New Delhi: There are many places in India which have quirky names and interesting records to boast about. In this article, we are going to talk about one such place whose name matches with a popular surname in India and has also a fascinating trivia about it. Those who are wondering, the name of the place is Khanna, which is also the surname of some famous people in the country including Rajesh Khanna and Vinod Khanna. But why is the place famous? Let us take a look at it.
Where is Khanna and why we should know about it?
Khanna is a city in Punjab’s Ludhiana district and also a municipal district. The popularity of the place stems from the fact that it is the biggest grain market not just in India, but also in Asia. This city in Punjab supplies food grains to the rest of the country and also to the world. It can be said that when it comes to food grain supplies, Khanna acts as an agricultural hub.
Also, Khanna is a city which is surrounded by some famous cities and places of Punjab like Mohali, Amritsar, Sanrur and Kapurthala. One can visit the Fatehgarh-Sahib from Khanna and explore the ‘Mandis’ or the market places with wheat being the principal food item. According to reports, the city has witnessed development and its role as the leading grain producer in India has boosted its reputation on the global map.
The history of Khanna
The founder of the Sur Empire, Sher Shah Suri once built several inns along the Delhi-Lahore road and one of those inns was built in the region of Khanna, known today as Purani Sarai. After the Mughal rule declined in Punjab, the great Sikh warrior Banda Singh Bahadur captured the territory from Hoshiarpur to Sirhind.
The city got its name from the Punjabi word ‘Khanna’ which means one quarter and there is an interesting history to it. After Banda Singh Bahadur, the area came under the control of a Jathedar of Dahedu who occupied the whole of the area from Dahedu to Nabha. He made his daughter, Daya Kaur, marry the King of Nabha. However, a dispute arose between the king and his new wife, and Daya went back to live with her parents. Since she could not remain there forever as per Indian traditions, her father gave her a ‘kann’ (small portion) of the territory between Dahedu and Nabha which was renowned for agriculture. With time, the pronunciation of the name changed from ‘Kann’ to ‘Khanna’.
The culture and delicacies in Khanna
It goes without saying that Khanna is dominated by Punjabi culture but reportedly, the place has a high literacy rate which makes the city stand out. The women work alongside men in the agricultural fields and markets, and they also manage the household finances. On the other hand, like any city in Punjab, Khanna too has a vibrant food culture. One can find delicious Punjabi delicacies and North Indian dishes in the restaurants there, like Butter Chicken, Khamiri and Shahi Paneer. If you ever visit Khanna, you can explore the local delicacies and also places like Ludhiana and Rupnagar.
Khanna, a city in Punjab’s Ludhiana district, is renowned as Asia’s largest grain market, supplying food grains globally. Its name originates from a historical land grant to Daya Kaur, daughter of a Jathedar. knowledge Knowledge News, Photos and Videos on General Knowledge
