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[[File:Two wandering jogis from Punjab, 1875.jpg|thumb|Two wandering jogis from Punjab, ca.1875]]{{Punjabis}}
'''Punjabi folk music''' ({{langx|pa|پنجابی لوک موسیقی}}, {{langx|pa|ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਲੋਕ ਸੰਗੀਤ}} or '''Punjabi Folk''') is the [[traditional music]] on the traditional musical instruments of the [[Punjab region]] of the [[Indian subcontinent]].<ref name="ap">{{cite book | title=Folk music and musical instruments of Punjab | publisher=Mapin Publishers | author=Pande, Alka | year=1999 | page=[https://archive.org/details/folkmusicmusical00pand/page/128 128] | isbn=1-890206-15-6 | url-access=registration | url=https://archive.org/details/folkmusicmusical00pand/page/128 }}</ref><ref name="pdlv">{{cite book | title=Punjab Da Lok Virsa | publisher=[[Punjabi University, Patiala|Punjabi University]] | author=Thind, Karnail Singh | year=2002|edition=reprint | location=[[Patiala]] | page=231 | isbn=81-7380-223-8}}</ref> There is a great repertoire of music from the time of birth through the different stages of joy and sorrow till death.<ref name="sp">{{cite web | url=http://www.sadapunjab.com/cv/Literature_On_Punjab/PUNJAB/The_Music_Of_Punjab/index0.html | title=The Music of Punjab | publisher=SadaPunjab.com | access-date=May 22, 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101206114609/http://www.sadapunjab.com/cv/Literature_On_Punjab/PUNJAB/The_Music_Of_Punjab/index0.html | archive-date=December 6, 2010 | url-status=dead }}</ref> The folk music invokes the traditions as well as the hardworking nature, bravery and many more things that the [[Punjabi people|people of Punjab]] get from its gateway-to-India geographical location. Due to the large area with many sub-regions, the folk music has minor lingual differences but invokes the same feelings. The sub-regions [[Bar Region|Bar]], [[Malwa (Punjab)|Malwa]], [[Doaba]], [[Majha]], [[Pothohar]], and hills areas, have numerous folk songs.<ref name="s">{{cite web | url=http://www.sabhyachar.com/geet.php | title=ਪੰਜਾਬ ਦੇ ਲੋਕ-ਗੀਤ | website=sabhyachar.com | language=pa | access-date=May 22, 2012 | archive-date=May 28, 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120528194302/http://www.sabhyachar.com/geet.php | url-status=dead }}</ref>
Punjabi dance OP [[Bhangra (music)|Bhangra]] music which is a genre of Punjabi modern music invented in Britain by the Punjabi diaspora.

== General features of musical style ==

=== Rhythm ===
The rhythm of Punjabi folk music is very simple.<ref name="mhi">{{cite book | title=Musical heritage of India | author=Sharma, Manorma | year=2009 | page=228}}</ref> unlike the rhythms of Bhangra music which are generally complex

=== Melody ===
Some songs like [[Heer Ranjha|Heer]] and [[Mirza Sahiban|Mirza]] are sung using the traditional compositions.

== Folk songs ==
Punjab has folk songs on birth, marriage, funeral, death, love, separation, beauty, social and economical status, village lifestyle, food, nature, bravery, folklores and folktales, folk romances, folk and historical heroes, festivals and many more.<ref name=pdlv/> The songs of professional castes of Punjab are also included in the folk songs. They can be divided into the following categories:

=== Occasion for singing ===

==== Controversy ====
Punjabi folk music is associated with a traditional lifestyle and culture. Many of the themes associated with the songs of today, which are mostly relevant in Bhangra songs, involve the promotion of the ills of Punjabi society such as the caste system and substance abuse as well as superstitious beliefs. Many revolutions in Punjab such as the Sikh revolution were in direct opposition of Punjabi folk songs.{{Citation needed|date=May 2016}}

==== Life-cycle rituals ====
A large part of Punjabi folk songs presents the picture of incidents from birth to death<ref name=s/> relations, relatives also including the songs on other occasions, festivals and fairs. The songs by women represents their soft feelings, nature, hobbies and lower social status in limited circle while the songs by men represents their freedom, strength and hardworking. The folk songs starts from the birth of a child then name ceremony, marriage, relations, relatives and much more. There are many songs on the different stages of a marriage like Suhag, Ghorhian, Sehra, Sithnian. Suhag is related to bride while Ghorhian and Sehra are related to groom. A daughter's feelings have a special place in the Punjabi folk songs in which she address to his father asking to find her a better home, good people (in-laws) and many more. By length and mood, the different kinds of songs includes Suhag,<ref name="ti">{{cite news | url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/2011/20111001/ldh1.htm#8 | title=Punjab heritage comes alive on concluding day | date=October 1, 2011 | work=[[The Tribune (Chandigarh)|The Tribune]] | access-date=May 22, 2012 | location=[[Ludhiana]]}}</ref> Ghorhian, Bolian,<ref name="ti1">{{cite news | url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/1999/99may21/cth2.htm | title=Power failure hits show | date=May 21, 1999 | work=[[The Tribune (Chandigarh)|The Tribune]] | access-date=May 22, 2012 | location=[[Chandigarh]]}}</ref> Tappe,<ref name="ti2">{{cite news | url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/2011/20110219/aplus.htm | title=Two plays staged | date=February 19, 2011 | work=[[The Tribune (Chandigarh)|The Tribune]] | access-date=May 22, 2012 | location=[[Amritsar]]}}</ref> Sithnian,<ref name=sipp>{{cite book | title=Studies in Punjabi poetry | publisher=Vikas | author=Maini, Darshan Singh | year=1979 | page=158 | isbn=0-7069-0709-4}}</ref> Chhand,<ref name="hodl">{{cite book | title=History of Dogri literature | publisher=[[Sahitya Akademi]] | author=Shivnath | year=1976 | page=194}}</ref> Heara, Lorian, etc.<ref name=pdlv/><ref name=s/>

==== Fairs and festivals ====
Every festive occasion has music associated with it.<ref name=sp/> [[Lohri]] and [[Maghi]] are associated with the change of season while [[Vaisakhi]] is a harvest festival. Men dance [[Bhangra (dance)|Bhangra]] and women dance [[Giddha]]. The month of [[Sawan]] is one of great joy for females in which they celebrate the festival of [[Teeyan]].<ref name=sp/> The married ones come back to their parents' home and meet their family and friends and in an open ground they dance Giddha. They wear colorful dresses like [[Phulkari]], and adorn their hands with [[Mehndi]] and glass bangles.

=== Types of textual themes ===

==== Romantic ====
[[Jugni]], Mahia, [[Tappa|Tappe]], Jindua, Dhola, [[Kafi]]an, Dohre, Bolian, Sadda, Jhokan and the folk romances of [[Punjab region]] like [[Heer Ranjha]], [[Mirza Sahiban]], [[Sohni Mahiwal]], [[Sassi Punnun]] are main folk love songs.<ref name=ap/><ref name=pdlv/><ref name=sp/> Heer and Mirza are sung using traditional compositions.

==== Heroic ====
In heroic or bravery, the folk song includes about the Punjabi heroes like [[Dulla Bhatti]],<ref name="ti4">{{cite news | url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/2012/20120108/spectrum/main4.htm | title=Lahore's Crumbling Gateways | date=January 8, 2012 | work=[[The Tribune (Chandigarh)|The Tribune]] | access-date=May 22, 2012}}</ref><ref name="ti5">{{cite news | url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/2010/20100113/aplus.htm | title='Dulla Bhatti' traces heroic deeds of folk character | date=January 13, 2010 | work=[[The Tribune (Chandigarh)|The Tribune]] | access-date=May 22, 2012 | location=[[Amritsar]]}}</ref> [[Raja Rasalu]], [[Jagga Jatt]], [[Sardar|S.]] [[Bhagat Singh]], [[Sardar|S.]] [[Udham Singh]], Sucha Soorma<ref name="ti6">{{cite news | url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/1999/99jun20/sunday/head3.htm | title=The all-pervading spirit | date=January 20, 1999 | work=[[The Tribune (Chandigarh)|The Tribune]] | access-date=May 22, 2012}}</ref> and Jeona Morh.<ref name=s/>

==== Religious ====
{{Main page|Sikh music}}
Songs about worship, religious ceremonies and festivals represents the religious feelings.

[[Sikhism]] is closely related with music.<ref name=sp/> The sixth [[Sikh guru]], [[Guru Hargobind]], established the singers called ''[[Dhadi (music)|Dhadis]]'' to sing the [[Gurbani]], ''Vaars'' (English: heroic ballads) and other folk genres using the normally two folk instruments, [[Dhadd|Dhad]] and [[Sarangi]].<ref name=sp/>

The other religions like [[Islam]] have Qawwalis, Naats and [[Hamd]]s and [[Hinduism]] have Bhajans and Punjabi have [https://web.archive.org/web/20140120001427/http://raagwap.com/ Punjabi songs].

== Instruments ==
{{main|Folk instruments of Punjab}}
{{commonscat|Folk instruments of Punjab}}
[[File:2 dhols.jpg|thumb|Two dhols]]
Punjabi singers may sing unaccompanied or along with such traditional instruments as [[dhol]], [[tumbi]], [[dhadd]], [[sarangi]], [[gharha]], [[gagar]], [[chimta]], or [[algoze]],<ref name=ap/><ref name=pdlv/><ref name=sp/> Iktara, Bugchu, Chhaine, Kainchi, Sapp, Kato.

== See also ==

*[[Punjabi language]]
*[[Music of Punjab]]
*[[Bhangra (music)]]
*[[Folk instruments of Punjab]]
*[[Folk dances of Punjab]]
*[[Punjabi people]]
*[[Punjabi folklore]]
*[[Punjabi folk religion]]

== References ==
{{Reflist|2}}

== Further reading ==
:Bedi, Sohindar Singh. 1971. ''Folklore of the Punjab.'' New Delhi: National Book Trust.
:Lybarger, Lowell H. 2011. "Hereditary Musician Groups of Pakistani Punjab." ''Journal of Punjab Studies'' 18(1/2).
:Nahar Singh. 2011. "''Suhāg'' and ''Ghoṛīāṅ'': Culture's Elucidation in a Female Voice." ''Journal of Punjab Studies'' 18(1/2).
:Nayyar, Adam. 2000. "Punjab." In ''The Garland Encyclopedia of World Music, Vol. 5, South Asia: The Indian Subcontinent'', ed. by Allison Arnold. New York; London: Garland.
:Nijhawan, Michael. 2006. ''Dhadi Darbar''. New Delhi: Oxford University Press.
:Pande, Alka. 1999. ''Folk Music & Musical Instruments of Punjab''. Middletown, NJ: Grantha Corporation.
:Schreffler, Gibb. 2004. "Vernacular Music and Dance of Punjab." ''Journal of Punjab Studies'' 11(2).
:Schreffler, Gibb. 2011. "Music and Musicians in Punjab." ''Journal of Punjab Studies'' 18(1/2).
:Schreffler, Gibb. 2011. "Western Punjabi Song Forms: ''Māhīā'' and ''Ḍholā''." ''Journal of Punjab Studies'' 18(1/2).
:Thuhi, Hardial. 2011. "The Folk Dhadi Genre." Trans. by Gibb Schreffler. ''Journal of Punjab Studies'' 18(1/2).
:Thuhi, Hardial. 2011. "The Tumba-Algoza Ballad Tradition." Trans. by Gibb Schreffler. ''Journal of Punjab Studies'' 18(1/2).

{{Punjab, India}}
[[Category:Punjabi folk music| ]]
[[Category:Punjabi music]]
[[Category:Indian folk music|Punjab]]
[[Category:Pakistani folk music|Punjab]]

Folk music of Punjab - Revision history

CleanupBot at 04:23, 22 March 2026