More About Jalandhar

Industry

Jalandhar is known for the manufacturing of Hand Tools like Spanner set, screw driver, nose pliers etc. 50 units are engaged in the manufacturing of hand tools giving employment to 8000 people.

Auto Parts Industry

Jalandhar is known for the manufacturing of good quality of auto parts.There are 300 units engaged in the manufacturing of auto parts providing employment to 4500 people. Several units are supplying auto parts to the orginal manufacturers of automobiles. There is export of Rs. 213.53 lacs of auto parts from Jalandhar during the year 1991-92.

Rubber Goods Industry

Jalandhar is known for the manufacturing of rubber goods items like V-shape chappals,V-Belts, Scooter/Cycle tyres and rubber rolls. There are 625 units giving employment to 6500 persons. There is export of Rs.682.62 lacs from Jalandhar.

Surgical Instruments

Surgical Instruments units are labour intensive units. There are 275 units in Jalandhar providing employment to 2500 persons. Tanning Industry Jalandhar is known for manufacture of shoes and a number of allied units. At present, there are a large number of tanning units providing employment to a major section of the scheduled caste and other weaker sections.

Language and Literature

The spoken language in Jalandhar is Punjabi being the mother tongue of Punjabi people. The Jalandhar falls in Doaba region, comprising the districts Jalandhar, Hoshiarpur and Kapurthala. Doaba region is sided by the rivers Beas and Sutlej. The dilect of this region is called Doabi by the linguistics. People give stress on 'B' in place of V. But with the spread of communication means the difference is eliminating very fast.

Since, the Jalandhar city is the house of printing press, the writers flocked to Jalandhar from all over the Punjab and many of them settled here and wrote great books. These writers wrote about the deep agonies of partition of 1947. The cruelties done during those times, the problems of migrants from Pakistan, the short stories novels, plays and poems deal with the subject of human crisis created with the partition. These books or some slections from these books were later on prescribed for school and college syllabuses.This gave inspiration to many young writers.The writers write Punjabi in Gurmukhi script. Kartar Singh Duggal a great writer of Punjabi literature brought All India Radio to Jalandhar.

Fair and Festivals

The fairs are a living symbol of our cultural life. The gay and vivacious Punjabis are very fond of fair or a festival. People of all communities come to participate in these fairs from far flung areas.The most notable event in Jalandhar is the annual national Harballabh Fair :-

Harballabh Sangeet Mela

The famous Harballabh Sangeet Mela is held in the memory of the saint-musician, Swami Harballabh. It is organised at Devi Talab near the samadhi of the saint from 27 December to 30 December every year. Prominent exponents of classical music, both vocal and instrumental, from all over the country gathers to provide a rare feast of music for the connoisseur. Swami Harballabh came from a rich family of village Bajwara of district Hoshiarpur. He renounced the world and became a disciple of Swami Tulja Gir who was initiated him into the art of music. In 1956, a regular Sangeet Academy under the aegis of the Harbhallabh Sangeet Mahasabha was formed. The object of the Academy is to setup a centre in the Punjab for teaching and research in classical music. A syllabus has already been formed and the teaching institution has been open with the objective of holding their own examination for award of diplomas and degrees.The people come from distant place to enjoy Indian classical music. Even Mahatma Gandhi was attracted to the festival in 1929. Admission to the samelan is free as also board and lodging during the day of the fair. Hardly was there a classical singer of repute who did not visit the fair.

The Fair of Baba Sodal

The fair of Baba Sodal is associated with Sodal, a small boy who came to be respected as a baby-God. The fair is held to commemorate his death anniversary at his smadh. The fair is held once a year in the month of Bhadon around mid-September. The fair lasts for one day./ in the early hours of the morning. The main place of worship is the smadh of Baba Sodal. In side the smadh, there is a painted portrait of Baba Sodal kept decorated with garlands and rosaries and is looked after by a separate priest. There is a pucca tank called 'Baba Sodal-Da-Sarowar'. The offering at the smadh are distributed among the pilgrims and sprinkle a few drops on their body. Some have a dip in the tank. Pilgrims of all religions come to fair from different parts of Punjab, Haryana, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh. Among the pilgrims, females preponderate who seek blessing for children and general well-being of their families.

The legend goes that Sodal was born in a family of Chadha clan of Khatri caste in Jalandhar City. It is said that one day the mother of Baba Sodal went to nearby pond to wash clothes. Despite her repeatedly asking to him to go back, he followed her. The mother lost temper and shouted at him, " Have you come here to die? Go and drown yourself in the pound." It is said that Sodal asked her three times to repeater words which she did. Sodal then plunged into the water never to appear again. According to another version, he simply fell dead on the spot ; according to still another version he transformed himself into a snake and bored himself into the earth.