Sri Muktsar Sahib district


Sri Muktsar Sahib district, colloquially known by the city's former name Muktsar; is one of the twenty-two districts in the Indian state of Punjab. Its capital, the city of Sri Muktsar Sahib, was renamed from Muktsar to Sri Muktsar Sahib, with the district subsequently the following suit. The district itself was historically referred as Khidraane Di Dhaab. Several other prominent towns in the district include but are not limited to Malout, the largest town in Sri Muktsar Sahib by population; and Giddarbaha.

History

The Shri Muktsar Sahib district was created as a new district on 7 November 1995 by the separation of the Muktsar subdivision from the Faridkot district.
The last battlefield of the tenth Sikh Guru, Shri Guru Gobind Singh, lies in the district's main city. The Battle of Muktsar, a major battle between the Mughals and the Sikhs, occurred in present-day Sri Muktsar Sahib during the year of 1705. The Gurudwara Tibbi Sahib was built to mark the battlefield.
The district has many historical Gurudwaras including the Darbar Sahib, the Shaheedi Gurudwara, and the Tibbi Sahib in the Shri Muktsar Sahib city proper, and several others in the district's respective villages.
The Mela Maghi fair is celebrated annually in January at the Sri Muktsar Sahib city proper in remembrance of the forty martyrs.

Demographics

According to the 2011 census Sri Muktsar Sahib district has a total population of 901,896, roughly equal to the nation of Fiji or the US state of Delaware. This gives it a ranking of 464th in India. The district has a population density of. Its population growth rate over the decade 2001-2011 was 16.1%. It has a sex ratio of 895 females for every 1000 males and a literacy rate of 66.8%.
The principal Jatt Sikh clans are Sidhu, Brar, Sandhu, Sekhon, Buttar, Gill, Maan, Bhullar, Aulakh, Virk, Dhaliwal, Dhillon.