The Cultural Characteristic of My Hometown
Culture is a term that refers to a large and diverse set of mostly intangible aspects of social life.
According to sociologists, culture consists of the values, beliefs, systems of language,
communication, and practices that people share in common and that can be used to define them
as a collective. Every society maintains a culture. Actually, a society is represented by their
culture. I live in Dhaka city. From the very beginning of my life, I find some difference among
the culture of Dhaka and other regions. There are some characteristics of the culture of Dhaka:
Hospitality:
People of Dhaka always search for any excuse to invite their relatives and friends at home and
treat them with various types of foods. They also expect to be served when they visit anyone’s
home.
Food habit:
People of Dhaka like to take a cup of tea with a special type of biscuit which is known as
Bakorkhani at the time of breakfast. Biriyani is one of the favorite foods of the people of Dhaka.
Different types of Kabab and chicken dish are very famous among the people of Dhaka. They
also make different types of cake which is known as Pitha.
Gold Addiction:
People of Dhaka are fond of gold. At the time of wedding, it is always counted how much gold a
bride gets from her parents and also from her-in-laws.
Cloth:
Women wear sarees or shalwar kameez. Some cover their heads and some cover their faces.
Some wear all black and some wear all color. The traditional dress for men is a lungi and
Panjabi, but young people like to wear shirt and pant.
Wedding:
At the time of wedding, people of Dhaka follow some rituals such as Paka-dekha, Paan-Chini,
Gaye holud, Wedding ceremony, Bou Bhaat.
The official engagement must follow from formal consent given by the family elders from both
sides. Through a ceremony called paka-dekha or dekha-dekhi, the alliance is formalised so final
wedding preparations can proceed in due course with confidence that it is indeed intentional and
assured to take place.
Paan chini, chini paan or sinifaan is a tradition to give two betel leaves and areca nuts to the
guests at any auspicious occasion. Thus the name was derived from the servings. 'Paan' (betel
leaf) being served with silver foil signals festivity and during such propitious occasions it is also
common to bring sweets. These gestures friendship and a heartening promise.
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This ritual is followed by turmeric ceremonies taken place before the wedding ceremony. There
is one turmeric ceremony for the bride and another for the groom. For the bride's give holud, the
groom's family - except the groom himself - travel in procession to the bride's home. They carry
with them the bride's wedding dress/outfit, some wedding decorations including turmeric paste,
candy/sweetmeats and gifts. They also take a large Rohu fish decorated as a bride.
The wedding ceremony is arranged by the bride's family. The groom, along with his friends and
family (Borjatri), traditionally arrive later in the evening. At the wedding, there is a tradition to
give money (as blessing) to bride and groom. There is also another tradition to receive bride with
some rice paddy, grass, milk and lamp.
The second day of the bride at her new home is celebrated as Bou Bhaat as on this day. The day
is celebrated as a reception party, where all the distant relatives along with the close ones from
the groom's side are invited and introduced to the bride. The bride's family members 'Konyajatri'
also attend the reception with 'tatwo' (gifts of clothes, sweetmeats, jewellery, and all other
essentials for the bride and her in-laws).
Dead Anniversary:
People of Dhaka arrange dead anniversary for their beloved family member who are not alive.
When anyone die in any house, there is a tradition to provide foods to the family member of the
died person by his/her relatives for four days. There is another tradition to arrange a ceremony
seeking blessing for that died person after forty days .
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