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Tradition and Culture
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The
culture of Bangladesh has a unique history, dating
back more than 2500 years ago. The land, the rivers
and the lives of the common 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 culture of Bangladesh
is composite, and over centuries has assimilated
influences of Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism, and Islam. |
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It is manifested in various forms, including music,
dance and drama; art and craft; folklores and folktales;
languages and literature, philosophy and religion,
festivals and celebrations, as also in a distinct
cuisine and culinary tradition. |
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Music,
dance and dramaa |
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Music
and dance style of Bangladesh may be divided into
three categories, namely, the classical, folk and
the modern. |
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The
classical style has been influenced by other prevalent
classical forms of music and dances of the Indian
subcontinent, and accordingly show some influences
dance forms like Bharata Natyam and Kuchipudi. The
folk and tribal music and dance forms of Bangladesh
are of indigenous origin and rooted to the soil
of Bangladesh. Several dancing styles, in vogue
in the north-eastern part of the Indian subcontinent,
like Monipuri and Santal dances, are also practiced
in Bangladesh, but Bangladesh has developed its
own distinct dancing styles. |
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Bangladesh
has a rich tradition of folk songs, with lyrics
rooted into vibrant tradition and spirituality,
mysticism and devotion. Such folk songs also revolve
round several other themes, including love themes. |
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Most
prevalent of folk songs and music traditions include
Bhatiali, Baul, Marfati, Murshidi and Bhawaiya.
Lyricists like Lalon Shah, Hason Raja, Kangal Harinath,
Romesh Shill, Abbasuddin and many unknown anonymous
lyrists have enriched the tradition of folk songs
of Bangladesh. |
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| In relatively
modern context, Rabindra Sangeet and Nazrul geeti
form precious cultural heritage of Bangladesh. In
recent time, western influences have given rise to
several pop song groups, particularly in urban centers
like Dhaka. |
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Several
musical instruments, some of them of indigenous
origin, are used in Bangladesh, and major musical
instruments used are bamboo flute (banshi), drums
(dole), a single stringed instrument named ektara,
a four stringed instruemment called dotara, a pair
of metal bawls used for rhythm effect called mandira.
Currently, several musical instruments of western
origin like guitar, drums, and saxophone are also
used, sometimes alongside the traditional instruments. |
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Drama
remains popular in Bangladesh, including performances
of plays by local playwrights, as well as adaptations
from writers of Western origin. Jatra, that is,
folk drama, is also a part of culture of Bangladesh.
In Jatras, legendary plays of heroism, mythological
stories, folktales of love and tragedy, and similar
countless themes are enacted in open air theatre,
and continue to be a popular form of entertainment,
in spite of modern influences. |
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Traditional
ceremonies |
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A
traditional wedding is arranged by Ghotok's (matchmakers),
who are typically friends or relatives of the couple.
The matchmakers facilitate the introduction, and
also help agree the amount of any settlement. |
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In
older times, the settlement was a dowry to be paid
by the bride's family to the groom. However, in
the last 30 to 40 years, dowry has been declared
illegal, and it is discouraged. Even then, it persists,
especially in rural areas. These days, the settlement
is likely to take the form of a Mahr (see dowry)
which is paid by the groom to the bride. |
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The
amount of the settlement is set so as to avoid too
many zeroes in the amount, such as 10001 rather
than 10000; the final zeroes being said by some
to signify bad luck. |
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Muslim
weddings are traditionally in four parts: the bride's
Gaye Holud, the groom's Gaye Holud, the Nika and
the Bou Bhaat. These often take place on separate
days. The first event in a wedding is an informal
one: the groom presents the bride with a ring marking
the "engagement". |
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Gaye
Holud |
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| The Gaye
Holud ("yellowing the body") is in preparation
for the Nika. |
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For
the bride's Gaye Holud, the groom's family - except
the groom himself - go in procession to the bride's
home. They carry with them the bride's wedding outfit,
wedding decoration including turmeric paste and
henna, sweetmeats and gifts. They also take a large
fish cooked and decorated. The procession traditionally
centers on the (younger) female relative and friends
of bride, and they are traditionally all in matching
clothes, mostly yellow, orange or red in colour. |
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The
bride is seated on a dias, and the henna is used
to decorate the bride's hands and feet with elaborate
abstract designs. The turmeric paste is applied
by the bride's friends to her body. This is said
to soften the skin, but also colours her with the
distinctive yellow hue that gives its name to this
ceremony. |
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The
sweets are then fed to the bride by all involved,
piece by piece. There is, of course, a feast for
the guests. The groom's Gaye Holud comes next, and
has the same form as the bridal ceremony. |
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Nika |
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The
actual wedding ceremony or Nika or "Biye"
follows the Gaye Holud ceremonies. The wedding ceremony
is arranged by the bride's family. On the day, the
younger members of the bride's family barricade
the entrance to the venue, and demands money from
the groom in return for allowing him to enter. There
is typically much good-natured pushing and shoving
involved. Another custom is for the bride's younger
siblings, friends and cousins to steal the groom's
shoes for ransom; to get them back the groom must
usually pay off the children. The siblings, friends
and cousins go out to eat with the bride and groom
to spend the money on a later date. |
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The
bride and groom are seated separately, and a priest,
accompanied by the parents and a Wakil (witness)
from each side formally asks the bride for her consent
to the union, and then the groom for his. |
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The
actual formalizing of the wedding and the signing
of paperworks is now done before the ceremony for
convenience. Usually it is carried out on the morning
of the wedding and the feast is at night. |
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At
this time, the amount of the dowry is verified,
and if all is well, the formal papers are signed,
and the couple are seated side by side on a dias.
The brides dupatta (head covering) is draped over
both, and a mirror placed in front. The groom is
then supposed to say something romantic on what
is notionally the first time he has laid eyes on
his bride. |
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| Everybody
celebrates the union with a feast. |
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While
seated on the dias, the bride's entourage will make
attempts to steal the groom's shoes, which they
will return for a ransom. Once the return of the
shoes is negotiated, the bride takes tearful leave
of her family. Finally, the happy couple make their
way from the venue to the groom's home, where a
bridal room has been prepared. |
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Bou
Bhaat |
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The
reception, also known as Bou-Bhaat ("bride
rice"), is a party given by the groom's family
in return for the wedding party. It is typically
a much more relaxed affair, with only the second-best
wedding outfit being worn. |
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It's
a lot like the wedding, the bride and groom however
receive and see off guests and dine together. After
the party, the bride and groom go to the bride's
family house for two nights. On the second day,
the groom's family are invited to the bride's house
for a meal, and they leave with the bride and groom.
This meal is called “Firani”. |
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Dhaka
