Punjab
Loving Diljit Dosanjh as Chamkila? Here are 5 other celebs with Punjab roots
As actor Diljit Dosanj’s Amar Singh Chamkila and Crew make waves at the box office, we look at some celebrities from Punjab who are currently ruling the hearts of their fans.
Her rural oasis of green lends respite to Ludhiana
Agripreneur Ramandeep Kaur Sandhu’s dream project – a plant nursery in Birmi village near Ludhiana – offers over 1,000 varieties of plants and provides employment opportunities to villagers.
Exciting village festivals you can attend this March
Spring is here! And rural India is getting ready to celebrate the blooming season with festivities that reflect each region’s cultural richness. These are some of the most vibrant festivals you can enjoy this March.
Empowering Punjab’s rural women
The essence of the rural employment guarantee scheme lay obscured in many villages of Punjab, veiled by the shadows of ignorance. But a women's collective is helping to empower beneficiaries across nearly 3,000 villages.
A Punjab college for girls where every student is a teacher
Baba Aya Singh Riarki College in Punjab’s Gurdaspur district stands as a beacon of empowerment, challenging stereotypes and showcasing how girls are capable of achieving remarkable feats.
It takes a village to raise a child
In the rural landscape of Punjab, children from different government schools gather in a village to participate in Bal Mela or children's fair, an initiative of teachers to promote the unseen talent in rural children.
Punjab school rises like a phoenix from ashes of neglect
A 70-year-old former alumnus, a benevolent family and a dedicated teacher resurrect a dilapidated government primary school in a Punjab village, which now offers services like free transportation and even showers to students.
Bt cotton, pink bollworm and the debt cycle in Punjab
As cotton harvesting begins in Punjab, this World Cotton Day we look at the impact of introduction of Bt cotton in the state. Almost two decades later, farmers are still grappling with pests and other problems.
A day at a village square
As Village Square turns 7 today, we feature a village square from Punjab where elders gather during the day as they return from fields – to take a nap, play cards or just catch up on everyday life.
How Sutlej river is bearing the brunt of climate change
As this year's monsoon in Punjab wreaked havoc in Himachal Pradesh and neighbouring states like Punjab and Rajasthan, the Sutlej river emerged as a central character in this narrative of devastation.
Former bonded labourers champion justice in Punjab
In the heartland of Punjab, people who once endured the shackles of debt and bondage now dedicate their lives to freeing others.
Punjab’s daughters revive its cotton weaving tradition
In a remarkable resurgence, 27 women, guided by Rupsi Garg and supported by her Trinjan project, rekindle Punjab’s fading art of spinning and weaving cotton products, gaining financial independence and a deep sense of happiness.
Glittering Punjabi juttis hide grim story of shoemakers
Colourful and vibrant Punjabi footwear is known worldwide, but its makers are struggling to make a decent living.
Making of Punjabi Jutti
Punjab is well known for its juttis – footwear made of leather. In the southern region of the state, called Malwa, districts such as Patiala, Fazilka and Sri Muktsar Sahib are among the manufacturers of the footwear – the last one being the most famous.
Punjab women weave ‘rug’ to riches story
Once a part of every Punjab household, durries (rugs) and khes (thick bedspreads) have been pushed out of use by machine-made furnishings. A brand born in a village is now reviving these traditional handloom products.
This paralympian battled odds to smash records
At 18, Palak Kohli became the youngest para-athlete to compete in 2021 Tokyo Paralympics. Kohli and her badminton coach Gaurav Khanna talk about her battles and emphasise that society’s attitude needs to change towards people with disabilities.
College-going dalit students teach children of their community
Free classes are held every evening in two villages of Punjab under an initiative to help children from poor families with their studies.
‘We brought Shakespeare to Punjab stage’
As a class X student in Amritsar, Rajinder Singh started Dastak, a theatre group, in 1996 because he could not access theatre training due to lack of resources. We speak to him about his fascinating storytelling journey.
Male dancer takes Punjab giddha stage by storm
Noor Zora – born as Zorawar Sigh - is hugely popular despite being a man who dresses up as a female to perform the women-only folk dance
Festival of colour and courage – Hola Mohalla 2023
Color and courage are on display in Punjab at the annual three-day Sikh festival, Hola Mohalla. Celebrated at the religious site of Anandpur Sahib, the festival coincides with the Hindu festival of Holi.