Asian American Resources
Common Practices Bangladesh Bhutan India The Maldives Nepal Pakistan Sri Lanka
Common practices, customs and traditions:
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Respect for elders and family is highly valued in South Asian cultures.
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Diwali, Eid-ul-Fitr, Eid-ul-Adha, Holi, and Navratri are some festivals in the region. They are a vibrant part of local culture. In addition to music and dance being integral to local customs, traditional attire is often worn during festivals, weddings and other special occasions.
Staple foods vary across the region but often include rice, wheat, lentils, and a variety of spices. Common ingredients include turmeric, cumin, coriander, and chili.
Warm traditions of hospitality and respect for guests.
Bangladesh:
Official Title: People’s Republic of Bangladesh
Official Language(s): Bengali
Regional and Indigenous Languages: Atong, Bawm, Bishnupriya Manipuri, Burmese, Chakma, Garo, Hajong, Hakha-Chin, Kharia, Khasi, Khumi, Koch, Koda, Kokborok, Kol, Kurukh, Lyngngam, Manipuri, Marma, Megam, Meitei, Mizo, Mru, Mundari, Odia, Oraon Sadri, Pangkhua, Pnar, Rakhine, Riang, Rohingya, Santali, Sauria Paharia, Tangchagya, Telugu, Tippera, Urdu, Usoi, War
Foreign Languages Spoken: English
Religions and Belief Systems: Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Sikhism
Bhutan:
Official Title: The Kingdom of Bhutan
Official Language(s): Dzongkha
Regional and Indigenous Languages: Bantawa, Brokkat, Brokpa, Bumthang, Chali, Chocangacakha, Dakpa, Dzala, Gongduk, Gurung, Kiranti, Khams, Kheng, Lakha, Lepcha, Lhokpo Nepali, Newar, Nyenkha, ’Ole, Sikkimese, Tamang, Tibetan, Tshangla, Bhutanese Sign Language
Foreign Languages Spoken: English, Hindi
Religions and Belief Systems: Bon, Buddhism, Hinduism
India:
Official Title: The Republic of India
Official Language(s): India has 23 official languages, they are Assamese, Bengali, Bodo, Dogri, English, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Kashmiri, Konkani, Maithili, Malayalam, Marathi, Meitei, Nepali, Odia, Punjabi, Sanskrit, Santali, Sindhi, Tamil, Telugu, Urdu
Regional and Indigenous Languages: Indo-Pakisani Sign Language, Alipur Sign Language, etc
Religions and Belief Systems: Adivasi, Bahá'í Faith, Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Jainism, Judaism, Secular, Sikhism, Zoroastrianism
The Maldives:
Official Title: The Republic of Maldives
Official Language(s): Dhivehi
Regional and Indigenous Languages: English and Patuá (Macanese patois)
Foreign Languages Spoken: English
Religions and Belief Systems: Agnostic, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism
Nepal:
Official Title: Federal Democratic of Nepal
Official Language(s): Nepali
Regional and Indigenous Languages: Approximatly 123 languages are spoken in Nepal, including Newar, Maithili, Limbu, Bhojpuri, Bajjika, Tamang, Magar, Gurung, Tharu, Awadhi, Dotyali, Khas language (Karnali dialect), Kurukh, Santali and Nepali Sign Language
Foreign Languages Spoken: English, Hindi
Religions and Belief Systems: Bon, Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Jainism, Kirat Mundhum, Nature Worship, Sikhism
Pakistan:
Official Title: Islamic Republic of Pakistan
Official Language(s): Urdu, English
Regional and Indigenous Languages: Pyongan dialect, Gyeonggi dialect, Munhwaŏ dialect, North Korean Sign Language
Foreign Languages Spoken: Balochi, Balti, Brahui, Burushaski, Dhatki, Dari, Hazaragi, Hindko, Kashmiri, Khowar, Kohistani, Kyrgyz, Marwari, Pashto, Punjabi, Pahari-Pothwari, Parkari Koli, Saraiki, Shina, Sindhi, Turkmen, Uzbek, Wakhi, Pakistani Sign Language
Religions and Belief Systems: Ahmadiyya, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Sikhism
Sri Lanka:
Official Title: The Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka
Official Language(s): Sinhala, Tamil
Regional and Indigenous Languages: Sri Lankan Tamil dialects, Sri Lankan English, Sri Lanka Malay, Sri Lankan Portuguese creole, Telugu, Vedda, Arwi, Sri Lankan Sign language
Foreign Languages Spoken: English
Religions and Belief Systems: Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam