Customs and Festivals in Panjabi-Speaking Communities
Read Panjabi words for festivals and their customs in Gurmukhi script, from Vaisakhi, Diwali and Gurpurab to Christmas, and the customs of inviting guests and giving presents.
Practise it before the paper, not after
Free, interactive practice on the words and structures the examiner keeps asking for.
Start revising freeWhat you'll cover
Festivals and customs
Panjabi-speaking communities celebrate many festivals, from Vaisakhi, Diwali and Gurpurab to Christmas, and they share customs like inviting guests and giving presents.
Each example is a Panjabi word with its English meaning. A full sentence looks like this: ਮੈਨੂੰ ਵਿਸਾਖੀ ਪਸੰਦ ਹੈ (mainu vaisakhi pasand hai), meaning I like Vaisakhi.
Words for celebrating
Start with four words that come up at almost any festival.
Match each festival to its meaning
- ਵਿਸਾਖੀ
- ਦਿਵਾਲੀ
- ਗੁਰਪੁਰਬ
- ਕ੍ਰਿਸਮਸ
- Vaisakhi
- Diwali
- Gurpurab, special days from the Gurus lives
- Christmas
Customs many festivals share
Different festivals share many of the same customs. People send an invitation, welcome their guests, give presents and decorate their homes. So festivals such as Vaisakhi, Gurpurab and Christmas each have their own meaning, but the customs around them are often familiar.
Which word is Diwali?
Which Panjabi word means Diwali?
- ਦਿਵਾਲੀ
- ਵਿਸਾਖੀ
- ਕ੍ਰਿਸਮਸ
- ਤਿਉਹਾਰ
Spot the two customs
Select the TWO words that are customs people do at festivals.
- ਪਟਾਕੇ
- ਸਜਾਉਣਾ
- ਵਿਸਾਖੀ
- ਤਿਉਹਾਰ
Match each custom
- ਪਟਾਕੇ
- ਦੀਵੇ
- ਸੱਦਣਾ
- ਨਗਰ ਕੀਰਤਨ
- fireworks
- a diva lamp
- to invite
- a religious street procession
Festivals and customs
Reading the whole word tells you whether it names a festival or a custom around it. Here are more of each.
Find the two festivals
Tap the TWO words that are festivals.
- ਵਿਸਾਖੀ, Vaisakhi
- ਪਟਾਕੇ, fireworks
- ਦਿਵਾਲੀ, Diwali
- ਤੋਹਫ਼ਾ, a present
Reading a sentence
Now read a full Panjabi sentence:
ਮੈਂ ਤੋਹਫ਼ਾ ਦਿੰਦਾ ਹਾਂ (main tohfa dinda haan) = "I give a present". It starts with ਮੈਂ (main, "I") and names ਤੋਹਫ਼ਾ (tohfa, "a present").
What does it say?
In ਮੈਂ ਤੋਹਫ਼ਾ ਦਿੰਦਾ ਹਾਂ (main tohfa dinda haan), what does the person give?
- A present
- A festival
- A guest
- Fireworks
Celebrate a festival
Put the steps of celebrating a festival at home into a sensible order.
- Invite your guests
- Decorate your home
- Welcome your guests
- Share sweets and presents
- Light diyas or fireworks
Complete the festival facts
A day of celebration is a _____. At Diwali, people light small lamps called _____ and set off _____. A person you invite is a _____. A thing you give them is a _____.
Read the notice
Use what you know to read each Panjabi word on a notice. Choose each time.
- A poster celebrates ਦਿਵਾਲੀ (diwali). What festival is it?
- A display sets off ਪਟਾਕੇ (patake). What is it?
- A community holds a ਨਗਰ ਕੀਰਤਨ (nagar kirtan). What is it?
Write about a festival
In English, write about a festival you or your community celebrate, its customs, and some of the Panjabi words. This is written in English and is not auto-marked.
- Name a festival and its Panjabi word
- Describe two customs people follow at it
- Name one custom such as fireworks or diyas, with its Panjabi word
- Write one full Panjabi sentence, for example ਮੈਨੂੰ ਵਿਸਾਖੀ ਪਸੰਦ ਹੈ