daily life
- Food preparation is predominantly the use of herbs and spices (i.e. ginger, turmeric, and chutneys); although the cooking styles also differ between regions.
- Stable foods include wheat, basmati rice and Bengal gram (a yellow lentil)
- 20-40% of Indians are vegetarian, but lamb, fish, and chicken are very common in entrees even in vegetarian meals
- Hindus are primarily vegetarian and will not eat beef
- Muslims do not eat pork or drink alcohol
- Sikhs do not eat beef as well
- Food is eaten with fingers; generally a spoon and fork are given as utensils
- Use your right hand to eat
- Food may be placed on your place or you may serve yourself from a communal bowl
- If you’re full, leave a bit of food on your plate. A finished plate indicates that you are still hungry
- Hierarchical culture: Greet the eldest/senior person first. (Greetings are influenced by religion, education and social class)
ie. Handshakes are common between the same gender, but due to religious beliefs, handshakes may not take place between male and female
- Unnecessary to bring a gift if you’re going to an Indian’s home for a meal
- Do not give white flowers as gift (represents funeral), but yellow, green and red are considered lucky colors
- Indians are not punctual, but expect foreigners to be
- The host will repeatedly offer tea, coffee or snacks. It is considered protocol to decline the first invitation politely
- Stable foods include wheat, basmati rice and Bengal gram (a yellow lentil)
- 20-40% of Indians are vegetarian, but lamb, fish, and chicken are very common in entrees even in vegetarian meals
- Hindus are primarily vegetarian and will not eat beef
- Muslims do not eat pork or drink alcohol
- Sikhs do not eat beef as well
- Food is eaten with fingers; generally a spoon and fork are given as utensils
- Use your right hand to eat
- Food may be placed on your place or you may serve yourself from a communal bowl
- If you’re full, leave a bit of food on your plate. A finished plate indicates that you are still hungry
- Hierarchical culture: Greet the eldest/senior person first. (Greetings are influenced by religion, education and social class)
ie. Handshakes are common between the same gender, but due to religious beliefs, handshakes may not take place between male and female
- Unnecessary to bring a gift if you’re going to an Indian’s home for a meal
- Do not give white flowers as gift (represents funeral), but yellow, green and red are considered lucky colors
- Indians are not punctual, but expect foreigners to be
- The host will repeatedly offer tea, coffee or snacks. It is considered protocol to decline the first invitation politely
special events
![Picture](/uploads/4/1/1/6/41160655/9883412.jpg?305)
- The most important and grand festival is Diwali (aka Festival of Lights)à Candles are lit to represent their inner light that protects them from spiritual darkness
- Other holiday celebrations include Republic Day, Independence Day, Holi/Festival of Color or Love, and Mahatma Gandhi’s Birthday
- Monetary gifts are given for birth, death, and marriages
- Birthday: Blessing the individual by placing a bindi (red dot between the eyes) and touching each other’s feet as a sign of respect; ceremonial ritual with the use of silver plate that had 2 lit candles, dry rice, clarified butter, sindoor, yogurt, ring, and sweets
- Traditional outfits: sari for women and dhoti for men used in festive occasions or performances
- Other holiday celebrations include Republic Day, Independence Day, Holi/Festival of Color or Love, and Mahatma Gandhi’s Birthday
- Monetary gifts are given for birth, death, and marriages
- Birthday: Blessing the individual by placing a bindi (red dot between the eyes) and touching each other’s feet as a sign of respect; ceremonial ritual with the use of silver plate that had 2 lit candles, dry rice, clarified butter, sindoor, yogurt, ring, and sweets
- Traditional outfits: sari for women and dhoti for men used in festive occasions or performances