Tribal culture with its folk dance, drama, songs and folk lore is an integral part of the culture of the region. The tribal communities of Raj Bangshi, Mech, Raba, Toto, Limboo, Lepcha and the Bengali and Nepali community populate the region and provide a rich flavor to the rich cultural diversity of Jalpaiguri.

Jalpaiguri was covered with thick forests and the tribal people lived an isolated existence until the British people invaded their space, followed by the Bangladeshis; the British cleared the land for tea estates while the Bengali people after the partition of Bangladesh came here and were actively involved in agriculture. The British were also responsible for bringing another set of tribes called the Madeshia, Uraons, Munda and Nageshia from Chotanagpur to work in the plantations; these tribes since have lived in harmony with the other communities of North Bengal.

The majority of people in Jalpaiguri belong to the Bengali community followed by the Rajbangshi tribe. The numbers of tribes in these areas have dwindled over the years because they have largely relocated themselves to bigger towns and cities in search of work and livelihood.

Many festivals among the Bengali community and Rajbangshi are similar like the Durga Puja, Kali Puja, Manosha Puja etc. On the occasion of Manosha Puja – worship of the serpent Goddess – village fairs, dramas and festivals are held and villagers pray for good crops.

Folk drama of Jalpaiguri includes the ‘chor chunni' and ‘dham gaan' is a popular folk song. Rajbangshi's most popular songss are the ‘Bhawaiya Gaan' – devotional and love songs – which is very famous in Bengal .