The Sylheti are an ethnocultural group associated with the Sylhet region of Bangladesh and Assam, India. Their traditions and identity are shaped by a rich history, including ancient kingdoms, festivals, and religious beliefs. 

History

• The Sylhet region was a commercial center in ancient Bengal and Assam. 
• The Hindu epic Mahabharata mentions a marriage in Habiganj, Sylhet. 
• The Gour Kingdom split into Gour (Sylhet) and Brahmachal (Moulvibazar). 
• The region was ruled by Hindu and Buddhist kingdoms, the Bengal Sultanate, the British, and Pakistan. 

Traditions

• Sylheti festivals and rituals are associated with farming seasons, local gods, and changes in nature. 
• The Sylheti community has a unique sense of place due to the region’s varied culture and historical influences. 
• The Sylheti community’s identity is formed through “othering” the Bengali and Assamese. 

Diaspora

• There are significant Sylheti communities in the United Kingdom, United States, and Canada. 
• In the United States, most Sylheti speakers live in New York City and Hamtramck, Michigan. 
• In the United Kingdom, most Sylheti speakers live in east London boroughs, such as Tower Hamlets. 

Preserving Sylheti culture

• The SOAS Sylheti Project developed an illustrated storybook to promote the Sylheti language. 
• Some people are working to preserve the Sylheti language and heritage.