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Jalandhar
 

Jalandhar () is an ancient city in Jalandhar District in the state of Punjab, India. It was the capital of Trigarttas (people living in the "land between three rivers": Ravi, Beas and Sutlej) in the times of Mahabharata war. It has an urban population of almost a million, and another million live in the rural areas outside the city.

The city is located almost 375 kms from Delhi, and about 90 kms from Amritsar. Jalandhar is named after Jaldhar, a demon king who lived in water as his name suggests (Jal=water, dhar=in). It was the capital of Punjab until 1953, when it was replaced by Chandigarh. Others say Jalandhar is derived from the fact that it is located between two rivers JAL (water) & ANDHAR (in). During British occupation it was called Jullundur.

The city is the media and mass communication hub of the region having the regional headquarters of the national television and radio channels. The city is well known for its production of sports equipment, leather goods and rubber goods. Many major leather manufacturers are based here, the largest being Gee Kay International who supply a variety of leather products ranging from garments to tool bags around the world. Many major sports equipment manufacturers such as BDM, Cosco, JJ Jonex, Spartan and F.C. Sondhi group are based here. In sports goods the worlds best footballs, cricket and hockey equipment are made in Jalandhar, major sports giants such as Adidas, Reebok, and Mitre outsource from jalandhar.

In ancient time, the district or Kingdom of Jalandhar comprised the whole of the Upper Doabas from the Ravi to the Satluj. According to the Padama Purana, as quoted by General Conningham the country takes its name from the great Daitya King Danava Jalandhara the son of the Ganga by Ocean

The earliest historical mention of Jalandhar occur in the region of Kanishka, the Kushan King of northern India in whose time a council of Buddhists theologians was held near Jalandhar about 100 AD to collect and arrange the sacred writings of Buddhism and to bring about reconciliation between its various sects.

In the 7th Century, when the famous Chinese traveller and pilgrim Hiuen Tsang visited India during the reign of Harsha Vardhana, the Kingdom of Jalandhar or Trigartta under Raja Utito (Whom Alexender Cunningham identifies with the Rajput Raja Attar Chandra). It was said to have extended 167 miles (269 km) from east to west and 133 miles (214 km) from north to south, thus including the hill states of Chamba, Mandi and Suket (Himachal Pardesh) and Satadru or Sirhind in the plains. Raja Utito was a tributary of Harsh Vardhana. The Rajput Rajas appear to have continued to rule over the country right upto the 12th century, interrupted some time or the other, but their capital was Jalandhar and Kangra formed and important stronghold.

According to Chinese pilgrim Famine, who traveled India in the seventh century AD, there were so many Vihars and Mathematics of Buddhism in India. In the Jalandhar District, there were as many as 50 Vihars and Mathematics of Buddhism. The Buddhism religion was adopted by a large number of people.

From the later half of the tenth century up to AD 1019, the district was included in the Shahi Kingdom of the Punjab and Jalandhar was an important city in the region.

Jalandhar is the world's biggest manufacturer of leather tool pouches and aprons with major USA and European customers buying from factories in Jalandhar.

Jalandhar is also famous for its surgical tool industry. Jalandhar produce a large number of surgical tools. Big companies like Camlin outsource its production here.A place called basti sheikh has got many cottage projects which run without any help of the Punjab government which has turned enemy of the Industry.

Jalandhar also has the biggest printing industry in India. With major publishing and advertising companies like, mbd, aay bee advertisers having their main offices in Jalandhar.

Jalandhar is famous for its sports industry, but very few know the name of Hindustan Hydraulics who pioneered in the manufacturing of high-tech CNC machines for sheet metal industry. The company has its customers not only India but in countries like Germany, Holland, USA who are better known for the manufacturing of machine tools around the world.

A number of popular Punjabi folk and Bhangra singers belong to this city including Apache Indian-Steven Kapoor, Hans Raj Hans, Jasbir Jassi, Jazzy B, and Sarabjit Cheema. Some Bollywood singers that have come out the city include the legendary K.L. Saigal.

Jalandhar is also home to some of the major educational institutions of the region. Notable among them are: the National Institute of Technology, Jalandhar (NITJ), Beant Singh Institute of Medical Sciences which is under construction , the Punjab Technical University, Apeejay College of Fine Arts, Apeejay Institute of Management, DAV College, DOABA College, the disputed Lovely Institute of Management,C. T. Institute of Management and IT and Guru Nanak Dev University Regional Campus,Ladhewali, Lyallpur Khalsa College

NIT Jalandhar

Dr B R Ambedkar National Institute of Technology, Jalandhar (erstwhile Regional Engineering College) is the eighteenth NIT of the country. The institution was established in the year 1987 as Regional Engineering College and recently (October 17, 2002) has been given the status of National Institute of Technology (Deemed University) by the Government of India under the control of Ministry of Human Resource Development, New Delhi.

As National Institute of Technology, the institute has a responsibility of providing high quality education in Engineering and Technology to produce competent technical manpower for the country. The institute offers BTech program in nine disciplines of Engineering and Technology along with research programs leading to MTech and PhD.The institute acquires a national character having 50% student intake from the State of Punjab and the rest from other states/union territories of the country. http://www.nitj.ac.in

Jalandhar Cantonment

Jalandhar Cantonment is one of the oldest cantonments in India, the construction of which was started in 1848 after the first Anglo-Sikh War, when the British settled in Northern India. The original scope of this cantonment was limited to troops to quell disturbances from adjoining States for the maintenance of peace and order. The departure of British from India and subsequent partition of the country changed the complexion of the Cantonment. It has gained tremendous importance on account of its nearness to the border with Pakistan. The Cantonment is located between latitude 30° 18' and longitude 75° 37' on the southwest and at a distance of 2 km from Cantonment Railway Station and 5 km from City Railway Station. It is situated beside Grand Trunk Road at a distance of 89 km from Amritsar and 371 km from Delhi. It covers an area of 5.87 square miles (15.2 km²). It is on Amritsar-Delhi Broad Gauge Main Line. A Class-I airfield at Adampur is situated at a distance of 19 km. The airfield is linked with Jalandhar Cantonment by rail and road.

Harballabh Fair

The most notable event in Jalandhar is the annual national Harballabh Fair which is held every year from 26th to 29th of December. 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. The Sangeet Sammelan is held in the premises of Devi Talab 1.5 km from the Railway Station. Even Mahatma Gandhi was attracted to the festival in 1929. Jalandhar has been in the thick of the fight for freedom from the British Raj and has produced many patriots. A Desh-Bhagat Memorial Hall has been constructed here to perpetuate the memory of such martyrs. More information on Harballabh is available at their official website http://www.harballabh.org

Devi Talab Mandir

There is a temple of shakti peeth which is one of the 51 Shakti Peethas which is know as Tripurmalini. Devi's right breast fell here. An old temple of goddess Kali also stands by the side of the Devi Talab.

Shiv Mandir

The temple has an unusual architecture. Its main gate is built in the style of a mosque while the rest of the building is in Hindu style. This temple dates back to the Lodhi Era (period of reign: 1451 to 1526 CE.). Its situated in Gur-mandi Jalandhar.

Baba Sodal Mela

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 which roughly corresponds to mid-September. The celebration take place on the 14th of Shukal Paksh (bright half of the lunar month), the day on which child deity left for his heavenly abode. The fair lasts for one day. In the early hours of the morning, women come in large numbers to make offering at the smadh.

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 pond." 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.

The main place of worship is the smadh of Baba Sodal. Inside 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.

Famous personalities

External links

Cities and towns in Punjab (India) | Shakti Peethas

Jalandhar

 

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