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Bangladesh is a melting pot of races.
She,
therefore, has a mixed culture. Her deep rooted heritage is amply reflected in
her architecture, literature, dance, drama, music and painting.
Bangladeshi culture is influenced by
three great religions- Hinduism, Buddhism and Islam in successive order, with
Islam having the most pervading and lasting impact. Like a colorful montage, the
cultural tradition of the country is a happy blending of many variants, unique
in diversity but in essence greatly symmetrical.
Festivals:
A series of festivals varying from race to race
are observed here. Some of the Muslim rites are Eid-e-Miladunnabi, Eid-ul-Fitr, Eid-ul-Azha, Muharram
etc. Hindus observe Durga Puja, Saraswati Puja, Kali Puja and many other pujas.
Christmas ( popularly called Baradin in Bangla ) is observed by Christians.
Also there
are some common festivities, which are observed countrywide by people irrespective of races. Pahela Baishakh
(the first day of Bangla year) is such a festival. National festivals are Independence
Day (26th March), 21st February (the
National Mourning Day and World Mother Language Day), The Victory Day (16th
December), Rabindra &
Nazrul Jayanti etc.
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| Rabindranath Tagore |
Literature:
Bangalees have a rich literary heritage. The earliest available specimen of
Bengali literature is about a thousand years old. During the mediaeval period.
Bengali Literature developed considerably with the patronage of Muslim rulers.
Chandi Das, Daulat Kazi and Alaol are some of the famous poets of the period.
The era of modern Bengali Literature
began in the late nineteenth century Rabindranath Tagore, the Nobel Laureate is a vital part of
Bangalee culture. Kazi Nazrul Islam,
Michael Madhusudan
Datta. Sarat
Chandra Chattopadhaya, Bankim Chandra
Chattopadhaya, Mir Mosharraf Hossain and
Kazi Ahdul Wadud are the pioneers of modern Bengali Literature.
Music:
The
traditional music in Bangladesh shares the perspectives of that of the Indian
sub-continent. Music in
Bangladesh can be divided into three distinct categories -classical, folk and
modern. The classical music, both vocal and instrumental is rooted in the remote
past of the sub-continent. Ustad Alauddin Khan and Ustad Ayet Ali Khan are two
names in classical instrumental music who are internationally known.
The store of folk song abounds in spiritual lyrics of
Lalan Shah, Hasan Raja, Romesh Shill and many anonymous lyricists. Bangla
music arena is enriched with Jari, Shari, Bhatiali, Murshidi and other types of folk
songs. Rabindra Sangeet and Nazrul Sangeet are Bangalees'
precious heritage. Modern music is also practiced widely. Contemporary patterns have more inclinations to west. Pop song
and band groups are also coming up mainly in Dhaka
City.
  
Musical Instruments
Bangladesh has a good number of musical instruments
originally
of her own. Originally country musical instruments include, Banshi (bamboo
flute), Dhole (wooden drums), Ektara (a single stringed instrument), Dotara (a
four stringed instrument), Mandira (a pair of metal bawls used as rhythm
instrument), Khanjani, Sharinda etc. Now-a-days western instruments such as
Guitar, Drums, Saxophone, Synthesizer etc. are being used alongside country instruments.
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Zainul Abedin's
painting called 'The Rebel
Cow' |
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Painting:
There is a rich
tradition of modern painting which was
pioneered by Zainul
Abedin, Kamrul
Hassan, Anwarul Haque, Shafiuddin Ahmed
and S.
M. Sultan. Zainul
Abedin earned
international fame for his sketches on famine of 1943 in
Bangladesh. Other famous artists of Bangladesh are Abdur
Razzak, Qayyum
Chowdhury, Murtaza
Baseer, Aminul
Islam, Debdas
Chakraborty, Kazi
Abdul Baset, Syed
Jahangir, and Mohammad
Kibria
Drama:
Drama in Bangladesh
has an old tradition and is very popular. In
Dhaka more than a dozen theater groups have been regularly staging
locally written plays as well as those adopted
from famous writers, mainly of European
origin. Popular
theatre groups are Dhaka Theatre, Nagarik Nattya Sampraday and Theatre.
In Dhaka, Baily Road area is known as 'Natak Para'
where drama shows are regularly held. Public Library Auditorium and Museum Auditorium
are famous for holding cultural shows. Dhaka University area is a pivotal part
of cultural activities.
Dance:
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Folk Dance |
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Classical forms of the sub-continent
predominate in Bangladeshi dance. The folk, tribal and Middle Eastern traits are
also common. Among the tribal dances, particularly popular are Monipuri and
Santal. Rural girls are in the habit of dancing that does not
require any grammar or regulations. Bangla songs like jari and shari are
presented accompanied with dance of both male and female performers.
Jatra:
Jatra(Folk Drama) is another vital chapter of Bangalee
culture. It depicts mythological episodes of love and tragedy.
Legendary plays of
heroism are also popular, particularly in
the rural areas. In near past jatra was the
biggest entertainment means for the rural Bangalees and in that sense for 80% of
the population since the same percentage of the population lived in rural
Bangladesh. Now-a-days jatra has been placed in the back seat in the
entertainment era. Gradually western culture is occupying the place of
traditional culture like jatra.
Traditional
Transportation Means:
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Palki |
There are some transportation means that
are parts of culture of Bangladesh. In rural areas bullock carts, buffalo carts
and tomtoms (horse carts) are commonly used. In old Dhaka once tomtom
was a common vehicle and still it is found, though rare. Bicycles are used
both in rural and urban areas. Palki (a box-like vehicle carried on
shoulders by six men) is a wedding transportation means. Brides are carried to
the bridegrooms' places by Palki. Being a land crisscrossed by rivers,
Bangladesh has a wide-ranged tradition of ferry transport. Wooden boat popularly
called nawka is a vital means of rural communication. Rickshaw is a very common
vehicle to Bangladeshis.
Clothing:
Bangladeshi women habitually wear Sarees.
Jamdani was once world famous for it's most artistic and expensive ornamental
fabric. Moslin, a fine and artistic type of cloth was well-known worldwide.
Naksi Kantha, embroidered quilted patchwork cloth produced by the village women,
is still familiar in villages and towns simultaneously. A common hairstyle is Beni
(twisted bun) that Bangalee women are fond of. Traditionally males wear Panjabis,
Fatuas and Pajamas. Hindus wear Dhuty for religious purposes. Now-a-days common dresses of males are shirts and pants.
Government and non-government organizations like Bangla Academy, Nazrul
Institute, Bangladesh Shilpakala
Academy, Fine arts Institute, Chhayanat etc. play significant role to flourish
Bangladeshi art and culture providing encouragement
in music, drama, dance, recitation, art etc. Many
other cultural organizations are also popularizing
Bangladeshi art
and culture.
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Bangladesh
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