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{{Further|Culture of Bangladesh|Culture of West Bengal}}
{{Culture of Bengal}}
{{Bengalis}}
{{more citations needed|date=October 2016}}
{{EngvarB|date=June 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2015}}
The '''culture of Bengal''' defines the cultural heritage of the [[Bengalis|Bengali]] people native to eastern regions of the [[Indian subcontinent]], mainly what is today [[Bangladesh]] and the [[India]]n states of [[West Bengal]], [[Tripura]] and [[Assam]]'s [[Barak Valley]], where the [[Bengali language]] is the official and primary language. Bengal has a recorded history of 1,400 years.<ref name="auto">{{cite book |last=Minahan |first=James B. |date=2012 |title=Ethnic Groups of South Asia and the Pacific: An Encyclopedia |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fOQkpcVcd9AC |publisher=ABC-CLIO|isbn=9781598846607 }}</ref> The [[Bengali people]] are its dominant ethnolinguistic group. The region has been a historical melting point, blending indigenous traditions with cosmopolitan influences from pan-[[Indian subcontinent]]al empires. Bengal was considered to be the richest part of [[Medieval India|Islamic medieval India]] and during the era of the [[Bengal Sultanate]] it was described to be a major trading nation in the world, while during [[Mughal Bengal|Mughal times]], having triggered the [[proto-industrialization]], its economy was worth 12% of global GDP. As a part of the [[Bengal Presidency]], it also hosted the region's most advanced political and cultural centers during [[British India|British rule]].<ref name="auto"/>

The [[partition of Bengal (1947)|partition of Bengal]] left its own cultural legacy. Bangladesh is the scene of a dominant [[Bengali Muslim]] culture, whereas Indian Bengali-speaking regions have a [[Bengali Hindu]] majority. Muslim-majority [[Bangladesh]] is home to a significant Hindu minority, whereas West Bengal has a large Muslim minority. Apart from these, there are also numerous ethnic and religious minorities. [[Kolkata]], the capital of West Bengal, is a cosmopolitan city which houses a sizeable number of ethnic communities. Bengal is an important hub of classical South Asian arts. Festivals on the secular Bengali calendar are widely celebrated.

==Literature==
{{Main|Bengali literature|Bengali poetry}}
Bengal has one of the most developed literary traditions in Asia. A descent of ancient [[Sanskrit]] and [[Magadhi Prakrit]], the Bengali language evolved circa 1000-1200 CE under the [[Pala Empire]] and the [[Sena dynasty]]. It became an official court language of the [[Sultanate of Bengal]] and absorbed influences from [[Arabic literature|Arabic]] and [[Persian literature|Persian]]. Middle Bengali developed secular literature in the 16th and 17th centuries. It was also spoken in [[Kingdom of Arakan|Arakan]]. The [[Bengali Renaissance]] in [[Calcutta]] developed the modern standardized form of the language in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. [[Rabindranath Tagore]] became the first Bengali writer to win the [[Nobel Prize in Literature]] in 1913, and was also the first non-European Nobel laureate. [[Kazi Nazrul Islam]] became known as the ''Rebel Poet of British India''. After the partition of Bengal, a distinct literary culture developed in [[East Bengal]], which later became [[East Pakistan]] and Bangladesh.
<gallery class="center">
File:Praha, Dejvice - Thakurova busta v Thakurove ulici.jpg|[[Rabindranath Tagore]]<br> Biswa Kabi (the poet of world)
File:Kazi Nazrul Islam 01.png|[[Kazi Nazrul Islam]]<br> Bidrohi Kabi (the rebel poet)
File:Jasimuddin Lomax 1951 (2).jpg|[[Jasimuddin]] <br>Polli Kabi (the rural poet)
</gallery>

==Philosophy==
The works of ancient philosophers from Bengal have been preserved at libraries in [[Tibet]], [[China]] and [[Central Asia]]. These include the works of [[Atisa]] and [[Tilopa]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Islam |first=Aminul |year=2012 |chapter=Philosophy |chapter-url=http://en.banglapedia.org/index.php?title=Philosophy |editor1-last=Islam |editor1-first=Sirajul |editor1-link=Sirajul Islam |editor2-last=Jamal |editor2-first=Ahmed A. |title=Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh |edition=Second |publisher=[[Asiatic Society of Bangladesh]]}}</ref> Medieval Hindu philosophy featured the works of [[Chaitanya Mahaprabhu|Chaitanya]].

[[Sufi]] philosophy was highly influential in Islamic Bengal. Prominent Sufi practitioners were disciples of [[Jalaluddin Rumi]], [[Abdul-Qadir Gilani]] and [[Moinuddin Chishti]]. One of the most revered Sufi [[saint]]s of Bengal is [[Shah Jalal]].

==Fine arts==
===Performing arts===
====Music====
{{See also|Music of West Bengal|Music of Bangladesh}}
Bengal has produced leading figures of [[Indian classical music]], including [[Alauddin Khan]], [[Ravi Shankar]] and [[Ali Akbar Khan]]. Common musical instruments include the [[sitar]], [[tabla]] and [[sarod]]. The [[Baul]] tradition is a unique regional folk heritage. The most prominent practitioner was [[Lalon Shah]]. Other folk music forms include [[Gombhira]], [[Bhatiali]] and [[Bhawaiya]] (Jhumur). Folk music in Bengal is often accompanied by the [[ektara]], a one-stringed instrument. Other instruments include the [[dotara]], [[dhol]], [[bamboo flute]], and [[tabla]]. Songs written by Rabindranath Tagore ([[Rabindra Sangeet]]) and [[Kazi Nazrul Islam]] ([[Nazrul geeti]]) are highly popular. Bangladesh is the center of [[Bangladeshi rock|Bangla rock]], as well as [[indie rock|indie]], [[Sufi rock]] and fusion folk music.
<gallery class="center">
Ravi Shankar.jpg|[[Ravi Shankar]]
Powersurge (4039205917).jpg|A [[Bangladeshi rock]] band
Ananda Khyapa and Tarun Khyapa with Group - Baul Song Performance - Saturday Haat - Sonajhuri - Birbhum 2014-06-28 5281.JPG|[[Bauls]] in a village
</gallery>

====Theatre====
{{See also|Theatre in Bangladesh}}
Bengali theater traces its roots to Sanskrit drama under the [[Gupta Empire]] in the 4th century CE. It includes narrative forms, song and dance forms, supra-personae forms, performance with scroll paintings, puppet theatre and the processional forms like the [[Jatra (theatre)|Jatra]].

====Dance====
{{see also|Gaudiya Nritya|Chhau dance}}
Bengal has an extremely rich heritage of dancing dating back to antiquity. It includes classical, folk and martial dance traditions.<ref>{{cite book |last=Hasan |first=Sheikh Mehedi |year=2012 |chapter=Dance |chapter-url=http://en.banglapedia.org/index.php?title=Dance |editor1-last=Islam |editor1-first=Sirajul |editor1-link=Sirajul Islam |editor2-last=Jamal |editor2-first=Ahmed A. |title=Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh |edition=Second |publisher=[[Asiatic Society of Bangladesh]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Ahmed |first=Wakil |year=2012 |chapter=Folk Dances |chapter-url=http://en.banglapedia.org/index.php?title=Folk_Dances
|editor1-last=Islam |editor1-first=Sirajul |editor1-link=Sirajul Islam |editor2-last=Jamal |editor2-first=Ahmed A. |title=Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh |edition=Second |publisher=[[Asiatic Society of Bangladesh]]}}</ref>

===Visual arts===
====Painting====
{{See also|List of Bangladeshi painters}}
[[File:Manasa_Mangal.jpg|thumb|A [[Kalighat painting]] describing a scene from Manasamangal Kavya]]
In antiquity, Bengal was a pioneer of painting in [[Asia]] under the Pala Empire. [[Mughal miniature|Miniature]] and scroll painting flourished during the [[Mughal Empire]]. [[Kalighat painting]] or Kalighat Pat originated in the 19th century Bengal, in the vicinity of Kalighat Kali Temple of [[Kolkata]], and from being items of souvenir taken by the visitors to the Kali temple, the paintings over a period of time developed as a distinct school of Indian painting. From the depiction of [[Hindu deities|Hindu gods]] other mythological characters, the Kalighat paintings developed to reflect a variety of themes.

Modern painting emerged in Calcutta with the [[Bengal school]]. [[East Pakistan]] developed its own contemporary painting tradition under [[Zainul Abedin]]. Modern [[Bangladeshi art]] has produced many of South Asia's leading painters, including [[SM Sultan]], [[Mohammad Kibria]], [[Shahabuddin Ahmed (artist)|Shahabuddin Ahmed]], [[Kanak Chanpa Chakma]], [[Kafil Ahmed]], [[Saifuddin Ahmed]], [[Qayyum Chowdhury]], [[Rashid Choudhury]], [[Quamrul Hassan]], [[Rafiqun Nabi]] and [[Syed Jahangir]] among others.

====Architecture====
{{main|Architecture of Bengal}}
The earliest fortified cities in the region include [[Wari-Bateshwar]], [[Chandraketugarh]] and [[Mahasthangarh]]. Bengal has a glorious legacy of [[terracotta]] architecture from the ancient and medieval periods. The style includes many mosques, temples, palaces, forts, monasteries and [[caravanserai]]s. Mughal Dhaka was known as the ''City of Mosques'' and the ''Venice of the East''. [[Indo-Saracenic]] architecture flourished during the British period, particularly among the [[zamindar|landed gentry]]. British Calcutta was known as the ''City of Palaces''. Modernist terracotta architecture in South Asia by architects like [[Muzharul Islam]] and [[Louis Kahn]].

Bengali village housing is noted as the origin of the [[bungalow]].

====Sculpture====
Ancient Bengal was home to the Pala-Sena school of Sculptural Art.<ref name="auto1"/> [[Ivory]] sculptural art flourished across the region under the [[Nawabs of Bengal]]. Notable modernist sculptors include [[Novera Ahmed]] and [[Nitun Kundu]].

==Lifestyle==
===Textiles===
{{See also|Textile arts of Bangladesh}}
[[File:Kantha (Quilt) LACMA AC1994.131.1.jpg|thumb|220px|[[Kantha]], a Bengali cotton textile]]
[[Muslin]] production in Bengal dates back to the 4th century BCE. The region exported the fabric to [[Ancient Greece]] and [[Ancient Rome|Rome]].<ref name="auto1">{{cite book |last=Snodgrass |first=Mary Ellen |date=2015 |title=World Clothing and Fashion: An Encyclopedia of History, Culture, and Social Influence |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gO9nBwAAQBAJ |publisher=Routledge|isbn=9781317451679 }}</ref>

Bengali [[silk]] was known as Ganges Silk in the 13th century [[Republic of Venice]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Van Schendel |first=Willem |year=2012 |chapter=Silk |chapter-url=http://en.banglapedia.org/index.php?title=Silk |editor1-last=Islam |editor1-first=Sirajul |editor1-link=Sirajul Islam |editor2-last=Jamal |editor2-first=Ahmed A. |title=Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh |edition=Second |publisher=[[Asiatic Society of Bangladesh]]}}</ref> [[Mughal Bengal]] was a major silk exporter. The Bengali silk industry declined after the growth of Japanese silk production. [[Rajshahi silk]] continues to be produced in northern Bangladesh. [[Murshidabad]] and [[English Bazar|Malda]] are the centers of the silk industry in West Bengal.

After the reopening of European trade with medieval India, Mughal Bengal became the world's foremost muslin exporter in the 17th century. Mughal-era Dhaka was a center of the worldwide muslin trade.

The weaving of [[Jamdani]] muslin saris in Bangladesh are classified by [[UNESCO]] as [[intangible cultural heritage]].

Modern Bangladesh is one of the world's [[Bangladesh textile industry|largest textile producers]], with a large cotton based [[Bangladeshi RMG Sector|ready made garments industry]].

===Clothing===
Bengali women commonly wear the ''[[Sari|shari]]'' (sari), often distinctly designed according to local cultural customs. In urban areas, many women and men wear Western-style attire. Men also wear traditional costumes such as the ''Dhuti'' and ''Panjabi''.

At Jorashanko ([[Rabindranath Tagore]]’s home in [[Kolkata]]) different drapes of sari were improvised on so that women could step out of the andarmahal (inner house) where they were relegated. This had Tagore’s sister-in-law, [[Jnanadanandini Devi]], bringing the [[Parsi]] way of draping the sari from [[Mumbai]] to Bengal.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/just-before-monday/report-have-you-heard-of-rabindra-vastra-2614376|title=Have you heard of Rabindra Vastra? {{!}} Latest News & Updates at Daily News & Analysis|date=2018-05-13|work=dna|access-date=2018-05-19|language=en-US}}</ref> [[Chitra Deb]], in her book Thakurbarir Andarmahal, describes the entire process of how the Parsi sari was adapted into Bengali culture.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Ṭhākurabārira andaramahala|last=Deba|first= Citrā|last2=১৯৪৩-|first2=দেব, চিত্রা|date=2006|publisher=Ānanda|isbn=8177565966|edition=3. paribardita o parimārjita saṃskaraṇa|location=Kalakātā|oclc=225391789}}</ref>

Bengal has produced several of South Asia's leading fashion designers, including [[Sabyasachi Mukherjee]], [[Bibi Russell]], Rukhsana Esrar Runi and Rina Latif.

===Transport===
[[Kolkata]] is the only city in India to have a tram network. The trams are claimed to slow down other traffic, leading to groups who currently voice abolishing the trams, though the environment-friendliness and the old charm of the trams attract many people.

Kolkata was also the first city in South Asia to have an [[Kolkata metro|underground railway system]] that started operating from 1984. It is considered to have the status of a zonal railway. The metered-cabs are mostly of the brand "[[Hindustan Ambassador|Ambassador]]" manufactured by [[Hindustan Motors]] (now out of production). These taxis are painted with yellow colour, symbolising the transport tradition of Kolkata.

Bangladesh has the world's largest number of [[cycle rickshaws]]. Its capital city Dhaka is known as the ''Rickshaw Capital of the World''. The country's rickshaws display colorful [[rickshaw art]], with each city and region have their own distinct style. Rickshaw driving provides employment for nearly a million Bangladeshis. Historically, [[Kolkata]] has been home to the hand-[[pulled rickshaw]]. Attempts to ban its use have largely failed.

There are 150 different types of [[boats]] and [[canoe]]s in Bengal. The region was renowned for [[Shipbuilding in Bangladesh|shipbuilding]] in the medieval period, when its shipyards catered to major powers in Eurasia, including the Mughals and [[Ottomans]]. The types of timber used in boat making are from local woods Jarul (dipterocarpus turbinatus), sal (shorea robusta), sundari (heritiera fomes) and Burma teak (tectons grandis).

===Weddings===
{{multiple image
| align =
| direction = horizontal
| image1 =Xploring Weddings 4 (3679389912).jpg
| caption1 =[[Bengali Muslim]] bride and groom
| width1 = 200
| image2 =Pani Grahan - Bengali Hindu Wedding - Howrah 2015-12-06 7722.JPG
| caption2 =[[Bengali Hindu wedding]]
| width2 = 200
}}
{{main|Bengali wedding (disambiguation)}}
Bengali weddings includes many rituals and ceremonies that can span several days. Although [[Islam|Muslim]] and [[Hinduism|Hindu]] marriages have their distinctive religious rituals, there are many common secular rituals.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://hinduism.about.com/od/matrimonial1/a/bengaliwedding.htm|title=Bengali Wedding Rituals - A Traditional Bengali Marriage Ceremony|publisher=[[about.com]]|access-date=2008-11-21}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.weddingsinindia.com/bengaliwedding.html|title=Weddings In India - Wedding in Exotic Indian Locations|publisher=www.weddingsinindia.com|access-date=2008-11-21}}</ref> The [[Gaye Holud]] ceremony is held in Bengali weddings of all faiths.

==Cultural institutions, organisations and events==
Major organisations responsible for funding and promoting Bengali culture are:
{{div col|colwidth=25em}}
* [[National Art Gallery (Bangladesh)]]
* [[Shilpakala Academy]]
* [[Bangladesh Folk Arts and Crafts Foundation]]
* [[Ministry of Cultural Affairs (Bangladesh)|Ministry of Cultural Affairs]] (Republic of Bangladesh)
* [[Ministry of Information & Cultural Affairs (West Bengal)|Ministry of Information & Cultural Affairs]] (West Bengal)
{{div col end}}

;List of institutions and organisations
{{div col|colwidth=25em}}
* [[Chhayanaut]]
* [[Bulbul Lalitakala Academy]]
* [[Nazrul Institute]]
* [[Samdani Art Foundation]]
* [[Bangladesh Shishu Academy]]
* [[Bangladesh Short Film Forum]]
* [[Bishwo Shahitto Kendro]]
* [[Bangladeshi Photographers]]
* [[Bangladesh National Philatelic Association]]
* [[Bangla Academy]]
* [[Moviyana Film Society]]
* [[Theatre Institute Chattagram]]
* [[Bangladesh Film Development Corporation]]
* [[Bangladesh Film Archive]]
* [[Biswa Bangla]]
* [[Paschimbanga Bangla Akademi]]
* [[Paschim Banga Natya Akademi]]
* [[Bangiya Sahitya Parishad]]
{{div col end}}

;Festivals
{{main|List of festivals in Bangladesh|List of festivals in West Bengal}}
Both Bangladesh and West Bengal have many festivals and fairs throughout the year.
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Muslim !! Hindu !! Buddhist || Christian || Secular
|-
| [[Eid al-Fitr]] || [[Durga Puja]] || [[Buddha Purnima]] || [[Christmas]] || [[Pahela Baishakh|Nababarsha]] (New Year/ Summer); Wearing colour:{{colorbox|white|border=darkgray}} {{colorbox|red|border=darkgray}}
|-
| [[Eid al-Adha]] || [[Kali Puja]] || [[Madhu Purnima]] || [[Easter]] || [[Basanta Utsab]] (Spring Festival); Wearing colour:{{colorbox|yellow|border=darkgray}} {{colorbox|red|border=darkgray}}
|-
| [[Muharram]] || [[Saraswati Puja]] || [[Kathin Chibardan]] || || [[Barsha Utsab|Barsha Mangal]] (Monsoon salutation); Wearing colour:{{colorbox|White|border=darkgray}} {{colorbox|blue|border=darkgray}}
|-
| [[Milad un Nabi]] || [[Dolyatra]] ([[Holi]]) || || || [[Nabanna]] (Harvest Festival); Wearing colour:{{colorbox|yellow|border=darkgray}} {{colorbox|green|border=darkgray}}
|-
| [[Shab-e-Barat]] || [[Janmashtami]] || || ||[[Poush Sangkranti]] (Winter Festival)
|-
| [[Laylat al-Qadr]] || [[Jagaddhatri|Jagaddhatri Puja]] || || ||
|}

;Events
{{div col|colwidth=25em}}
* [[Ekushey Book Fair]]
* [[Bishwa Ijtema]]
* [[Sagar Island|Ganga Sagar Mela]]
* [[Rath Yatra]]
* [[Ramadan]]
* [[International Mother Language Day]]
* [[Kolkata Film Festival]]
* [[Dhaka Art Summit]]
* [[Kolkata Book Fair]]
{{div col end}}

<gallery class="center">
Eid Prayers at Barashalghar, Debidwar, Comilla.jpg|Eid prayer in [[Comilla]]
Bijoya Dashami.jpg|Shindur khela in [[Durga Puja]] at [[Kolkata]]
Colors of Celebration!-4.JPG|Celebration of [[Pohela Boishakh]] in [[Dhaka]]
Basanto Utsav.jpg|Bashanto Utsav festival
</gallery>

==Pastimes==
{{see also|Lost Rural Sports of Bengal}}

===Cinema===
{{main|Cinema of Bangladesh|Cinema of West Bengal}}
Kolkata and Dhaka are the centers of [[Bengali cinema (disambiguation)|Bengali cinema]]. The region's film industry is notable for the history of [[art films]] in South Asia, including the works of [[Academy Award]] winning director [[Satyajit Ray]] and the [[Cannes Film Festival]] award-winning director [[Tareque Masud]].

===Sports===
[[Cricket]] and [[Football (soccer)|football]] are popular sports in the Bengal region. Dhaka and Chittagong are home to some of the most renowned football clubs in South Asia and are prominent venues for international cricket. Kolkata is one of the major centers for football in India. [[Shakib Al Hasan]], [[Mushfiqur Rahim]], [[Mashrafe Bin Mortaza]], [[Tamim Iqbal]] from Bangladesh and [[Pankaj Roy]], [[Sourav Ganguly]], [[Manoj Tiwary (cricketer)|Manoj Tiwary]], [[Wriddhiman Saha]], [[Mohammed Shami]] from West Bengal are internationally known cricketers .<ref name=soccercenter>{{cite web
|url=http://www.longlivesoccer.com/indiafootball.htm
|title=Football in India - A Fact File
|access-date=2006-10-26
|last=Prabhakaran
|first=Shaji
|date=18 January 2003
|publisher=LongLiveSoccer.com
|url-status=dead
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061023135720/http://www.longlivesoccer.com/indiafootball.htm
|archive-date=23 October 2006
|df=dmy
}}</ref> Local games include sports such as [[Kho Kho]] and [[Kabaddi]], the latter being the national sport of Bangladesh.

===Media===
Bangladesh's ''[[Prothom Alo]]'' is the largest circulated Bengali newspaper in the world. It is followed by ''[[Ananda Bazar Patrika]]'', which has the largest circulation for a single-edition, regional language newspaper in India. Other prominent Bengali newspapers include the ''[[The Daily Ittefaq|Ittefaq]]'', ''[[Jugantor]]'', ''[[Samakal]]'', ''[[Janakantha]]'' and ''[[Bartaman]]''. Major English-language newspapers in Bangladesh include ''[[The Daily Star (Bangladesh)|The Daily Star]]'', ''[[New Age (Bangladesh)|New Age]]'', and the weekly ''[[Holiday (newspaper)|Holiday]]''. ''[[The Statesman (India)|The Statesman]]'', published from Kolkata, is the region's oldest English-language publication.

==See also==
* [[Culture of Bangladesh]]
* [[Culture of West Bengal]]

==Notes==
{{reflist}}
*"[https://web.archive.org/web/20150126163246/http://aamarbiye.com/ The Bengali Wedding Magazine]"
{{Bangladesh topics}}
{{West Bengal topics}}

[[Category:Bengali culture| ]]
[[Category:Bangladeshi culture| ]]
[[Category:Culture of West Bengal| ]]

Culture of Bengal - Revision history

JennyRoyster668: typo fix

>ShadowMOD123: Minor change!