Punjabi Culture

Punjabi folk music is highly rhythmic, and very diverse.it has only one string, mastering the tumbi takes
The western region is the home of styles like dhoolamany years. The sarangi is a multi-stringed
and mahiya, while the popular boli style is performedinstrument, somewhat similar to the violin. The sapera
different across the region. The vocals are anotherproduces a beautiful, high-pitched stringy beat, while
integral part of Punjabi music, as are instruments likethe supp and chimta add extra, light sound to
the dhol, tumbi, dhad sarangi, algoza and Ektara.Bhangra music. Finally, the dhad, dafli, dholki, and
Punjabdamru are instruments that produce more drum
The birthplace of Bhangra, the Punjab is a regionbeats, but with much less bass than the dhol drum.
extending over part of Northern India andBhangra is a lively form of music and dance that
Northeastern Pakistan. Translated, the name "Punjab"originated in the Punjab region in Southeast Asia. As
means the "Land of Five Rivers." The people of themany Bhangra lyrics reflect the long and often
Punjab are called Punjabis and they speak a languagetumultuous history of the Punjab, knowledge of
called Punjabi. The three main religions in the area arePunjabi history offers important insights into the
Sikhism, Hinduism, and Islam. The region has beenmeaning of the music. While Bhangra began as a part
invaded and ruled by many different empires andof harvest festival celebrations, it eventually became
races, including the Aryans, Persians, Greeks, Muslims,a part of such diverse occasions as weddings and
and Mongols. Around the time of the 15th Century,New Year celebrations. Moreover, during the last
Guru Nanak Dev founded the Sikh religion, whichthirty years, Bhangra has enjoyed a surge in
quickly came to prominence in the region. The 19thpopularity worldwide, both in traditional form and as a
Century saw the beginning of British rule, which led tofusion with genres such as hip-hop, house, and
the emergence of several heroic freedom fighters,reggae. As Bhangra continues to move into
the subject of many Bhangra songs. Finally, themainstream culture, an understanding of its history
Punjab was split between Pakistan and India at theand tradition helps to appreciate it.
end of British rule in 1947. This partitioning resulted inBhangra Instruments
a large migration of Punjabis into the United Kingdom,Many different Punjabi instruments contribute to the
which eventually led to the emergence of Bhangra insound of Bhangra. Although the most important
Western clubs and dancehalls.instrument is the dhol drum, Bhangra also features a
Bhangravariety of string and other drum instruments.
Bhangra is a lively form of music and dance thatThe primary and most important instrument that
originated in the Punjab region in Southeast Asia. Asdefines Bhangra is the dhol. The dhol is a large,
many Bhangra lyrics reflect the long and oftenhigh-bass drum, played by beating it with two sticks.
tumultuous history of the Punjab, knowledge ofThe width of a dhol skin is about fifteen inches in
Punjabi history offers important insights into thegeneral, and the dhol player holds his instrument with
meaning of the music. While Bhangra began as a parta strap around his neck.
of harvest festival celebrations, it eventually becameThe string instruments include the tumbi, sarangi,
a part of such diverse occasions as weddings andsapera, supp, and chimta. The dhad, dafli, dholki, and
New Year celebrations. Moreover, during the lastdamru are the other drums. The tumbi, famously
thirty years, Bhangra has enjoyed a surge inmastered by Amar Singh Chamkila, a famous Punjabi
popularity worldwide, both in traditional form and as asinger, is a high-tone, single-string instrument. Although
fusion with genres such as hip-hop, house, andit has only one string, mastering the tumbi takes
reggae. As Bhangra continues to move intomany years. The sarangi is a multi-stringed
mainstream culture, an understanding of its historyinstrument, somewhat similar to the violin. The sapera
and tradition helps to appreciate it.produces a beautiful, high-pitched stringy beat, while
Bhangra Instrumentsthe supp and chimta add extra, light sound to
Many different Punjabi instruments contribute to theBhangra music. Finally, the dhad, dafli, dholki, and
sound of Bhangra. Although the most importantdamru are instruments that produce more drum
instrument is the dhol drum, Bhangra also features abeats, but with much less bass than the dhol drum.
variety of string and other drum instruments.Bhangra Today
The primary and most important instrument thatBhangra has come a long way in the 20th Century
defines Bhangra is the dhol. The dhol is a large,and has recently taken the entertainment industry by
high-bass drum, played by beating it with two sticks.storm. In the 1970s and 1980s, many Punjabi singers
The width of a dhol skin is about fifteen inches infrom Southeast Asia and the United Kingdom
general, and the dhol player holds his instrument withemerged, setting the stage for Bhangra to become a
a strap around his neck.hot new trend in dance music. Modern Bhangra
The string instruments include the tumbi, sarangi,artists, in addition to recording and performing
sapera, supp, and chimta. The dhad, dafli, dholki, andtraditional Bhangra, have also fused Bhangra with
damru are the other drums. The tumbi, famouslyother music genres, such as hip-hop, reggae, house,
mastered by Amar Singh Chamkila, a famous Punjabiand drum-and-bass.
singer, is a high-tone, single-string instrument. Although