As Valentine’s Day approaches, it is a good time to introduce you all to
the ancient love story of Heer Ranjha, the Romeo and Juliette of Punjab:
Heer Ranjha is an epic romantic tale, based on a true love story. Several Punjabi poets have narrated this story from the 17th to 18th centuries.
Heer, an elegantly beautiful girl from a well to do family who falls in love with Ranjha, a prince from a far off land of a thousand towers, Ranjha has disguised himself as a simple laborer to find his soulmate.
Heer’s father had employed Ranjha to herd the family’s cattle, Ranjha a master musician is harmoniously playing his flute, the instrument of love in Punjab. On hearing his music she is mesmerised by his flute playing.
They meet each other secretly until Heer’s uncle learns of their courting engagement. Upon this news Heer’s family conspire and she is forced to marry another man, Ranjha is heartbroken.
Ranjha’s sorrow leads him to renounce the world and become a yogi, travelling around in spiritual solitude, eventually he wanders into the village where Heer lives with her new husband. Ranjha, on seeing Heer, takes her away and the two are married.
Enraged by Heer’s disobedience and her unrequited love to Ranjha, Heer’s family take the ultimate step of poisoning the sweet Ladoo she is served at her wedding, culminating in her passing to the next world. Ranjha utterly distraught at this tragic news commits suicide himself to join her in eternity, by eating the remainder of her sweet wedding ladoo.
In the town of Jhang, there is a mausoleum which honours the absolute expression of love by Heer and Ranjha.
Love is given supreme status in Punjabi culture. Love is the emotion which contains all other emotions. It is the common thread, revered by Eastern spiritual schools such as Sufi, Sikh and Hindu traditions. It is ‘the way to God.’
At V-Giyan, we have a culture of Love in the sanctity of the kitchen. Slow simmering love is the energy transmuted into our food, to our customers and embracing the cherished ones around your banquet tables.
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