Culture of Bangladesh

About Bangladesh:
Bangladesh is a low-lying riverine country located in South Asia. It is the second largest river basin in the world (behind the Amazon). The country contains the confluence of the Ganges (Padma), Brahmaputra (Jamuna), and Meghna Rivers and their tributaries which empty into the Bay of Bengal. Bangladesh is bordered by India to the east, north, and west and shares a short border with Myanmar (Burma) in the southeast. The country is mainly flat, with 90% of its landmass less than 10 meters above sea level. With a population of approximately 150 million, Bangladesh is the most densely populated agricultural country in the world. Bangladesh lies between latitudes 20 and 27N, and longitudes 88 and 93E. After a bloody struggle for liberation from Pakistan in 1971, Bangladesh was established as a parliamentary democracy. The country was under military rule for many years, but a democratically elected government was re-established in 1991.

Religion:
The main religion in Bangladesh is Islam (89.7%), but a significant percentage of the population adheres to Hinduism (9.2%). The majority of Muslims are Sunni. Other religious groups include Buddhists (0.7%) and Christians (0.3%). Bangladesh has the fourth largest Muslim population after Indonesia, Pakistan, and India, with over 135 million.

Festivals: Eid:
As The main religion in Bangladesh is Islam (89.7%). The Muslims celebrate Eid twice a year, Eid-ul-Fitr and the other, which comes about 10 weeks later, is called Eid-ul-Adha. In

Bangladesh. the night before Eid is called Chaand Raat, which means, "Night of the Moon." Muslims in these countries will often visit bazaars and shopping malls with their families for Eid shopping. Women, especially younger girls, will often apply the traditional Mehndi, or henna, on their hands and feet and wear colourful bangles. The traditional Eid greeting is Eid Mubarak, and it is frequently followed by a formal embrace. Gifts are frequently given new clothes are part of the tradition and it is also common for children to be given small sums of money (Eidi) by their elders. It is common for children to offer salam to parents and adult relatives

Durga Puja:
Durga puja, also referred to as Durgotsava is an annual Hindu festival in South Asia that celebrates worship of the Hindu goddess Durga. It refers to all the six days observed as Mahalaya, Shashthi, Maha Saptami, Maha Ashtami, Maha Navami and Vijayadashami. The dates of Durga Puja celebrations are set according to the traditional Hindu calendar and the fortnight corresponding to the festival is called Devi Paksha. Devi Paksha is preceded by Mahalaya, the last day of the previous fortnight Pitri Paksha, it is the biggest festival of the year. Not only is it the biggest Hindu festival celebrated throughout the State, but it is also the most significant socio-cultural event in Bengali society

Pohela Boishakh:
Pohela stands for first and Baisakh is first month of Bengali calendar. Bengali New Year or Phela Boishakh , occurring on 14th April, is the first day of the Bengali calendar, celebrated in Bangladesh. Phela Boishakh connects all ethnic Bengalis irrespective of religious and regional differences. In Bangladesh, it is a national holiday. The festival is celebrated according to the Hindu Bengali calendar. Bangla New Year's festivities are closely linked with rural life in Bengal. Usually on Pohela Boishakh, the home is thoroughly scrubbed and cleaned; people bathe early in the morning and dress in traditional clothes. They spend much time of the day visiting relatives, friends and neighbours. Special foods are prepared to entertain guests. This is one rural festival that has become enormously big in the cities, especially in Dhaka. Boishakhi fairs are arranged in many parts of the country. Various agricultural products, traditional handicrafts, toys, cosmetics, as well as various kinds of food and sweets are sold at these fairs. The fairs also provide entertainment, with singers and dancers staging jatra (traditional plays), pala gan, kobigan, jarigan, gambhira gan, gazir gan and alkap gan. They present folk songs as well as baul, marfati, murshidi and bhatiali songs. Narrative plays like Laila-Majnu, YusufZulekha and Radha-Krishna are staged.

Language Movement Day:

Language Movement Day is a unique part of the culture of Bangladesh. Every year on February 21 this day is observed to pay tribute to the martyrs who sacrificed their lives to establish Bengali as the official language of then East Pakistan in 1952. The mood of the day is

sad and humble. The celebration of Language Movement Day goes on the entire month of February. Ekushey Book Fair is a book fair arranged to mark this occasion every year. The fair has also become an integral part of the culture of Bangladesh. Authors and readers in Bangladesh eagerly await the fair each year. To commemorate this movement, Shaheed Minar, a solemn and symbolic sculpture, was erected in the place of the massacre. Today the Shaheed Minar is the centre of cultural activities in Dhaka. On the morning of February 21 each year, people from all walks of life including the national leaders pay tribute to the martyrs by leaving flowers at Shaheed Minar. A very melodious and melancholy song, Amar Bhaier Rokte Rangano, written by Abdul Gaffar Choudhury and composed by Altaf Mahmud, is played repeatedly in electronic media and cultural gatherings throughout the month, and especially on February 21. This song, too, has become a symbolic mark of culture of Bangladesh.

Food:
Katchi Biriani: Katchi Biriani is one of the spicy Biriani that is highly popular in Old Dhaka. Old Dhakas Katchi Biriani is famous in all over the country. The cooker of Katchi Biriani use huge amount of spices to cook this biriani. Thats why this in called one of the spicy biriani. Some of the ingredients that the cooker used to make this delicious food are meat of goat, polau rice, ghee, potatoes, onion, ginger pest, roshun pest, alachi, darchini, lobongo, jaifol, joytri, jira, chilies, golapjol, alobokhara, oil and salt. Golabjol is used to increase the smell of this Biriani. Most taste Katchi Biriani is found in Chackbazar, Najirabazar side of Old Dhaka

Murog Polau:
Murog Polau is one of the traditional food items of Old Dhaka. It is the most famous food in the section of Polau. People of Old Dhaka used to cook this Polau in any party especially in marriage ceremony. It is similar to Polau but the main difference is that the cooker mixed pieces of cooked Chicken in that polau. As people use Murog (Chicken) to make this Polau local people called this Murog Polau. The cooker use Polau Chal (rice), Murog (Chicken), Ghee, Onion pest, Ginger pest, Jaifol, Jotri, Dar-chini, Alachi, Doi, Lemon , Milk, Jafran, Pesta Badam, Food color etc to make Murog Polau. Cooker use a huge amount of spices to give it different flavor. As a result it spread a sweet smell

Khasir Chap:
Khasir Chap is another type of traditional food of Old Dhaka. It is very much famous among the people of Old Dhaka. Local people called this food Khasir Rejala. In local language Goat is called Khasi. The main ingredient of this food is the meat of goat thats why people named it Khasir Chap. As I have already said meat of goat is the main ingredient of this food, other elements that this food contains are Onion pest, ginger pest, tok doi, ghee, sugar, salt, milk, flavor, and food color.

Borhani:
Borhani is a special drink that is made by different spices. It is very ancient drink that is still famous among the people of Old Dhaka. The main element of this drink is Tok Doi. The maker also use jira, fried chilies, salt, gol morich, sorisha guro, ginger, chilies pest, bit salt, sugar, leaves pudina etc. It is very common drink that is used to serve in any party in Old Dhaka especially in marriage ceremony.

Sports:
Cricket is the most popular sport in Bangladesh, followed by football. Kabaddi is the national sport in Bangladesh. Cricket is a game which has a massive and passionate following in Bangladesh. Bangladesh has joined the elite group of countries eligible to play Test Cricket since 2000. The Bangladesh national cricket team goes by the nickname of the Tigers - after the Royal Bengal Tiger. The people of Bangladesh enjoy watching live sports. Whenever there is a cricket or football match between popular local teams or international teams in any local stadium significant number of spectators gather to watch the match live. The people also celebrate major victories of the national teams with great enthusiasm for the live game. Victory processions are the most common element in such celebrations. A former prime minister even made an appearance after an International one day cricket match in which Bangladesh beat Australia, she came to congratulate the victory. Also in late 2006 and 2007, football legend Zinedine Zidane paid a visit to local teams and various events thanks to the invite of Nobel Peace Prize winner Dr. Muhammad Yunus. Bangladesh has a long history in its culture. The land, the rivers, and the lives of the Bengali people formed a rich heritage with marked differences from neighboring regions. It has evolved over the centuries and encompasses the cultural diversity of several social groups of Bangladesh. The Bengal Renaissance of the 19th and early 20th centuries, noted Bengali writers, saints, authors, scientists, researchers, thinkers, music composers, painters, and film-makers have played a significant role in the development of Bengali culture. The Bengal Renaissance contained the seeds of a nascent political Indian nationalism and was the precursor in many ways

to modern Indian artistic and cultural expression. The culture of Bangladesh is composite and over the centuries has assimilated influences of Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism, Islam, and Christianity. It is manifested in various forms, including music, dance, and drama; art and craft; folklore and folktale; languages and literature; philosophy and religion; festivals and celebrations; as well as in a distinct cuisine and culinary tradition.

Submitted By: Fahim Mohammed Roll: 1503112329