Bengalis - features of life and religion

Bengalis are the indigenous people of the historical region in northeastern South Asia called Bengal. Currently it is divided into two regions - western and eastern. The first is the Indian state of West Bengal, the second is the Republic of Bangladesh. Bengalis are an Indo-European ethnic group. They have much in common with the peoples of India, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan.

Where live

There are approximately 95,000,000 Bengalis in the state of West Bengal and the rest of India. The remaining representatives of this people are widely dispersed throughout the world. The area of ​​residence is distributed as follows:

• Saudi Arabia: 1,000,000;
• UAE: 600,000;
• UK: 500,000;
• Malaysia: 230,000;
• Kuwait: 150,000;
• USA: 143,000;
• South Korea: 130,000;
• Bahrain: 120,000;
• Oman: 115,000;
• Italy: 35,000.

Notes

1. [www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/bg.html#People CIA - The World Factbook]
2. [www.everyculture.com/wc/Afghanistan-to-Bosnia-Herzegovina/Bengalis.html Bengalis - Introduction, Location, Language, Folklore, Religion, Major holidays, Rites of passage, Relationships, Living conditions]
3. [www.un.org/esa/population/meetings/EGM_Ittmig_Arab/P02_Kapiszewski.pdf United Nations]
4. www.7days.ae/showstory.php?id=62077
5. [www.chsuk.tv/ Channel S, working for the community]
6. [www.iom.org.bd/images/publications/Recruitment_and_Placement_of_Bangladeshi_Migrant_Workers.pdf Account Suspended]
7. [news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4478723.stm BBC NEWS | Middle East | Bangladeshis storm Kuwait embassy]
8. [factfinder.census.gov/servlet/DTTable?_bm=y&-context=dt&-ds_name=DEC_2000_SF3_U&-CONTEXT=dt&-mt_name=DEC_2000_SF3_U_PCT019&-tree_id=403&-redoLog=true&-all_geo_types=N&-geo_id=01000US &-search_results=01000US& -format=&-_lang=en US Census 2000 foreign born population by country]
9. ↑ 1 2
   Hasan, Rafiq (November 20, 2003), “[www.thedailystar.net/2003/11/20/d3112001055.htm 4,000 Bangladeshis to return from Oman in December]”,
   The Daily Star
   Vol. 4 (176) , . Retrieved December 19, 2008.
10. [www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/data/topics/RetrieveProductTable.cfm?TPL=RETR&ALEVEL=3&APATH=3&CATNO=&DETAIL=0&DIM=&DS=99&FL=0&FREE=0&GAL=0&GC=99&GK=NA&GRP=1&IPS=&METH=0&ORDER =1&PID=92333&PTYPE=88971,97154&RL=0&S=1&ShowAll=No&StartRow=1&SUB=0&Temporal=2006&Theme=80&VID=0&VNAMEE=&VNAMEF= 2006 Census of Canada: Topic-based tabulations | Ethnic Origin (247), Single and Multiple Ethnic Origin Responses (3) and Sex (3) for the Population of Canada, Provinces, Terr …]
11. [www.thedailystar.net/2004/05/19/d40519050548.htm The Daily Star Web Edition Vol. 4 Num 344]
12. [www.ethnologue.com/show_language.asp?code=ben Ethnologue report for language code: ben]
13. [www.censusdata.abs.gov.au/ABSNavigation/prenav/LocationList?newgeography=State+Suburb&level1=1&level2=SSC11503&submitbutton=View+QuickStats+%3E&mapdisplay=on&collection=Census&period=2006&areacode=1~SSC11503&geography=State+Suburb&method=& productlabel=&producttype =QuickStats&topic=&navmapdisplayed=true&javascript=true&breadcrumb=PL&topholder=0&leftholder=0¤taction=102&action=401&textversion=false&subaction=2 2006 Census QuickStats : Ingleburn (State Suburb)]
14. [国籍別外国人登録者数の推移]
15. Comparing State Polities: A Framework for Analyzing 100 Governments By Michael J. III Sullivan, pg. 119
16. [www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/bg.html Bangledesh]- CIA World Factbook
17. [www.censusindia.gov.in/ Data on Religion]. Census of India (2001)
    . Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India. Retrieved August 26, 2006. [web.archive.org/web/20070812142520/www.censusindia.net/religiondata/ Archived from the original on August 12, 2007].
18. Sarkar, Pabitra
    The popular traditional theater of Bengal] // Asian Studies Center, Michigan State University: Journal of South Asian Literature Vol. 10, No. 2/4 (1975), pp. 87-107.
19. Richmond, Farley
    The Political Role of Theater in India] // The Johns Hopkins University Press: Educational Theater Journal, Vol. 25, No. 3 (1973), pp. 318-334.
20. Kundu, Manujendra
    Bengali Theatre: An Edifice on the Ashes of People's Culture] // Social Scientist, Vol. 38, No. 3/4 (2010), pp. 55-73.

Religion

The population of Bangladesh mainly follows Islam, which was brought by Muslim conquerors. Some people in West Bengal are Islamists, the rest are Hindus. There are a number of Buddhists, Christians, and followers of Jainism (an ancient Indian religion). Among followers of Hinduism, such movements as Shaktism and Vaishnavism are popular. They differ in that people worship different supreme deities, which they consider more important than others.

Spiritual culture

Among believers, Hindus make up 31%, Muslims - 34%, besides them there are Jains, Buddhists, and Christians. Of Hinduism, two popular movements are Vaishnavism and Shaktism. The Shaktas have the highest goddess - Kali (Durga). The holiday in her honor is Durga Puja, celebrated in the fall. The main holiday of the Vaishnavites is Sri Krishna Janmashtami, in August. Of the movements of Vaishnavism, the most widespread local variant is Bengal Vaishnavism (Gaudiya Vaishnavism). Bengal is the birthplace of its founder, guru, acharya, and religious figure Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, who is revered as an avatar of Krishna. There are elements of more ancient cults. Worship of the snake goddess, Monosha, is widespread.

Bengali literature is rich and varied. It flourished in the 19th century. In the 14th-15th centuries. The Ramayana was translated (translator - Krittba Ojha) in the 17th century. — “Mahabharata” (Kasiram Das). A national mystery drama (jatra) was developed. Now some Bengali authors are world famous: Rabindranath Tagore (Robindronath Thakur, 1861-1941), Ram Mohan Roy (1772-1833), Bonkimchondro Chottopaddhay (Chatterjee, 1838-1894). Also born in Bengal were the poet and writer Bhaktivinoda Thakur, the writer and astronomer Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati, the writer and guru, founder of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. Bengal became the homeland of the first Kriya Yoga guru, Lahiri Mahasaya, and its first disseminator in the West, Paramahansa Yogananda.

The national theater is original. This is, firstly, the genre of jatra (the writer of jatras is jatravala), and secondly, puppet theater. Both cane puppets and puppets are used.

The earliest extant jatra plays (palas)

date back to the 18th century, but in reality they existed before that, only they were never written down, but were presented orally. Only starting from the 16th century they began to be recorded materially, and then for practical purposes. At the same time, jatra became the most widespread hobby, pushing aside musical puppet shows. It was then that Chaitanya and his associates first began to use theatrical art to propagate their ideas.[18]

In the early 1950s, the government also used the theater to attract public attention to social democratic reforms, primarily aimed at rural residents. The most notable of the earliest plays was Nildarpana (The Mirror of Indigo Planters). It was dedicated to the conflict between Bengali indigos and British planters. This event is usually cited as the first attempt by the Bengalis to change colonial ways.[19]

Before this, theater was exclusively the preserve of the rich. In addition to the influence of England, they set the trajectory of the development of Bengali art for a long time. Despite this, productions and plays were not associated with social life. They mainly depicted popular religious subjects.[20]

Story

In ancient times, the Buddhist kingdoms of Magadha and Kamarupa were located on the territory of Bengal. They were later captured by the Mongols (early 13th century). The local population rebelled, but to no avail. These territories were then colonized by the British (17th century) and began to develop trade there. After this, many military clashes took place between the Bengalis and the British troops. The conflicts ended in victory for the British, since they were significantly superior to the locals in weapons. In 1947, Bengal was divided into two parts, annexed to India and Pakistan. East Bengal was later renamed East Pakistan, and then the Republic of Bangladesh was formed from this territory.

Literature

• Peoples and religions of the world / ed. V. A. Tishkova. - M, 1998.
• Peoples of South Asia / ed. N. R. Guseva. - M, 1963.
• Kundu M.
  Bengali Theatre: An Edifice on the Ashes of People's Culture] // Social Scientist, Vol. 38, No. 3/4 (2010), pp. 55-73. (English)
• Richmond F.
  The Political Role of Theater in India] // The Johns Hopkins University Press: Educational Theater Journal, Vol. 25, No. 3 (1973), pp. 318-334. (English)
• Sarkar P.
  The popular traditional theater of Bengal] // Asian Studies Center, Michigan State University: Journal of South Asian Literature Vol. 10, No. 2/4 (1975), pp. 87-107. (English)

Appearance

Bengalis are representatives of the Caucasian race. They have pronounced features of the Indo-Mediterranean type. In addition, the influence of the Mongoloids and Dravidians (the ancient population of South India) can be traced. These people have dark skin, sometimes as dark as that of Negroids. Skin tones vary from dark brown to olive to tan. The bulk of the Bengali ethnic group cannot be called attractive. These are people of short stature, thin, often with bow legs and bad teeth. They are characterized by a flat, wide nose and straight, coarse black hair. Men have virtually no hair on their bodies. Eye color - brown. Sometimes there are cute girls, but this is rather an exception to the rule.

Life

Bengalis live in a poor, economically backward region. The main industry is agriculture. Cattle breeding is almost undeveloped. Various varieties of rice are grown year-round. Sugar cane, legumes, corn, and wheat are also cultivated. Flax and jute are grown for fabric production. There are tea plantations. The following crafts developed:

1. Weaving.
2. Pottery.
3. Painting on fabric.
4. Leather embossing.
5. Carving on bone, wood.
6. Production of copper utensils.

80% of Bengalis are rural residents. They live in small settlements located along rivers (in the south of the country). The northern regions often suffer from floods, so people settle near roads. Such villages are protected by embankments. In rural areas, the tradition of an undivided family has been preserved, when parents, their married children and their offspring live under the same roof. The head of the family is the father. He manages money, property, and assigns work. His wife manages the household, distributing chores between daughters-in-law and daughters-in-law.

Marriage is often concluded by agreement between the parents. But it may not take place if young people do not agree. Bengalis often marry very early, as there is a custom according to which girls are not taken as wives after reaching adulthood. So-called exchange marriages take place, when a young man from one family marries a girl from another family, and then the sons from the second marry the daughters from the first. Despite the difficult economic situation, the level of education of Bengalis is quite high. There are many educational institutions in Bangladesh which allows people to get education. Some even study in Moscow. In large cities, the population is rapidly Europeanizing. Both spouses work at industrial enterprises and live in an apartment. Their children begin to live separately after marriage.

The Bengalis, as well as throughout India, still observe caste. These are the social groups into which society is divided. You can call them estates. There are only 4 main castes (varnas):

1. Brahmins
2. Kshatriyas
3. Vaishya
4. Shudras

There are also a huge number of podcasts. They are determined by religion, occupation, and other criteria. People belonging to the same varna do not mix with others. However, representatives of lower castes strive to communicate with higher ones. Brahmins are priests, spiritual teachers, philosophers. This is the highest varna. People of this group are distinguished by high intelligence, restraint, and a philosophical outlook on life. They are all vegetarians. They are free from taxes and can have any property. Kshatriyas are one step lower than brahmanas. This is also a respected varna. Warriors and rulers belong to it. They must protect the country's subjects and collect taxes. They are allowed to have weapons. They are distinguished by confidence, courage, they are impulsive, and can get into fights.

Vaishyas are the varna of traders. They are allowed to have a house, land, and livestock. They must cultivate the land, develop crafts and trade. There are many businessmen in this group, as well as just workers. The peculiarity of their character is to look for profit everywhere. They may cheat to make a profit. The lowest varna - sudras - servants, laborers. They are not allowed to have their own property, they must only serve or do hard work. They do not even have the right to pray and make offerings to the gods. In addition, there is another group called "untouchables". You cannot touch them so as not to become defiled. These are homeless people who engage in theft and begging. According to Hindu beliefs, living a pious life provides the opportunity to achieve a higher caste in the next life. Brahmins, who already belong to the highest, will go to the divine world after death.

Traditions

Religious beliefs influence the behavior and lifestyle of Bengalis. It is not customary for them to shake hands. Hindus greet each other with a bow, folding their palms in front of them. Touching a stranger is considered bad manners. This is only possible between good friends. Religion obliges women to dress conservatively, covering almost the entire body. They should not expose the stomach, shoulders, legs, and it is advisable to cover the hair. You can't show your feet to other people. Bengalis can eat while sitting in the lotus position (in rural areas they often eat at low tables or directly on the floor). They take food with their hands and do not use cutlery. Poor people use wide banana leaves as a table and plates at the same time, placing food directly on them. When visiting, it is customary to praise the culinary skills of the hostess. You need to present flowers, a small souvenir, a book. This causes joy and respect from the owners of the house. It is not customary to give alcoholic drinks or money, it is considered an insult.

Bengalis have quite a lot of holidays. Muslims celebrate Islamic holidays such as Ramadan, Eid al-Adha, and Eid al-Adha. Representatives of Buddhism celebrate the birthday of Gautama Buddha, Hindus celebrate Krishna Janmashtami, Durga Puja. In addition, Bangladesh celebrates its national dates and some international ones:

1. Mother Language Day (February 21).
2. Independence Day (March 26).
3. Bengali New Year (April 14).
4. May 1 is Labor Day.
5. Day of victory over Pakistani troops (December 16).

Krishna Janmashtami is a significant Vedic festival that is celebrated everywhere, despite differences in religions. Even Christians and atheists celebrate it. This is the Birthday of Krishna, who is the incarnation of the god Vishnu - the absolute meaning of all life, the basis of the universe. On this day, a festival is held, prayers are held in temples, and offerings are made to deities.

Durga Puja is a national Hindu festival of worship of the goddess Durga. It symbolizes the triumph of good over the forces of evil. Durga is a warrior who crushed the demon Mahishi in a duel, who disrupted the world order by overthrowing the gods from heaven. She is the patroness of harmony and prosperity. The holiday is celebrated on a special scale in West Bengal, since Durga incarnated there. It is held for several days in a row, with costumed processions and various rituals praising Durga and other deities.

Bengalis

The people, the main population of the state of West Bengal of India and the Republic of Bangladesh. The total number is about 180 million people: in Bangladesh about 90 million, in India about 85 million. They are also settled in Nepal, Bhutan, Singapore, the USA, Canada, Great Britain, and in many other countries of the world. They belong to the Indo-Mediterranean race of a large Caucasian race, mainly of the Meso-Indian anthropological type, with some admixture of Mongoloid features (in the north and east) and Dravidian features (in the south). They speak the Bengali language (Bangla-Bhasha) of the Indo-Aryan group of the Indo-European language family, as well as Hindi, Urdu, and English. There are two groups of Bengali dialects - Western and Eastern, there are two literary languages ​​- classical (based on Western dialects) and colloquial (based on Calcutta and modern Western dialects). In Bangladesh, a special form of Bengali is being formed based on the Dhaka dialect. The Bongakkhor script goes back to the ancient Indian Brahmi script. Professional literature is highly developed.

The Bengalis of Bangladesh are mostly Sunni Muslims, with some Hindus; India - mostly Hindus, there are Muslims, Jains, Christians. Bengalis are Shaivite and Vaishnavite Hindus, but they especially revere the goddesses Durga and Kali. Durga Puja is their most important autumn calendar festival. The ethnonym Bangla goes back to the Vedic name of the state of Banga in the eastern regions of India. In the western regions of the ethnic territory of the Bengalis, as early as the middle of the 1st millennium BC. Jainism and Buddhism began to develop. The ethnic history of the people is a mixture of numerous heterogeneous groups, and the consolidation and creation of the Bengal state in the 8th - 13th centuries.

The state of Palov, where Buddhism was widespread, large monasteries and educational centers operated, existed until the 14th - 15th centuries. At the end of the 16th century, after the conquest and destruction of territories by Muslim armies, Islam began to spread here. The territory of the Bengals at the end of the 16th - 18th centuries. became part of the Mughal Empire. In the 18th century here the British East India Company appeared and began to operate actively, and gradually the lands of Bengal were subordinated to the English authorities. In 1905, the British administration divided Bengal into two provinces, but as a result of the resistance movement they were reunited in 1911. In 1947, due to the formation of Pakistan, the second partition of Bengal took place and East Bengal was given to Pakistan. In 1971, as a result of the national liberation movement, the independent state of the Republic of Bangladesh was formed. The main occupation of the Bengalis is agriculture; rice, jute, legumes, oilseeds, and sugarcane are cultivated.

Tea is cultivated in the northern regions. Crafts are developed - the famous Bengali fabrics (muslin, Murshidabad silk), metal and wood processing, leather and ivory embossing. The textile and jute industries are developed (especially in West Bengal). The main food is rice, legumes, vegetables, fish. Bengali sweets (shondesh, roshgulla, doi) are famous. Muslims and low-caste Hindus eat meat - beef, partly pork, poultry, and pigeon meat. In the southern regions of Bengal, settlements are common along the banks of rivers, and estates (baris) are located close to each other. In the northwestern regions, settlements are located along roads, bari are located at a distance (during the rainy season, communication between them is carried out by boats).

The dwellings are frame-and-post, the walls are adobe or wicker and plastered with clay, on a bamboo or wooden frame with a high thatched roof. Traditional women's clothing is a sari, and jewelry is required. Men's - dhoti and chadar coverlet. Muslim women wear a headscarf, men (especially Muslims) wear a lungi. Headdresses - turbans for Hindus, round caps for Muslims. On special occasions, shoes are worn. The performing arts are highly developed - music, dance, folk theater (puppet theater, lyrical drama jatra), as well as professional cinema, easel painting, dance, drama.

Food

The basis of Bengali food is rice, vegetables, legumes, and unleavened flatbreads. Meat is rarely consumed, mainly poultry. Frequent dishes are fish and seafood. A feature of Bengali cuisine can be considered the presence of a huge number of seasonings and sauces. They are prepared on the basis of vegetables and fruits with the addition of various spices. A well-known sauce is chutney - a sweet composition made from products such as pineapples, papaya, mango, and dried fruits. Chutney perfectly complements rice and bean side dishes. Rice is the most commonly used food and Bengalis grow about 500 varieties of it. It is used to prepare soups, porridges, desserts, and side dishes. Side dishes of mung beans, red lentils, and peas are also common. Popular Bengali dishes:

1. Dal Bhart. Thick soup based on beans, with the addition of tomatoes, chili, onions, ginger.
2. Khichri. The second dish, which is based on rice, also contains tomatoes, potatoes, and cauliflower.
3. Runners. Eggplants fried in mustard oil.
4. Pakora. Mix of vegetables fried in dough with the addition of herbs.
5. Sandesh. Dessert made from curd cheese with pistachios, raisins, cardamom.
6. Pantua. Balls of semolina, milk, fried in ghee.

Bengali sweets are an important dish in various celebrations and religious festivals. They are prepared in abundance, decorating the festive table with them. Treats from Bengal are popular not only throughout India, but also abroad.