Quick geography lesson: The Bengal Region and Culture is divided between the sovereign state of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh and West Bengal in India. You shouldn’t find it hard to make friends in Bengal, given that the region is one of the most densely populated regions on earth, with a population density exceeding 900/km²!
The majority of Bengal is inhabited by Bengali people who speak the Bengali language (a.k.a Bangla), although English is often used for official work. 66% of the total Bengali population is Muslim, and 33% is Hindu. In Bangladesh 89.7% of the population is Muslim.
The Game of Life
Sport is a big deal in these parts, so if you like to roll up your sleeves and grab a ball, or simply relax and enjoy a nice cold drink while you watch other people run around and get sweaty (while offering them your advice), be sure to catch one of the (many) cricket or soccer matches. Kolkata is one of the major centres for football in India. Local games, which are played just about everywhere, include Kho Kho and Kabaddi (Bangladesh’s national sport.)
Passion for Fashion
If you want to dress to impress or simply to fit in here’s the low-down: Bengali women commonly wear the saree and the salwar kameez, which vary in colour and style according to local cultural customs. In the major towns and cities, many men and women dress Western, although it seems to be more widely acceptable among men. You’ll also see guys in traditional costumes such as the panjabi with dhuti or pyjama, and even skirts: The lungi, a kind of long skirt, is widely worn by Bangladeshi men.
Food Glorious Food
Centuries of contact between Muslims and Hindus in Bengal have let to fusions in many cultural aspects, especially when it comes to cuisine. Beef has been phased into Muslim cuisine from the region but you obviously won’t see any of that at a Hindu table.
If you’re fortunate to be invited to eat in a Bengali friend’s home, be sure to clean under your fingernails with the scrubby-brush, as more than likely, you’ll find yourself sitting on the floor on an individual piece of carpet, called an asan, would be spread for each person to sit on – surrounded by small metal dishes full of sumptuous and aromatic dishes (including rice) that you’ll be eating with your fingers! (apparently there are three ways of eating rice in Bengal: “finger picking”, “finger shovelling” and “ball-rolling”). And here’s another “hands-on” fact about Bengal customs: many Bengalis use their right hand when they eat or hand things to other people as they consider their left hand unclean.
Where to Meet Bengali Friends Online
When it comes to finding friends virtually, My language exchange unites Bengali-speaking pen pals and plenty of Bengalis who want to practice their English or meet friends abroad sign up. For those who live abroad banglacommunity.com is a large network of Bengalis spanning the four corners of the globe. Bengali chat and instant messaging can be found at banglalive.com If it’s friendship and maybe a little more you’re looking for, kamaconnection can apparently open the cyber-gates to Bengali love.
“tumi moi friend asey” = “you are my friend” in Bengali. (Don’t ask me how to pronounce it though!)
Did You Know….?
Kazi Nazrul Islam, the National poet of Bangladesh was a revolutionary Bengali poet who led the Bengal Renaissance in Muslim majority areas of Bengal.
