{{Short description|Historic region in north India}} {{Use dmy dates|date=February 2017}} {{Use Indian English|date=February 2017}} {{Infobox region | name = Puadh | settlement_type = Cultural region of northwest India | image_map = Map of the Puadh region.png | map_caption = This map shows the region of north India that falls under Puadh. | mapframe = no | named_for = ''pūrava āddha'' ("eastern-half") }} {{Punjabis}} thumb|Ghaggar river Chandigarh, Mohali. The Ghaggar river flows through the Puadh region thumb|The Punjab ("Five Rivers" and Ghaggar river); a physical map from "Companion Atlas to the Gazetteer of The World '''Puadh''' (IAST: [puādha], sometimes anglicized as '''Poadh''' or '''Powadh<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |last=Chaba |first=Anju Agnihotri |date=September 25, 2021 |title=Punjab: Rich in culture but politically neglected, Puadh region now hopes it will finally get its due |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/jalandhar/rich-in-culture-but-politically-neglected-puadh-region-now-hopes-it-will-finally-get-its-due-7533184/ |url-status=unfit |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210925022852/https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/jalandhar/rich-in-culture-but-politically-neglected-puadh-region-now-hopes-it-will-finally-get-its-due-7533184/ |archive-date=25 September 2021 |access-date=28 June 2025 |work=Indian Express}}</ref>''') is a historic region in north India that comprises parts of present-day Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and the U.T. of Chandigarh, India.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news |last=Singh |first=I. P. |date=21 September 2021 |title=Punjab: ‘Politically neglected’ Puadh’s first CM |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ludhiana/punjab-politically-neglected-puadhs-first-cm/articleshow/86385927.cms |access-date=28 June 2025 |work=Times of India}}</ref> It has the Sutlej river in its north and covers the regions immediately south of the Ghaggar river. The people of the area are known as Puadhi and speak the Puadhi dialect of Punjabi. The district headquarters of Puadh region are Rupnagar, Fatehgarh Sahib, Mohali, Patiala, Chandigarh, Panchkula and Ambala.
== Status == Puadh lacks official recognition, unlike the three other major Punjabi regions of Majha, Doaba, and Malwa.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Choragudi |first=Krishna Priya |title=Decoding Regional Strongholds in Punjab |url=https://tcpd.ashoka.edu.in/decoding-regional-strongholds-in-punjab/ |access-date=28 June 2025 |website=Trivedi Centre for Political Data, Ashoka University}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Abbi |first=Kumool |date=February 28, 2022 |title=Geographical and Cultural Endpoints: The Political Scenario in the Malwa, Majha and Doaba Regions |url=https://sites.lsa.umich.edu/sikh-formations-podcast/2022/02/28/geographical-and-cultural-endpoints-the-political-scenario-in-the-malwa-majha-and-doaba-regions/ |access-date=28 June 2025 |website=Sikh Formations: Podcast, Blog, Webinar, University of Michigan}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Sharma |first=Manraj Grewal |date=January 19, 2022 |title=Majha, Doaba, Malwa: The three regions of Punjab, their importance in state elections |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/political-pulse/punjab-elections-majha-doaba-malwa-politics-culture-7731449/ |access-date=28 June 2025 |work=Indian Express}}</ref> The government of Punjab does not list it as a region.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Know Punjab |url=https://punjab.gov.in/know-punjab/ |url-status=unfit |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241222201857/https://punjab.gov.in/know-punjab/ |archive-date=22 December 2024 |access-date=28 June 2025 |website=Government of Punjab |quote=The Punjab State is divided into three regions: Majha, Doaba and Malwa.}}</ref> Part of this is due to Puadh being subsumed under Malwa due to the prevailing belief that everything south of the Sutlej river in Punjab is "Malwa".<ref name=":0" /> This is despite Puadh being distinct from Malwa proper in both culture and language.<ref name=":0" /> There is also a lack of a natural boundary separating Puadh from Malwa, such as a river.<ref name=":1" /> Prior to the reorganization of Punjab in 1966, the region of Puadh fell under the Ambala district of present-day Haryana.<ref name=":0" /> Formerly an under-developed region, the area is becoming more propserous due to its proximity to Chandigarh and is increasingly urbanized.<ref name=":0" /> Charanjit Singh Channi was the first Puadhi chief minister of Punjab, with the rest being from Malwa and one from Majha.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" />
==Etymology== The word Puadh is a conjugation of two words of the language: ''pūrava'' meaning eastern and ''āddha'' meaning half.<ref>The Tribune (05.11.2006) PUNJABI REVIEW Of Puadh and Pablo Neruda Surinder Singh Tej Puadh Darpan Edited by Manmohan Singh Daon Punjabi Sath-Panj Nad Parkashan, Lambra (Jalandhar) [http://www.tribuneindia.com/2006/20061105/spectrum/book9.htm]</ref><ref name=":0" /> The term refers to the eastern half of the Punjab region.<ref name=":0" />
==Extent== thumb|Puadh lies between Satluj and Ghaggar-Hakra rivers Puadh generally lies between the Sutlej and Ghaggar-Hakra rivers and south, south-east and east of Rupnagar district adjacent to Ambala district (in Haryana).<ref>{{cite news|title=Powadh or Puadh or Powadha is a region of Punjab and parts of Haryana between the Satluj and Ghaggar rivers. The part lying south, south-east and east of Rupnagar adjacent to Ambala District (Haryana) is Powadhi.|url=http://www.thenewstribe.com/2012/01/16/major-punjabi-dialects/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120119103706/http://www.thenewstribe.com/2012/01/16/major-punjabi-dialects/|url-status=usurped|archive-date=19 January 2012}}</ref> Specifically, it starts from the Ropar district of Punjab and spreads across various parts of Mohali, Fatehgarh Sahib, Patiala and few villages of Sangrur, Mansa, Ludhiana as well as Chandigarh.<ref name=":0" />
===Punjab=== The Puadh region in Punjab State consists of Ropar, Mohali, Kurali and Kharar of Mohali district, Amloh, Morinda and Sirhind of Fatehgarh Sahib district, Rajpura and Patiala of Patiala district, parts of Doraha and Samrala areas in Ludhiana district and south-eastern parts of Mansa and Sangrur district.<ref name=":0" />
In Punjab:
* Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar District: Kurali, Mohali, Kharar;<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=vcgtAQAAIAAJ&q=poadh Farmers of India, Volume 1. Indian Council of Agricultural Research]</ref> * Rupnagar district; Ropar, Chamkaur Sahib and Morinda * Fategarh Sahib district: Amloh<ref>Transactions of the Institute of Indian Geographers, Volume 19 (1997) Department of Geography, University of Poona [https://books.google.com/books?id=B4NKAQAAIAAJ&q=morinda]</ref> and Sirhind;<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=Gug2AQAAMAAJ&q=sirhind+powadh Punjab District Gazetteers, Part 1 (1919)]</ref> * Ludhiana district: Pail<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=HApDAAAAYAAJ&q=payal+powadh Proceedings, Volume 23. (1990) Punjabi University]</ref> Doraha{{refn|group=note|(which were transferred from the then Sirhind tehsil of Patiala district to Ludhiana in 1963 with Doraha then part of Payal sub-tehsil)<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=WTFuAAAAMAAJ&q=doraha++payal+transfer Punjab district gazetteers, Volume 1 (1970)]</ref>}} and Samrala * Patiala district: Rajpura and western parts of Patiala district<ref>Sukhawindara Siṅgha Saṅghā, (2006) Indian Institute of Language Studies Panjabi Phonology: A Sociolinguistic Study [https://books.google.com/books?id=OqxjAAAAMAAJ&q=patiala+]</ref> including Patiala city.<ref>Banarsi Das Jain (1934) A Phonology of Panjābī: As Spoken about Ludhiana, and A Ludhiānī Phonetic Reader. University of Punjab [https://books.google.com/books?id=f68NAAAAIAAJ&q=powadhi]</ref> * Sangrur district: Moonak and other south-eastern parts of Sangrur.<ref>Census of India, 1981: District census handbook. A & B, Village & town directory; Village & townwise primary census abstract [https://books.google.com/books?id=xaU0VXzvoOgC&q=powadh]</ref> * Mansa district: Bareta sub-tehsil which include Kulrian, Bahadurpur and Dialpura villages.
===Haryana=== In Haryana, Puadh consists of some parts of Ambala, Panchkula, Kurukshetra, Jind and Kaithal districts.<ref name=":0" />
In Haryana,<ref>Gajrana, S. (1994) Peasants, landlords, and princes, 1920-56, Volume 1. Rima Pub. House,[https://books.google.com/books?id=3HpuAAAAMAAJ&q=pinjore++powadh]</ref> Panchkula, Naraingarh, Ambala, Shahabad of Kurukshetra district and Dhamtana Sahib of northern Jind district fall within Puadh. Other areas include Pehowa, and Gulha tehsil<ref>Singh, Jasbir (1976) An Agricultural Geography of Haryana. Vishal publications [https://books.google.com/books?id=sGzoAAAAMAAJ&q=haryana++powadh]</ref> of Kaithal district.
===Himachal Pradesh=== In Himachal Pradesh, the Puadh areas are:
South-Western Nalagarh<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=IwYdAQAAMAAJ&q=mahlog+himachal+powadhi Census of India, 1961: Himachal Pradesh]</ref><ref>Minakshi Chaudhry (2007)Destination Himachal: Over 132 Offbeat and 12 Popular Getaways. Rupa and Co. [https://books.google.com/books?id=3VhuAAAAMAAJ&q=mahlog+]</ref> in Solan district and Kala Amb<ref>Spectrum (05.11.2006( PUNJABI REVIEW Of Puadh and Pablo Neruda Surinder Singh Tej [http://www.tribuneindia.com/2006/20061105/spectrum/book9.htm]</ref> in Sirmaur district in Himachal Pradesh lies in the east of Puadh, which separates the states of Himachal Pradesh and Haryana.<ref name=":0" />
===Chandigarh=== Chandigarh falls within the Puadh region.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=nyUbAAAAIAAJ&q=chandigarh++Patiala+powadh Pakha Sanjam, Volume 14 (1981) Punjabi University]</ref> Chandigarh was carved out of the area of 22 Puadhi-speaking villages.<ref name=":0" />
==Culture and environment== thumb|Rabbi Singh Beronpuri Folk Singer of Puadh sub cultural region of Punjab, IndiaThe region has its own culture, rituals, and language that differs it from other neighbouring regions.<ref name=":0" /> The Puadhi dialect is spoken.<ref name=":0" /> Organizations, such as the ''International Puadhi Manch'', promotes the regional culture.<ref name=":0" /> The region has green-cover and there are mango-orchards.<ref name=":0" /> Farmers of the area grow wheat and sugarcane.<ref name=":0" /> Furthermore, there are many ''nullahs'' and seasonal rivers that contribute to the greenness of the area.<ref name=":0" /> A distinction between Puadhi and Malwai culture is the rural clothing, where in rural Malwa they wrap a ''chadara'' (sheet-type cloth) whilst in Puadh they wear ''kurta pyjama''.<ref name=":0" /> Furthermore, the manner of tying the ''turla''-style turban differs between the two regions.<ref name=":0" /> The region is religiously important for Sikhs, as both Anandpur Sahib and Chamkaur Sahib fall in it.<ref name=":13">{{Cite news |last=Singh |first=I. P. |date=21 September 2021 |title=Punjab: ‘Politically neglected’ Puadh’s first CM |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ludhiana/punjab-politically-neglected-puadhs-first-cm/articleshow/86385927.cms |access-date=28 June 2025 |work=Times of India}}</ref>thumb|left|Shrine of Bhagat Aasa Ram Baidwan, the popular folk artist of Puadhi Akhada tradition of Punjab, village Sohana, district S.A.S Nagar, Punjab India Puadh is often wrongly included in Malwa (Punjab) by the media.<ref>{{cite news|title=Major Punjabi Dialects|url=http://www.thenewstribe.com/2012/01/16/major-punjabi-dialects/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120119103706/http://www.thenewstribe.com/2012/01/16/major-punjabi-dialects/|url-status=usurped|archive-date=19 January 2012}}</ref> The region had its own poets even at Akbar's court such as Mai Banno of Banur. More recent poets include Bhagat Asa Ram Baidwan of Sohana. The Dhadd Sarangi and Kavishri singing originated in Puadh and also different types of Akharas such as that of Rabbi Bhaironpuri. Puadh consists only a small quantity of Punjab. The Majha, Malwa (Punjab), and Doaba make up majority of the Punjab. {{clear}}
=={{anchor|Powadhi dialect}}Puadhi language== {{main|Puadhi language}} [[File:Dialects Of Punjabi.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Map of Punjabi dialects in Punjab region]] The dialect of the Punjabi language spoken in Puadh is called Puadhi. It is spoken by the people of Chandigarh, in Mohali district; few villages, Baltana and Zirakpur, in Patiala district; Rajpura, Ghanaur, Devigarh and Banur, some parts of Ropar district, southern villages of Sangrur such as Moonak, in Mansa district; Bareta sub-tehsil whereas in Haryana in few villages of Ambala district and Fatehabad district; Tohana, in Kurukshetra district; Shahbad and Ismailabad and in Panchkula district except of Kalka, Pinjore and Morni Hills where ''Baghati'' is spoken<ref>{{Cite web |title=Kalka Constituency Election Results 2024: Kalka Assembly Seat Details, MLA Candidates & Winner |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/elections/assembly-elections/haryana/constituency-show/kalka |access-date=2026-03-18 |website=The Times of India |language=en}}</ref> and in Himachal Pradesh in southern villages of Nalagarh in Solan district. {{clear}}
==Gallery== <gallery> File:Sarai Lashkari.jpg|Sarai Lashkari (Doraha) File:Guru Gobind Singh Bhawan.jpg|Guru Gobind Singh Bhawan. Punjabi University, Patiala File:Statues made of waste Bangles at Rock Garden, Chandigarh.jpg|Statues made of waste Bangles at Rock Garden, Chandigarh File:Thaan, worship tradition for elder son in Punjab.jpg|Thaan (shrine) in Dera village Bakarpur, Mohali File:Stupa Base.JPG|Stupa Base, Sanghol (Fategarh Sahib district) File:Ruins of Indus Valley Civilization, Punjab.jpg|Ruins of Indus Valley Civilization, Punjab (Rupnagar) File:Tomb of Shagird village Talania Sirhind 05.jpg|Tomb of Shagird village Talania Sirhind File:Fatehgarh Sahib Gurdwara, Punjab, India.jpg|Fatehgarh Sahib Gurdwara, Punjab, India File:SD College, Ambala.jpg|SD College, Ambala File:Pehowa, Arunai - 5.jpeg|Mandir in Pehowa, Haryana File:NsmkInstMlk.jpg|NSMK Institute of Advanced Studies, Malerkotla File:View of city from the Palace Nalagarh Princely State,India.jpg|View of city from the Palace Nalagarh Princely State </gallery>
== See also == *Puadhi dialect *Doaba *Malwa *Majha *Mahasu region
==Notes== {{reflist|group=note}}
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{Punjab, India}} {{PunjabGeography}} {{GeoSouthAsia}} {{Authority control}} {{coord missing|Punjab (India)}}
Category:Regions of Punjab, India Category:Plains of India Category:Landforms of Punjab, India