shastarSingh

We followed the windings of the Dudh Ganga, and were in Kashmir before we were aware of it. Fine avenues of plane and poplar are the first signs of the former beauty of this favourite and lovely abode of the splendid Moghul emperors; and then comes the square, where the soldiers of Ranjit Singh practised those European tactics which gained him possession of his large dominions. Two of his regiments, disciplined by Europeans, are stationed here; their uniform consisted of a red jacket, with yellow facings, and blue trousers and turban, blue being the favourite Sikh colour. The subalterns wear white turbans. The whole would have had an excellent effect, the men being evidently carefully selected for height and carriage, if their fine dresses had not been in so ragged a condition. The muskets are made after the English fashion, and manufactured in Lahor.

H.L.O Garrett in 1935 wrote 'The Punjab a Hundred Years Ago' in which he edited and translated the works of V. Jacquemont (1831) & A. Soltykoff (1842). In this book it's written: Maharaja Ranjit Singh took bread, pulao, milk and fruits in his lunch. His dinner contained a little rice and a quail or half a partridge with some fruits and sweetmeats

Osborne met Maharaja Ranjit Singh in 1838. He writes: 1. 26th June.—This morning, at sunrise, ordered our elephants, and went out to try and relieve the monotony of our life by a few hours' shooting. Proceeded straight to a rumna, or preserve, of the Maharajah's, which we supposed to abound in wild hog, hares, and black partridges. The Sihks, in contradiction to the religious tenets of most of the other castes in India, are very fond of pork, and Runjeet cultivates grain and sugar- cane round this preserve for the wild hog who frequent it to feed upon. Beef is as much a forbidden food in the Punjab as pork is in Hindostan to the natives ; and to kill a cow across the Sutlege would subject the perpe-trator of the deed to almost certain death. We found a considerable quantity of wild hog, and a few black partridges, in the rumna, and had altogether two hours' very tolerable shooting. 2. In less than five minutes, we found ourselves seated on golden chairs opposite Runjeet, who re- mained in his litter supported on the bearers' shoulders. Five minutes more sufficed to produce breakfast. Runjeet's table was formed by one of his servants standing up close to his litter with his back towards him, and then stooping till his shoulders were on a level with its floor. A tray containing different sorts of curry, rice, sweetmeats, and milk, was then placed upon the man's shoulders; and the Maharajah commenced his breakfast with an appa- rently good appetite. The different eatables were served up in the nicest and coolest little vessels possible, about the size of tea-cups, made of fresh green leaves, so closely sewn together as to be capable of retaining liquids, and beautifully cool and clean. A tray was brought to McGregor and myself, upon each of which was arranged about six of these little cups, containing different sorts of curry, rice, curds, and some re- markably fat quails, with all the bones taken out, and highly spiced and seasoned. We set to work with our fingers, (following our host's example,) and though from want of practice not quite so expert, contrived to make a very hearty breakfast, which we wound up with a delicious draught of iced sherbet.

Dark blue is no.1 khalsa colour but yellow is also a khalsa colour as mentioned by daya Singh rahitnama and other 18th century sources. Plz read Akali fauj wore blue all the time. So Ranjit Singh opted for yellow as it was also a khalsa colour. Though yellow was the main colour of his Darbaar, Ranjit Singh also wore white and sometimes green too. Daya Singh Rahitnama mentions 4 khalsa colours Blue Yellow White Green

According to Alexander burnes, Maharaja Ranjit Singh's favourite topic of conversation was wine. 3. A conversation could not, of course, conclude without his favourite topic of wine ; and, as he first sat down, he remarked that the site of his tent was an agreeable one for a drinking party, since it commanded a fine view of the surrounding country. He enquired of the doctors, whether wine was best before or after food ; and laughed heartily at an answer from myself, when I recommended both.

2. But we had come to hunt, not to philosophise ; and next day accompanied the Maharaja on a sporting expedition at noon . He rode a favourite bay horse, covered with an elegant saddle- cloth of the richest embroidery, ornamented, in its border, by almost every beast and bird which the sportsman calls his own. Runjeet was dressed in a tunic of green shawls, lined with fur ; his dagger was studded with the richest brilliants ; and a light metal shield.

Alexander burnes wrote a book 'travels into bokhara' in 1834. It can be downloaded at https://archive.org/details/travelsintobokh04burngoog He personally met Maharaja Ranjit Singh during his travels. His quotes: 1. About half way across the “ Doab" we reached Pidana, the seat of one of the principal chiefs of the Punjab, Sirdar Juwala Sing, who had been sent from Lahore to entertain us at his family mansion. He met us about a mile out, and delivered a letter with a bow and a bag of money. The chief had robed himself in a rich dress of brocade, and his retainers were arrayed in tunics of yellow, which is the favourite colour of the Seiks.

4. The day was bitterly cold, and my fingers were almost frozen as I arranged my papers. I paced the terrace very often to warm myself in the sun's rays. In the evening we had a Nach, and the Maha Raja did not forget to send his presents, and three of his dancing girls.

Some negative aspects of Maharaja Ranjit Singh's life told by baron Charles Hugel...... 3. He gave me the receipt for a brandy prepared for him, in which were the strongest sauces compounded from the flesh of every kind of animal, beef excepted, pearls and jewels, musk, opium, plants of various kinds, all mingled together into a beverage, which must be nearly as strong as alcohol itself

'Panjab Castes' is a reprint of the chapter on "The races, castes and tribes of the people" in the report on the census of the Panjab published in 1883 by Denzil Ibbetson. It can be read or downloaded at https://www.rarebooksocietyofindia.org/grid-layout.php?q=Panjab+castes

2. His(Maharaja Ranjit Singh) costume always contributes to increase his ugliness, being in winter the colour of gamboge, from the Pagri (the turban or Sikh cloth, on his head,) down to his very socks and slippers. The Sikh pagri consists of a long narrow piece of linen, in which the hair is wrapped up ; and it is so fastened either in the front or a little on one side, that one cannot see either end or knot. It lies down smooth on the head, one end hanging half way down the back. Ranjit Singh hides this end under his upper garment. The Angraka (coat) is tied over the chest, and reaches to the knee, and the trousers fall in many folds down to the ancle. Over the whole is worn a mantle lined with skins. The entire costume is, as I have said, of yellow Pashmina, green being worn sometimes by him, but not commonly. In summer he wears white muslin. At the festival of the Basant, he was particu-larly disfigured by the straw-coloured dress he wore with a slight intermixture of green in it.

Baron Charles hugel visited Lahore in 1836. He wrote a book 'travels in Kashmir and the Punjab'. It can be downloaded at https://archive.org/details/TravelsInKashmirAndThePanjabBaronCharlesHugel His quotes: 1. The court colour of the Durbar is yellow or green ; and the chiefs and officers were all clothed in yellow garments of the wool of Kashmir, except Hira Singh, who wore a satin dress of light green and pink.

Baron Charles hugel visited Lahore in 1836. He wrote a book 'travels in Kashmir and the Punjab'. He writes: The court colour of the Durbar is yellow or green ; and the chiefs and officers were all clothed in yellow garments of the wool of Kashmir, except Hira Singh, who wore a satin dress of light green and pink.

Umdat ut tawarikh is a huge persian granth written in 5 volumes (called Daftars) by Lala Sohan Lal Suri who was the official chronicler, record keeper and diplomatic representative (Vakil) of Maharaja Ranjit Singh and his successors and even British Residents after the annexation of Punjab. Quotes: 1. On the festive occasions like basant and baisakhi all the courtiers, nobles and troopers were ordered to attire yellow garments. 2. Lohri was also celebrated in Lahore Darbar with great rejoicings. On this occasion, Maharaja Ranjit Singh used to dress himself in yellow garments. Royal orders were issued in the names of the close attendants to present themselves in the Darbar in yellow attires. 3. Basant was celebrated with great eclat in the Lahore Darbar. The Maharaja ensured that all the chieftains, Sardars, darbaris and soldiers wore yellow robes. 4. All the Chieftains, Sardars, vakils, munshis and commandants of platoons were issued firm orders to prepare yellow garments to be worn on the day of dussehra. They were also ordered to present horses decorated with golden saddles before the Maharaja and come prepared with their contingents for annual inspection.

Rubayee of Dasmesh Pita Photo sent by Gurwinder Singh nangli- a great scholar of Sikh panth

Cunningham wrote 'history of the Sikhs' in 1849. It can be downloaded at https://sikhbookclub.com/Book/HISTORY-OF-SIKHS-By-Joseph-Davey-Cunningham

Osborne wrote a book in 1840. It can be downloaded at https://archive.org/details/courtcampofrunje00osboiala Osborne says that sikh soldiers of Maharaja Ranjit Singh's army had yellow turban.

4 of them were below 40 One was 52 and one 90 years old. All of them had first doze of covishield.

Henry T. Princep wrote a book in 1834. It can be downloaded at https://archive.org/details/OriginOfTheSikhPowerInThePunjabHenryT.Prinsep Princep says that yellow and light green were the favourite colours of the court of Maharaja Ranjit Singh.

5-6 died

Jaats hv started becoming Sikhs. Sikhs shud visit the village of Kushal Singh Dahiya and increase cultural exchange with haryanavi people.

James Skinner writes in his granth Tashrihu 'l Aqwam(1825) that: They consider halaal meat [of animals slaughtered in the Muslim manner] as distasteful and forbidden, and eat the jhatka meat. They do not tie on their heads red turbans from the dye of safflower. Most of them put on blue turbans. The wearing of kachchha [short breeches] is very common in this community.

Many people. And most of them had got first dose of covishield vaccine.

They were wearing masks but not keeping social distancing as there was no space available. All of my family members hv had vaccine but the issue is that we hv no faith in covishield vaccine. Indian variant is too strong for it.