Dining Etiquettes: What You Should Be Doing While In India

With diverse culture, ethnicity, language, origin, geography and food comes a blend of manners and etiquette's in India which is as unique as the Indus Valley Civilization itself. Historically, for major part in the past, we came under the influence of many invaders and traditionally we welcomed various cultures and cuisines to merge with our own. In some parts of India you will therefore notice strong influence of the Portuguese culture and somewhere else you will see the strong British lineage. French, Iranian, Afghan and even African culture, they all exist in different pockets of India. Despite all the diverse culture and culinary, if you travel well in this country, you will not fail to observe some strikingly unique Table Manners and Etiquettes in India which are more or less uniform throughout the country.

Majorly a Hindu populated country, India has considerably a high percentage of people of other religions too and together they make us 2^nd only to China on world population chart. While the culture and food, you will see, is more westernized in Cities and Metros; the majority of India’s populace who still live in rural places can give you a feel of authenticity of culture and its gastronomy. If you decide to visit places in India’s backyards, keep the following Dining Etiquette handy:

·        Eat with your right hand

·        Never use your left hand for eating. This is considered distasteful and unhygienic

·        Forks, knives etc. are not traditionally used

·        Wash your hands before eating

·        Keep your fingernails short for maintaining cleanliness

·        Sharing someone’s glass, spoon, plate or a drinking bottle is considered insulting in many parts or societies of India

·        When you visit someone’s home, don’t sit down for a meal until your are told by the host where to sit

·        Wait to be served

·        Use a spoon for food such as soups

·        Asking for some extra servings is okay but do not reach out directly or point out at dishes

·        Don’t talk while eating or make noise. Don’t even talk on mobile phones. For talking ask to be excused and leave your seat

·        Wait till everyone is served with the food and then only start eating

·        Leave your seat only when everyone is done with their meal or ask to be excused.

Best Restaurant in Dhanbad.

If you, however, stay in a luxury hotel or go for a fine dining in an urban posh restaurant you will see a more sophisticated culture being followed there quite contrary to what you see in general.