
The Criterion: An International Journal in English
Cultural Studies
Building Resilience through the Study of Cultural and Religious Syncretism: Folk-Narratives, Shrines and Gurudwaras in Punjab
Abstract
Punjab, owing to its geographical position has been labeled as the “Melting Pot” of various cultures and religions. In the modern times, when identity is being constructed in consolidation along religious affirmations, the folk narratives of the region embody various philosophies and offer an alternative against the dominant discourse of homogenization. Reading and analyzing these narratives as well as the social spaces that offer a possibility of interaction between the communities speaks for the existence of a shared culture along humanitarian grounds, which is Punjabiyat. This paper makes an effort to study these alternatives in the form of folk literature and spaces which stand as a stark contrast to the existing and rising discourse of homogenization of History and consolidation in Identity construction.
Keywords
Punjab, Qissa, Syncretism, Folk Narratives, Shrines, Gurdwaras
How to Cite
Divyanshi Bhardwaj. “Building Resilience through the Study of Cultural and Religious Syncretism: Folk-Narratives, Shrines and Gurudwaras in Punjab.” The Criterion: An International Journal in English, vol. 17, no. 1, Feb. 2026, pp. 878-895. ISSN: 0976-8165.

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