Why Panjabis learn Bhangra in the west

[5aaban]

Just now, dallysingh101 said:

Come on. Till recently, there was a lot of confusion between Sikh culture and Panjabi culture. Many people are still confused even now. That's a main task right now. Guru ji de kirpa naal people will start to learn. 

We need to utilise all media like songs, movies social media to consistently educate concurrently. 

I agree with you. There are more resources to get educated about Sikhi these days so some people are changing.  

[Kaurr]

I've never done bhangra on stages or taken any classes (only in my room with the door locked). My parents put me in kirtan (which I still do) and I did a bit of gatka growing up as well.

I haven't been a fan of bhangra and promoting it as our culture, but if I were to have this conversation with one of those 'cultured' Punjabis, how could I explain to them why bhangra is so fcked up.

[5aaban]

Some alternatives of connecting with Panjabi culture that don't involve Bhangra 

• Learning to read, write and speak Panjabi properly
• Horse riding 
• Learning traditional Panjabi embroidery (for females)
• Reading Panjabi poetry and literature 
• Learning about the social history of Panjab 
• Travelling to Panjab, visiting historical monuments and cultural museums  
• Learning to make Panjabi food 

[Premi5]

On 1/31/2022 at 7:56 AM, 5aaban said:

This is just my theory (may be wrong)

There's an increasing number of Panjabis in western countries learning Bhangra professionally, making Bhangra societies in universities and holding big Bhangra competitions. Although Bhangra is a hybrid dance done by males with modern hip-hop moves, women are also seen in these competitions & performances.

Some parents in the west are encouraging their children to learn Bhangra from these academies (they're starting to open up in my city too). The reason they give for joining is Bhangra connects them with Panjabi culture and they feel "proud" seeing their children on stage. I don't think Bhangra is helping any western Panjabi stay connected with Panjabi culture. Dancing like this on public stages was frowned by Panjabi elders I knew. 

It's sad to see Panjabi culture has been reduced down to jumping on stage. And that bright crazy-patterned uniform Bhangra dancers wear looks so silly, no Panjabi in the past dressed like that. I've met some Bhangra-doing Panjabis in the west who can't read Panjabi or speak it properly, name a Panjabi poet or tell me about Panjab's situation and history. I don't know why so many Panjabi parents hold this misconception that putting children in Bhangra will connect them with culture and turn them into the next Vir SIngh or Bulleh Shah. 

 

 

I don't think so in the UK. Here the community is mostly second, third and fourth gen.

In Aus/NZ I think the population is mostly 1st and 2nd gen, and even '2nd gen' were in many cases brought up in Panjab. 

Canada and US are newer populations as well. 

I think because you have a bigger country and warmer climate in Aus/NZ, the Panjabi people might be more inclined that way, here in UK we have 5-6 months of bad weather so people don't go out much.

If anything, I think a lot of the newer immigrants from what I see in UK, and news reports in Aus are more into Sikhi and want to teach children Panjabi, Gatka and other Sikhi rather than necessarily Panjabi culture

[5aaban]

On 2/1/2022 at 7:21 PM, Premi5 said:

I don't think so in the UK. Here the community is mostly second, third and fourth gen.

In Aus/NZ I think the population is mostly 1st and 2nd gen, and even '2nd gen' were in many cases brought up in Panjab. 

Canada and US are newer populations as well. 

I think because you have a bigger country and warmer climate in Aus/NZ, the Panjabi people might be more inclined that way, here in UK we have 5-6 months of bad weather so people don't go out much.

If anything, I think a lot of the newer immigrants from what I see in UK, and news reports in Aus are more into Sikhi and want to teach children Panjabi, Gatka and other Sikhi rather than necessarily Panjabi culture

Yeah, I know some people wanting to learn Gatka in Aus too and some did it when they were for a brief period of time. 

Bhangra competitions are a big thing in Canada and USA. They have a lot Bhangra societies in Universities which perform at weddings and events too. Many teams from the UK and other countries (including a few from Aus/NZ) go and compete in these.They have one of the biggest Bhangra "companies" called Bhangra Empire based in California who run kids classes alongside. 

Surprisingly, Bhangra Empire is run by a Pakistani-Panjabi (Omer Mirza, head & choregrapher) and a mixed Panjabi woman (Michelle Puneet Mirza, who has a Panjabi father) 

Their Bhangra dancers also come from diverse backgrounds (many Muslims and Hindus). 

Dancers:
Afsheen Islam, Ajay Sohmshetty, Akshay Mehta, Alam Pannu, Amrit Dhorka, Anita Kapyur, Arsh Bhatti, Basila Nathan, Charaag Bhasin, Chirag Yadav, Danish Anwar, Fateh Singh, Gagan Handa, Gurleen Parmar, Gurparsad Thind, Jackie Thind, Jaclyn Phi, Jashan Mahal, Karanvir Singh, Kiren Singh, Komal Mehta, Manish Badwal, Maria Joseph, Mariya Vicahttu, Meenu Thind, Meera Suresh, Navneet Chagger, Neha Shekhar, Osman Mirza, Payal Makhijani, Pinder Deol, Pooja Kale, Preet Kaur, Rani Tiruveedhula, Rucha Shrotriya, Sabina Chaudhuri, Saloni Madaan, Sameer Kausar, Sangeeta Jayakar, Sarah Ghuman, Shamn Singh, Shandeep Ahdi, Shelley Bhatia, Simi Johal, Sumanyu Maingi, Tanjeev Thandi, Vibin Kundukulam, Vijay Singh

 

[GurjantGnostic]

19 hours ago, dallysingh101 said:

Come on. Till recently, there was a lot of confusion between Sikh culture and Panjabi culture. Many people are still confused even now. That's a main task right now. Guru ji de kirpa naal people will start to learn. 

We need to utilise all media like songs, movies, videos, social media to consistently educate concurrently. 

One of the benefits of being an ignorant convert. What little I know is Sikhi only in that regard. 

[GurjantGnostic]

13 hours ago, 5aaban said:

 

• Learning traditional Panjabi-Phulkari embroidery (for females

Heck no techno. Dudes are in. We need to lean to embroider our manly <banned word filter activated>. 

[Kau89r8]

hahahha 

Almost Every thread manages to bring bhranga into it...almost all of us are in thesame page too haha unity in the panth for once 

 

 

[Kau89r8]

Quote

Surprisingly, Bhangra Empire is run by a Pakistani-Panjabi (Omer Mirza) and a mixed Panjabi girl (Michelle Puneet Mirza, who has a Panjabi father) 

So her father is Sikh?...no way i thought she was full muslim i've seen her on ig (which surprised me too her content being muslims...but they are a bit diff in usa then uk) 

[Kau89r8]

20 hours ago, dallysingh101 said:

I really thank our Guru Sahiban for giving me an alternative, beautiful and deep culture to all this. 

At least we have an escape route out of it. 

I think you mentioned it in the one of the other thread there is no 'modesty innocent Punjabi culture left..' like why can't we have are red line drawn somewhere...' no class..worst is when Jasmine Sandals started making jattis sharabis normazlized smoking weed on stage ..

You got Arab culture..belly dancing etc..there is somewhat class modest ...i remember back in the days when you'd watch some films/music videos it was watchable with family and the most 'unbearable' was bit 'risque lovely dopey scene' holding hands hugging...

to this