At a Bengali Muslim wedding, the hospitality can be aggressive! I remember attending a village wedding and being so full that I could not manage to eat any more rice and meat curry. The host came around with more food and a smile, and I began to place my left hand over the plate to “defile” it and so indicate that any more food placed there could go to waste.  But he was so determined, he slipped in the serving spoon before I could get my hand in place, putting yet more food on my plate!

I have never been to a Bengali’s house without being offered something to eat or drink, even in the homes of people who were clearly struggling to provide for themselves. They consider it a great honour to provide hospitality – and providing it well is also a matter of honour.

Bengali Muslims are the majority population in Bangladesh and the largest minority in the Indian states of West Bengal and Assam. With a population of 185 million they are the second largest Muslim ethnic group in the world (after Arab Muslims). They are a large unreached people group but recent years have seen growing numbers come to faith in Jesus.