
• Personal Space : An arm's length would be a good distance to keep between
you and the person to whom you are speaking.
• Whistling or Winking: Both these actions are considered inappropriate.
• Nodding: Indians will often nod to acknowledge what is said out of politeness.
However, this does not always mean they understand or agree.
• Eye Contact: Most Punjabi's make direct eye contact during conversation.
• Head: The head is considered to be the holiest part of one's body. Touching
someone on the top of the head is deemed to be insensitive and offensive.
• Physical Contact : It is not acceptable to touch someone during conversation
unless you know the person well.
• Pointing a finger at someone would be considered rude.

24. References:
[a] https://www.mapsofindia.com/maps/punjab/punjablocation.htm
[b]https://patch.com/connecticut/trumbull/history-of-punjabi-language--gurmukhi-alphabet
[c] https://www.sikhs.org/summary.htm
[d] http://www.primaryhomeworkhelp.co.uk/religion/sikhism.html
[e] https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-35650616
[f] https://www.ananda.org/yogapedia/karma/
[g] https://theculturetrip.com/asia/india/articles/how-to-experience-punjabi-culture-in-india/
[h]https://www.indianmirror.com/culture/states-culture/punjab.html
[i]https://www.cnn.com/2018/05/15/asia/gender-discrimination-india-deaths-intl/index.html
[j] https://www.speakingtree.in/allslides/the-scientific-causes-behind-the-birth-of-hijra-or-third-gender
https://www.khalsaaid.org/
[k] https://www.hofstede-insights.com/country-comparison/india/
[l]https://culturalatlas.sbs.com.au/indian-culture/indian-culture-communication

25. Thank You