People of West Bengal

West Bengal has been subjected to a variety of influences from diverse cultures. Since time immemorial, the culmination of these varied cultures along with Bengal's very own evergrowing richness has given birth to a unique Bengali culture which can be identified by its colorful and significant contribution to all epochs of traditional and modern society. In West Bengal most of the people speak Bengali and they are very proud of their language Bengali. Many northern parts of this state speak the languages like Nepali and Bhutia, of the neighbouring countries. With the ancient temples of Vishnupur, to the churches of Kolkata, from Himalayas to sea beaches and world famous Gangetic deltas, from Sunderban to Darjeeling, from Tea to Tant sarees, from Rabindranath Tagore to Satyajit Ray, from Durga Puja to Christmas, from Fish curry to Sweets, Bengali culture is truly unique and exciting. It is the cultural hub of India with theatres, plays and films being the most popular forms of entertainment. Folk dances and folk music form an integral part of this state. In the whole of the rural West Bengal and in the most of the municipal areas the primary education is free and compulsory. Free supply of text books have been under taken. Girls education up to standard VIII has been made free in rural and urban areas, including Calcutta. The common Bengali dress is the dhoti and a stitched upper garment - a shirt, a Punjabi Kurta or a half-sleeved vest. The urban population has started favouring pyjama and trousers for convenience and economy. The western style of dress is being adopted by the more affluent as a status symbol replacing the achakan-pyjama and the Shamla Pugree, there is a general absence of any kind of headdresses, Muslims cover there head during prayer and religious ceremonies. The women invariably wear the waist to ankle length sari in a graceful style. The upper part is covered by different styles of blouses. The Bengali is predominantly a rice eater. All but the very
devout Hindus eat fish as a principal item of their food. He has a sweet tooth and everyone who can afford them enjoys sweet meats made with milk casein (chhan) of which a large variety have been evolved. Another essential item is dal (pulses) which supplements their protein requirements. A large assortment of vegetables and seasonal fruits completes the dietary. Bengalis prefer to other beverages, the habit of taking sweetened tea has a spread to there remotest villages. Chewing of pan laced with lime, Kattha and arecanut is universal, so is the smoking of tobacco, either plain in the form of bidi or mixed with treacle and spices for the hookah. Cigarette smoking has been spreading to rural areas but is still something of a symbol. Drinking of palm juice today and home made alcoholic brews is largely confined to industrial labour and the tribal population
Details about West Bengal people 

People with different racial, regional and cultural origins live in West Bengal. However, an impact of the Bengali culture is evidently visible on all the residents of the state. The zeal of festive mood, the tendency of relishing good food, the intellectual aura and the love for literature, music and football is commonly seen in majority of the people in West Bengal. The cosmopolitan Bengali culture, with a blend of traditional sanctity in it, is something that makes Bengal a unique state. Read on to know more about the basic traits of Bengali people.

People & Lifestyle Of West Bengal

Racial Composition
West Bengal, because of its accessible location near sea, has been the entry gate of India since long. Today, the inhabitants of the state demonstrate a prolific inter mixture of five distinct racial strains. The oldest stratum of the population found here is Proto-Australian in origin. However, these five main racial strains of Bengal have become so inextricably intermixed that it is almost impossible to find a pure racial type in the population.

Religion
Hindu and Muslims dominate the population of West Bengal. The minority religions practiced in the state are Sikhism, Buddhism, Christianity and Jainism. The people of Bengal live with mutual peace and harmony. Throughout the year there is a festive mood in the state, as each season brings a plethora of festivals along with it. Durga Pooja is celebrated with same joy and grandeur in the state as Id. The cuisines and the culture of West Bengal also demonstrate the inextricable blend of its existent religions.

Education

The literacy rate of West Bengal is 69.72 %. There is free primary education in rural West Bengal and in the most of the municipal areas. Even the books are available free of cost to the students of rural parts. Girl's education in the state is free up to standard VIII.

Major Occupation
Agriculture is the main occupation of the people of West Bengal. Majority of the population is involved in the farming sector, as cultivators and agricultural labors. Industries are also a major source of employment in Bengal. There are more than 10000 registered factories in the state. Apart from the alloy steel plant at Durgapur, there are several other steel plants in the state. The colliery at Asansol is also a large employment provider in the state. Other than this, the centre has set up a numerous industries in the areas of tea, sugar, chemicals and fertilizers. Tea and jute plantation in West Bengal also generate a lot of job. People here are also involved in banking and education sector.

Attire
The traditional Bengali attire for men is dhoti and kurta (a sleeved vest) and for women, it is sari or salwar-kameez. Though these attires are still dominant in the rural areas, the urban people have almost fully adopted to the western attires. The only exceptions are the religious ceremonies, when they can be seen clad in their traditional costumes.

Food Habits
The staple food of Bengal is rice and fish. There is a variety of fish available in West Bengal and every fish is cooked in a different way. The use of mustard oil and panchforan (five spices) in the cuisine adds a distinct flavor to the dishes. Bengal is also known for its delicious sweets. Chômchôm, Pantua, Pitha, Rôshogolla & Shôndesh are some of the mouth-watering sweets available here. The people of Bengal are said to be big foodies and real appreciators of taste.