I keep getting told that there are significant differences, but I don’t really see it. Can someone shed some light on this?
Re: Cultural differences between Urdu-speaking people and Punjabis
Apart from the language- I doubt it. I'm both and frankly Ive no clue.
Re: Cultural differences between Urdu-speaking people and Punjabis
well now it may not be that apparent but before it was more visible. i'm thinking more specifically about weddings. my punjabi friends said that if they don't dance it's frowned upon because they will look unhappy whereas dancing used to be frowned upon among urdu speakers especially if the bride does it.
Re: Cultural differences between Urdu-speaking people and Punjabis
My father was born and brought up in Lahore, looks and sounds like a Punjabi when he speaks it, yet maintains that there are differences...is it all in the head, where one group thinks they're superior to the other and therefore the division remains?
There have been quite a few inter-marriages in my family though and it seems to be working fine.
Re: Cultural differences between Urdu-speaking people and Punjabis
There are many differences.
Although food would seem the same, but there is a great difference in taste and often the dishes and recipes that are used. I, for one, have never enjoyed Punjabi food that much.
There are plenty more such as the family setting at home, sense of humour (for sure), the degree to which people cling on to their culture.
What I like most about Punjabis is their hospitality, which isn't excercised to the same degree by Urdu speaking people.
Re: Cultural differences between Urdu-speaking people and Punjabis
^ That seems to be the most commonly mentioned difference, although I still dont see it as a major cultural aspect which divides the two.
Re: Cultural differences between Urdu-speaking people and Punjabis
cat-woman, we have plenty of differences, but since we're all South Asian and more or less in the same geographical area, there are no major differences.
The ones we have could be seen as major sometimes, but isn't always the case.
For instance, I find clinging on one's traditions something hard to digest at times. Many would do things or succumb to their parents even when they are wrong. However, this goes for both Urdu and Punjabi speaking people.
Re: Cultural differences between Urdu-speaking people and Punjabis
now all u urdu speaking ppl .....u've got me quite tempted about ur food ....
why don't u post some fav. recipes ......plese please pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeaaase!!!
Re: Cultural differences between Urdu-speaking people and Punjabis
bhagaray bengan? :p you'd have to ask my mum. Our food at home is pretty mixed though - north and south.
Re: Cultural differences between Urdu-speaking people and Punjabis
Again I dont think such things as hospitality differ from Urdu speaking people to Punjabis. Personally I have noticed that it depends not on the language - but rather the family. However, it is true that people from Karachi (Urdu speaking) and lets say Lahore - do have different foods, and over all different perspectives on issues. Urdu speaking people are in my opinion (from what I see of my cousins) heavily influenced by India, it shows in their cooking. Im serious. As for the dancing at weddings, na thats a family thing. Some do , some dont.
Oh yeah Urdu speaking at times do think they are more er intellectual, than their Punjabi counter parts. Punjabis in turn think Urdu speaking folks , esp men are sissies. :D
well the silly generalizations are probably endless.
Re: Cultural differences between Urdu-speaking people and Punjabis
i don't mean to be offensive, but do Mohajirs like to refer to themselves as "Urdu-speaking" instead of using the term "Mohajir"....and if so, does the term "Mohajir" draw a negative connotation that would warrant such a preference of terminology?
just wondering
Re: Cultural differences between Urdu-speaking people and Punjabis
mohajir means an immigrant/migrant, how can someone whose garndparents moved to Pakistan, and whose parents were born in Pakistan, call himself a migrant/immigrant. He is as Pakistani as anyone else, however if you see the nation thru linguistic, provincial and ethnic glasses, where is the space for that guy. He is good as long as he refers to himself as Pakistani, but as soon as you go to punjabi, sindhi, balochi, pathan level..he is none of the above, so what is he, the answer "just a pakistyani" does not seem to suit the provincial minded folks. other minorities seem to be noted by their dialects or specific areas so I suppose the urdu-speaking thing got started.
what you should also remeber is that not all "mohajirs" are urdu-speaking, there were many mohajirs who moved from parts of punjab and sindh etc, and for them it was a diff ballgame, similarlyyou have mohajirs who are niether from any of the provinces or surrounding areas, nor are urdu speakers.
Re: Cultural differences between Urdu-speaking people and Punjabis
That 'mohajir' term is a bit odd, I don't think people from Punjab are more Pakistani than the rest. Mr Frauds raises some interesting points, but doesn't quite answer the question. :p
Re: Cultural differences between Urdu-speaking people and Punjabis
I don't see any difference between my urban Punjabi friends and Karachian friends, except for skin tone and language (as Punjabi ones are usually bilingual). Other than that they're culturally the same, have the same social circles, go to the same parties etc. Urdu speaking people are bit more sensible but not really anymore conservative.
There's no significant differences between Punjabis and Karachians like there is between my people from Attock and Punjabi/Karachian people, people from my generation mingle with pretty much anyone who's an "apna" but our elder generations although they're friendly and polite towards each other don't usally socialise with each other, I've been told on various occassions "inn logoN ke saath dosti sirf ischool tak hi mehdood rakh, we can't have gehri dosti with them coz our taur-tareeqay are very different" I use to think my elders were just being racist **... but they were not, I respect Punjabi and Karachian people a lot but they just wont understand things of my culture like our women observing parda being the main one, they just wouldn't understand why on Eid Ithey can't come into the livin room to say Eid Mubarak to everyone (coz my girl cousins will be there) or why our families can't go out for dinner or a film togther etc. This is just one example, our mindsets are usally completely different so for me it's just easier with other people from Attock, don't get me worng I like Punjabi and Karachian people a lot but we don't usally have family type bossom friendships like I do with the few people I know who are from Attock.
I've gone completely of tangent haven't I?
Re: Cultural differences between Urdu-speaking people and Punjabis
^ All of what you mentioned (ie. segregation) is truly very nice, masha’Allah :k:
Re: Cultural differences between Urdu-speaking people and Punjabis
People who left behind their homes, flourishing business, and wealth sacrificed a lot and are by no means less Pakistani than any other ethnic group.
This will open a can of worms but what the hell, the majority of Punjabis were Unionist and opposed to the idea of Pakistan. Their views changed once it became evident that Jinnah wouldn’t be stopped.
Re: Cultural differences between Urdu-speaking people and Punjabis
english main fail hui ho kya?
- not all mohajirs are urdu speakers.
- many people do not like the term mohajir because they dont consider themselves immigrants, yet when pushed for an answer about provincial background they just say urdu speaker.
Re: Cultural differences between Urdu-speaking people and Punjabis
um…punjabi here n its frowned down upon in our family if we do dance…
Re: Cultural differences between Urdu-speaking people and Punjabis
Catz, off topic but ..
Mohajir, as defined by a scholar on Views n News the other day, is a person who has left his homeland but has to have plans to move back one day. Hence the term mohajireen given to those who migrated from Mecca to Madina (hijrat) adn then returned to Mecca once given the chance.
Relating to the topic -- My closest friends are punjabis. I dont find much difference in our styles of life apart from the language their parents speak. Maybe it's b/c they were brought up in Karachi and speak urdu like I do.
Re: Cultural differences between Urdu-speaking people and Punjabis
punjabi hospitality is the best, its starts with a huge glass of lassi shoved down your throat... mmmm mmmmm....