India is home to several cultures, religions and traditions. The Indian subcontinent comprises 28 beautiful states that differ based on religion, food habits, lifestyle as well as beliefs.
Key Takeaways
- Punjabi is an Indo-Aryan language spoken in Punjab (India and Pakistan), whereas Gujarati is spoken in the Indian state of Gujarat.
- Punjabi uses the Gurmukhi script in India and the Shahmukhi script in Pakistan, while Gujarati uses the Gujarati script.
- Punjabi cuisine is known for its rich, buttery flavors, and dishes like butter chicken and makki di roti. In contrast, Gujarati cuisine features a mix of sweet, salty, and spicy flavors, with dishes like dhokla and khandvi.
Punjabi vs Gujarati
The difference between Punjabi and Gujarati is that Punjabi basically refers to the inhabitants of Punjab, which is a state in northwest India, whereas Gujarati refers to the inhabitants of Gujarat, which lies in west India. People of both these regions speak languages that are named Punjabi and Gujarati, respectively. They also follow different religions.
Want to save this article for later? Click the heart in the bottom right corner to save to your own articles box!
Punjabis, as a matter of fact, belong to Punjab and speak the language Punjabi. The traditional food or cuisine of this region is also known as Punjabi.
On the other hand, Gujaratis belong to Gujarat and speak Gujarati. Gujarati food is their traditional cuisine, which is very different from Punjabi.
Comparison Table
| Parameters of Comparison | Punjabi | Gujarati |
|---|---|---|
| Region | Punjabis are the inhabitants of Punjab. | Gujaratis are the inhabitants of Gujarat. |
| Geography | Punjab is a part of north-western India. | Gujarat is a part of western India. |
| Religion | Most people follow Sikhism here. | Most people follow Hinduism here. |
| Language | Punjabi is the native language of this region. | Gujarati is the native language. |
| Food | The cuisine is also named Punjabi, which has vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes. | The cuisine is Gujarati, which has vegetarian dishes mostly. |
| Attire | Turbans are considered to be the traditional symbol. | Gujarati style saree is famous here. |
| Folk Dance | Bhangra, Gidha and Jhumas are popular folk dances. | Garba and Dandiya are popular here. |
| Festival | Many festivals are celebrated, out of which Baisakhi and Lohri are famous. | Makar Sankranti and Navratri are very famous here. |
What is Punjabi?
Punjabi is defined as the basis for everything in the state of Punjab. The inhabitants of this state, their cultural practices, as well as their traditional food are all termed Punjabi.
The history of Punjab dates back to the time of the India-Pakistan partition. Several parts of the state got distributed between India and Pakistan.
It is stereotypically believed that Punjabis are highly enthusiastic and celebration-loving people. Several festivals like Lohri, Baisakhi, Holi, Basant etc., are celebrated by the people of Punjab.
Punjabis believe in visiting the Gurudwara to worship Guru Nanak Ji. Although they are merely 3 per cent of India’s total population, Punjab culture and lifestyle are popular all over the country.
What is Gujarati?
‘Gujarati’ is the term used for referring to the inhabitants, traditional food and cultural practices of the state of Gujarat. It is located in western India.
A Greek book has all the things listed about the history of Gujarat in it. Ahmedabad is known to be the most popular and the largest city in Gujarat.
Gujaratis are highly dedicated to trading and business. Most of them rely on their family businesses as their primary profession. It is because they are really witty and make good businessmen.
Most people in Gujarat follow Hinduism. They love eating sweet and savoury dishes like Dhokla, Dabeli, Dal Wada, Jalebi, Gulab Jamun, Basundi etc.
Main Differences Between Punjabi and Gujarati
- Bhangra is the most popular folk dance of Punjab, while that of Gujarat is Garba.
- Baisakhi and Lohri are the most popular festivals in Punjab, while Makar Sankranti and Navratri are the ones in Gujarat.
I’ve put so much effort writing this blog post to provide value to you. It’ll be very helpful for me, if you consider sharing it on social media or with your friends/family. SHARING IS ♥️
Piyush Yadav has spent the past 25 years working as a physicist in the local community. He is a physicist passionate about making science more accessible to our readers. He holds a BSc in Natural Sciences and Post Graduate Diploma in Environmental Science. You can read more about him on his bio page.
