Other Spellings : Panjabi
Religion : Hinduism, Sikhism, Islam, Christianity, Jainism, Atheism, Agnosticism
Language : Punjabi
Regional Spread : Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh Chandigarh and Delhi in India. A significant Punjabi population is also present in Pakistan, UK, Saudi Arabia, Canada, USA, UAE, Myanmar and Malaysia
Sub-Groups : Some of the major subgroups of the Punjabis in India include Ahirs, Aroras, Banias, Bhatias, Brahmins, Dalits, Gujjars, Jats, Kalals, Khatris, Labanas, Rajputs, Sainis, Sansis, Soods, and Tarkhans. Most of these subgroups can be further sub-divided into clans and family groups.
Traditional Occupation : Agriculture, Trading
Population : 100 to 120 million
Food Habits : Punjabi cuisine is relished all over India and across the world. Staple diet of the people Punjab is wheat based rotis and paranthas. Rice is cooked on special occasions. Characteristic feature of Punjabi cuisine is lavish use of butter, cream, ghee and cheese. Pulses or dals are flavored with characteristic Punjabi tadka and constitute a major item of the meal. Gravy is prepared using the basic mix of onion, tomato, ginger, garlic, chillies and loads of spices. Non-vegetarian food is also relished by the people.
Marriage Preference : Prefer marriages with Punjabi in the same caste. In recent times inter-caste marriages are also becoming common with the increasing trend of love marriages where boys and girls find their mate themselves.
Indo-Aryans, Seraikis, Sindhis, Gujaratis, Kashmiris, Dogras, Pakistani Muhajirs, Punjabi Pathans, Roma people.
The Punjabi people are an Indo-Aryan people and speakers of the Punjabi language, an Indo-Aryan tongue. Punjabis can be found primarily in the Punjab region of Pakistan and Northern India. In Pakistan, Punjabis comprise the largest ethnic group at roughly 44% of the total population and reside predominantly in the province of Punjab. In India, ethnic Punjabis can be found across the greater Punjab region which now comprises the states of Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Delhi and the Union Territory of Chandigarh and also the Jammu region of Jammu and Kashmir. Significant numbers of Punjabis are also found in a wide-ranging diaspora around the world.
Punjabi population descends from various stocks and consists of heterogeneous racial elements. Punjabi people are sturdy, self-willed and industrious and are among the finest peasants of India. They are generally tall and muscular, with well-shaped limbs, an erect carriage and strongly marked and sharp handsome features.