Fazilka

The municipality of Fazilka was formed with Punjab Government Notification No. 486, on 10 December 1885. The town was added to the Ferozepur district in 1884. On 27 July 2011, Fazilka was declared a District by the Government of Punjab with Gazette Notification No. 1/1/2011-RE-II(I)/14554.

Fazilka, like many towns on the Indo-Pakistani border, has suffered difficulties dating back to the Partition of India in 1947. The Radcliffe Line, the border recommended by departing British colonial authorities, divides natural resources, houses, and people. The Satluj River, which is a common source of water, is a border between the two countries.

Before partition, 50% of Fazilka's population was Muslim. All of them left India for Pakistan in 1947. Most of the villages around Fazilka are dominated by Muslim families, mainly the Bodla, Watto, Sahoo Rajpoot, Kalya Rajpoot and Chistis clans.

Many people from Fazilka pay an annual visit to Katasraj — a Hindu holy city in Pakistan — usually in August.

As of the 2011 Indian census,[1] Fazilka had a population of 76,492. Males constitute about 52% of the population and females 48%. Fazilka has an average literacy rate of 70.7%: male literacy is 74.6%, and female literacy is 66.4%. 11% of the population is under 6 years of age.

Punjabi is language of Fazilka. Bagri is spoken by a most people.

Fazilka is known for a style of jhumar dance promulgated by Baba Pokhar Singh (1916–2002). Pokhar Singh's family had migrated from the Montgomery District of Western Punjab, and they claimed to represent the Ravi style of jhumar. However, Fazilka had its own style of jhumar which was referred to as the Satluj style. Therefore, at least two regional styles were mixed in everyday life, and in his jhummar routine (which was basically the same each time, and which family and friends still perform today), Pokhar identified several other regional movements.[2]

The climate of the Fazilka District is, on the whole, dry and is characterized by a very hot summer, a short rainy season, and a bracing winter. The year may be divided into four seasons. The cold season is from November to March. This is followed by the summer season which lasts until about the end of June. The period from July to mid-September constitutes the south-westerly monsoon season. The latter half of September and October may be termed the post-monsoon or the transition period.

• Mandira Bedi, actress and fashion designer
• Gurnam Bhullar, famous Punjabi singer
• Kamal Chopra, famous printer and one time President of AIFMP
• Kapil Dev, Indian cricketer
• Sher Singh Ghubaya, member of the Lok Sabha
• Shubman Gill, vice-captain Under 19 Indian Cricket Team
• Surjit Kumar Jyani, politician and Punjab health minister
• Kunwar Mohinder Singh Bedi Sahar, noted Urdu poet writing under pen-name 'Sahar'

• Ghuriana