ME/SA students and SSA planning committees posing happily after their Basant Kirtan Darbar event.

Punjabi

About the Punjabi Program

UC Davis currently offers two years of Punjabi (Elementary and Intermediate) at UC Davis and one year of Punjabi (Elementary) through UC Online. Students can find Punjabi classes in Schedule Builder using the PUN course code. For questions about courses and language placement, please contact ME/SA Advising.

Cameraman film interview with Punjabi Program student, Amandeep Dhaliwal.
Punjabi student, Amandeep Dhaliwal, represents the ME/SA Punjabi Program during a local news station interview at the Yuba City Nagar Kirtan 2023.
Students work on last minute decorations for the Punjabi language parade float.
Punjabi Club sets up Punjabi language float at Yuba City Nagar Kirtan Parade 2023.
Punjabi students hand out jalebis and offer activities while tabling at the Memorial Union.
The Punjabi Program hosts a kick-off event for its first-ever Punjabi Week at the Memorial Union.
Punjabi students pose with colorful umbrellas in front of their informational booth.
Punjabi Week student organizers pose after their kick-off event.

Why Learn Punjabi?

There are over 130 million Punjabi speakers in the world today. Punjabi is also an important language in California; it is the third most common language spoken in the Central Valley. Our campus is located in the heart of the historic Punjabi community, the first sizeable South Asian American community, that started in the 1890s.

map of some of the punjabi dialects

Source: Gurmeet Kaur, Fascinating Folktales of Punjab.

Third Annual Punjabi Week (May 19-23, 2025)

Collage showcasing elements of Punjabi culture
History of Punjab (navjotshergill, 2017)

Schedule of Events

Kick-Off Event: Monday, May 19th | 11AM - 2PM | Memorial Union Quad Flag Pole

Come learn about Punjabi culture! Live Bhangra performances, Punjabi food, and henna!

Music & Poetry Night: Monday, May 19th | 7PM - 9PM | Green Community Center

Join us for an evening of Punjabi & Urdu music and poetry. 

Chunni Making Workshop: Wednesday, May 21st | 6:30PM - 8:30PM | TLC 2010

Make your own beautiful Punjabi scarf in this hands-on craft workshop. 

Image of four women embroidering a tradition Punjabi scarf known as the "Phulkari dupatta".

Punjabi Without Borders (Punjabi Kandho Paar) Panel Discussion: Thursday, May 22nd | 7PM - 9PM | Olson 250

Engage in a dialogue with experts in India and Pakistan about the politics of the Punjabi language.