North India · State
Punjab
Five rivers, an agricultural heartland, and the spiritual centre of Sikhism at the Golden Temple in Amritsar.
- Capital
- Chandigarh — Chandigarh is a union territory that serves as the shared capital of Punjab and Haryana.
- Languages
- Punjabi (official); Hindi; English — major and official languages, not an exclusive list.
Cultural traditions, arts & crafts
- • Bhangra and giddha folk dance
- • Phulkari — floss-silk darning embroidery on cotton
- • Gurbani kirtan and the langar community kitchen
- • Punjabi jutti footwear and durrie weaving
Major festivals
- Baisakhi — 13–14 April
- Gurpurab (Guru Nanak Jayanti) — November (dates vary — verify current dates)
- Hola Mohalla, Anandpur Sahib — March (dates vary — verify current dates)
Traditional dress & textiles
Dress varies by community, district, occasion and generation; everyday clothing today is often contemporary. These are representative traditions rather than a single state costume.
- • Salwar kameez with a dupatta, often phulkari-embroidered, is common women's dress
- • Men wear kurta-pyjama or kurta-tehmat; many Sikh men wear a dastaar (turban) as an article of faith
- • Punjabi juttis are worn by all genders at weddings
Where to go
Show Punjab on the explore mapSources & verify
- Punjab Tourism (official)
- Know India — States & UTs (Government of India)
- Development Commissioner (Handlooms), Ministry of Textiles
Last reviewed: August 2026. Cultural traditions in India vary by community, district, occasion and generation. The notes below are representative examples reviewed against government sources, not exhaustive or official definitions. Festival timings follow lunar or locally announced calendars — verify current dates with the relevant state tourism department before travelling.