Customs and Festivals in Bengali-Speaking Communities
Read Bengali words for festivals and their customs, from Eid, Durga Puja and Christmas to the Bengali New Year, and the customs of inviting guests, giving presents and celebrating together.
Practise it before the paper, not after
Free, interactive practice on the words and structures the examiner keeps asking for.
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Festivals and customs
Bengali-speaking communities celebrate many festivals, from Eid and Durga Puja to Christmas and the Bengali New Year, and they share customs like inviting guests and giving presents. Each Bengali example is shown with a simple way to say it in brackets, then its English meaning: উৎসব (utshob) means a festival. A full sentence looks like this: আমি উৎসব ভালবাসি (ami utshob bhalobashi), meaning I love festivals.
Words for celebrating
Start with four words that come up at almost any festival.
Match each festival to its meaning
- ঈদ উৎসব (eid utshob)
- দুর্গা পূজা (durga puja)
- ক্রিসমাস (krismas)
- বাংলা নববর্ষ (bangla noboborsho)
- the Eid festival
- Durga Puja
- Christmas
- the Bengali New Year
Customs many festivals share
Different festivals share many of the same customs. People send an invitation, welcome their guests, give presents and decorate their homes. So even for a festival you do not know, the customs around it are often familiar. Learn the custom words once and they help across every festival.
Which word is a guest?
Which Bengali word means a guest?
- অতিথি (otithi)
- উপহার (upohar)
- মোমবাতি (mombati)
- উৎসব (utshob)
Spot the two festivals
Select the TWO words that are festivals.
- ঈদ উৎসব (eid utshob)
- দুর্গা পূজা (durga puja)
- উপহার (upohar)
- মোমবাতি (mombati)
Match each custom
- নিমন্ত্রণ করা (nimontron kora)
- ধন্যবাদ দেওয়া (dhonnobad deoya)
- বাজি ফোটানো (baji photano)
- সাজানো (shajano)
- to invite
- to thank
- fireworks
- to decorate
Festivals and customs
Reading the whole word tells you whether it names a festival or a custom around it. Here are more of each to read.
Find the two festivals
Tap the TWO words that are festivals.
- ঈদ উৎসব (eid utshob), Eid festival
- উপহার (upohar), present
- ক্রিসমাস (krismas), Christmas
- অতিথি (otithi), guest
Reading a sentence
Now read a full Bengali sentence, verb last as usual: - আমি উপহার ভালবাসি (ami upohar bhalobashi) = "I love presents". Three parts: আমি (ami, "I"), উপহার (upohar, "a present"), then the verb ভালবাসি (bhalobashi, "I love") at the end.
What does it say?
In আমি উপহার ভালবাসি (ami upohar bhalobashi), what does the sentence say the person loves?
- Presents
- Festivals
- Guests
- Candles
Host a celebration
Put the steps of hosting a festival celebration into a sensible order.
- Send out the invitations
- Decorate your home
- Welcome your guests
- Share food and presents
- Thank everyone for coming
Complete the festival facts
A day of celebration is called a _____. Before it, a host sends an _____ to the people they want to come. A visitor who comes is a _____. It is polite to bring a _____. The word উৎসব means _____.
Read the notice
Use what you know to read each Bengali word on a notice. Choose each time.
- A poster reads ঈদ উৎসব (eid utshob). What is it about?
- A card reads উপহার (upohar). What does it mean?
- A sign reads সরকারি ছুটি (sorkari chhuti). What day is it?
Write about a festival
In English, write about a festival you or your community celebrate, its customs, and some of the Bengali words for them. This is written in English and is not auto-marked.
- Name a festival and its Bengali word
- Describe two customs people follow at it
- Name one present or decoration, with its Bengali word
- Write one full Bengali sentence about what you love, using ভালবাসি