Punjab has been the seat of high civilisation since the Indus Valley times. It was here that the Aryans chanted the hymns of the Rigveda and oerformed sacrifices to the gods ruling over the elements. Pujab has suffered invasions since the time of Alexander. These invasions and the succeeding political upheavals could not erode the culture of Punjab . In subsequent ages, it formed a chief centre of the Hindu power from which civilising influences radiated towards all directions. Throughout the past 5000 years the village has endured as the soul of India. Invaders have come and gone, empires have risen and fallen, but the villages have retained their spirit. Punjab's geographical position enabled it to reap the fullest benefits of the encouragement which sovereigns of the time gave to art, architecture and crafts objects. But its chief asset was its people who soon acquired the habit of imparting delicate and minute finish to a decorative article. Its woodcarving, metalwork, jewellery, pottery, lacquerwork, inlay on ivory, embroidery, etc. at once rivet the attention and ecxite and amaze all lovers of beauty.