Cultural Understanding

This post wishes to discuss the elements of the Bengali-Indian culture that Lahiri has introduced throughout her stories. What are some of these elements, whether of food, attire, or customs, that have been utilized to create a typical Bengali background for her characters and settings? How distinctive do these traditions seem from those characteristic of a standard American household? Are there similarities inspite of differences? Does she mention any cultural practice, or way of life, that you would like to know further about?