State of India - Punjab

Area: 50,362 sq km

Population: 2,02,81,969

Capital Of City: Chandigarh

Languages: Punjabi

Crops:

How You Know: The five rivers that once ran through Punjab are Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Bipasha and Shatadru. However, after the partition of the country in 1947, only 3 of the five rivers remain in Punjab. The states of Haryana and Himachal Pradesh have also been carved out of Punjab.

History: Punjab or 'the land of five rivers' is one of India's richest and most colourful states. Punjab is one of the only two states in the country which share a capital city (the other is Haryana). The city of Chandigarh was designed by the French architect Le Corbusier and built in 1953. Although the city serves as the capital of two states, it is administered by the union government and is officially a union territory!Sikhism, the youngest of the world religions was born in Punjab. Its founder Guru Nanak Dev (1469 - 1539) roamed all over the country spreading his message of love, brotherhood and equality among people. He was succeeded by nine other prophets. Guru Gobind Singh (1666-1708), the last Sikh guru founded the Khalsa and organized the Sikhs. The Golden Temple, the most sacred monument of the Sikhs is in Amritsar, Punjab. Hola Mohalla or the fair at Anandpur Sahib is one of the important festivals of Punjab. The 10th Guru of the Sikhs, Guru Gobind Singh started this fair in 1700. The fair is celebrated the day after Holi (called Hola), and is marked with a procession and much religious singing and dancing. Fundu Fact Before passing away, the tenth Guru, Gobind Singh bestowed Guruship on the Sikh scripture, Adi Granth. Since then, the Adi Granth is known as Guru Granth and worshipped as the eternal 'living' guru. Punjab has been one of the biggest contributors to Indian sports. Milkha Singh, popularly known as 'the flying Sikh', belongs to Punjab. Milkha is the only Indian runner to have come so close to winning an Olympic medal. At the 1960 Olympics at Rome, Milkha finished second in the first and second heat and even the semifinal stage. In the final he was the early leader but then slowed down purposely, a move that cost him the medal. It was a photo finish and the results were delayed. When the photograph was developed, Milkha finished fourth with a time of 45.6 seconds just 0.1 second short of a medal. Punjab is the Mecca of rural sports. Annual competitions are held in around 7000 villages all over Punjab. The biggest is at village Kila Raipur. Punjab is also famous for its contribution to the sport of hockey. Twelve of our country's greatest hockey players have come out of a single village called Sansarpur in Jalandhar district of the state.