Chana known as gram, chick peas, & cholley in punjanbi language are brownish small size beans. But in Punjabi & Pakistan they use Kabuli chana in cooking which are paled white beans. both brown & white beans expand in bigger size after shocking.

chana is popular in curry cooking around country.

But recipe of cooking chana is different from place to place.
Chana is most popular in the world and popular as Punjabi dish, here masala means the gravy, curry, or source, which gives test to dish is having Punjabi aroma & test.
Dish is having beat of sweetness, sourness, and punch of spices, which gives tingling experience, and there for punjabi style is known for.