Asian American Resources

• Respect for elders and family is highly valued in South Asian cultures.

• 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.

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

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

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

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

Official Title: Federal Democratic of Nepal

Official Language(s):  Nepali

Regional and Indigenous Languages: There are approximately 123 languages spoken in Nepal, common languages are Newar, Maithili, Limbu, Bhojpuri, Bajjika, Tamang, Magar, Gurung, Tharu, Awadhi, Dotyali, Khas language (Karnali dialect), Kurukh, Santali, Nepali Sign Language, etc  

Foreign Languages Spoken:  English, Hindi

Religions and Belief Systems: Bon, Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Jainism, Kirat Mundhum, Nature Worship, Sikhism

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

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