Bengali Americans (Bengali: মার্কিন বাঙ্গালী) are Americans of Bengali ethnic, cultural and linguistic heritage and identity. They trace their ancestry to the historic ethnolinguistic region of Bengal region in the Indian subcontinent, now divided in South Asia between Bangladesh and West Bengal of India. Bengali Americans are also a subgroup of modern-day Bangladeshi Americans and Indian Americans. Bengalis are also classified under Bangladeshi Americans.[3] Significant immigration of Bengalis to the United States started after 1965.
বাঙালি আমেরিকানরা | |
---|---|
Total population | |
375,143 [1] (0.12% of U.S. population) | |
Regions with significant populations | |
New York City, Washington DC, Los Angeles,[2] SF Bay Area, Detroit | |
Languages | |
English, Bengali | |
Religion | |
Predominantly Islam and Hinduism; small minorities of Christianity, Buddhism | |
Related ethnic groups | |
Bangladeshi Americans, Indian Americans |
Bengali Americans may refer to:
Many Bengali Americans participate in an annual conference, the North American Bengali Conference, in order to celebrate their culture and discuss issues the community faces. They often form regional organizations to network and plan events.
Bengali Americans are mostly adherents of either Islam or Hinduism. This is manifested in the yearly celebration of Eid ul-Fitr, Durga Puja and other religious celebrations. Several secular holidays are also enjoyed by the whole community, such as the Bengali new year, Pohela Boishakh.
There are also at least two Bengali Buddhist temples in the United States, near Washington, DC[4] and New York City.[5]
Over 40 percent of the United States' Bengali population lives in New York City.