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What are the traditional etiquette taboos in India
Because of the relationship between geography and humanities, the customs and habits of each place will be different. Different religious beliefs will also lead to many etiquette taboos. India is a multi-ethnic country with a large population.
There are many religions and sects in India, so the etiquette and customs also vary. What are the specific taboos of Indian etiquette?
Birth Ceremony
Hindus bathe in the “holy water” of the Ganges.
In India, the tradition is very patriarchal, because when a daughter gets married, her parents must prepare a rich dowry. If there is no dowry, the daughter will not be able to marry. The way Indians celebrate the birth and safe growth of their children is to go to temples to perform “puja rituals”, sing prayers, and then hold meals with relatives and friends.
After the birth of Indian children, their parents will find someone to do fortune-telling for them, and most of the children’s names are taken from heroes or gods. The birth date of the child is especially valued because it can determine the child’s future marriage partner.
Funeral
When Hindus die, cremation is held at the Ghat. After the death of a Hindu, the family will wrap the body in yellow or white silk cloth, then put it on two bamboo stretchers and carry it in a procession to the cremation site of the Ghat.
Wedding
Indian weddings are a symbol of social status and an important ceremony in one’s life. When young Indians reach the marriageable age, their parents will be replaced by their parents to find objects with the same social class, the same language, and compatible astrology. On the wedding day, the groom rode a white horse to the bride’s house.
At this time, a fire altar had been set up at the woman’s house, and relatives and friends of both parties circled around the fire altar to pray in the auspicious mantra recited by the priest. Afterwards, the bride, surrounded by female companions, walks to the front of the fire altar, and the priest ties the bride’s sari and the groom’s scarf together, representing a long and long marriage.
The Indian wedding dinner is held at the bride’s home, and a couple of newlyweds sit at the wedding reception to receive blessings from relatives and friends. On the night of the wedding, the groom spends the night at the bride’s house and takes the bride home the next day.
Puja ceremony
Puja is the ritual of worshiping the gods in Hinduism, and the Puja ceremony must be performed by priests. During the ceremony, believers will decorate the statue and carry it out of the temple to celebrate, and offer flowers, coconuts, tika powder and other offerings. Finally, the priest holds an oil lamp and performs “arati” in front of the idol.
During the process of “Alati”, believers lightly cover the lamps in the hands of priests with their hands, and then touch their own eyes, representing the acceptance of the power bestowed by the gods.
Usually in India after the Puja ceremony, believers can share some sacrificial flowers, tika powder or water, called “Prasada”. So in India, as long as you see Indians coming out of the temple to worship, almost all of them have red or white powder on their foreheads.
In India, the religious beliefs, races, classes, regions, etc. of the local people can be seen from different costumes and attire.
Folk Taboo
General taboos are: when sleeping, do not face north and feet south, it is said that King Yama lives in the south; avoid talking about snakes at night; avoid pancakes during festivals and festive days; avoid babies looking in the mirror, otherwise they will become dumb; When the father is alive, the son should not wrap himself in the turban and shave his head; 3 and 13 are taboos, because Shiva has 3 eyes, and the third eye is destructive, 13 is because there are 13 days of mourning after death; women During pregnancy, avoid making clothes and taking pictures; avoid using your left hand to hand and pick things up.
In terms of diet, believers who believe in Hinduism abstain from beef, and those who believe in Islam abstain from eating pork. When invited to be a guest in an Indian home, the hostess often does not chat with the guests, nor does she eat with the guests. When entertaining guests, the Indians believe that the expenses should be paid by the rich.
Indians are very taboo to use the left hand to pick up and deliver items, thinking that the left hand is dirty and lowly. They do not like others to touch their children’s heads. It is particularly worth noting that when Indians express agreement or affirmation, they do not simply shake their heads “no” and “yes”, but shake their heads, or tilt their heads slightly to the left first, Then immediately revert to the original state and say “yes”.
When visiting temples all over India, never wear anything made of cowhide, such as leather shoes, leather straps, belts, handbags and other cowhide products, and do not bring them into the temple gate, otherwise it will be regarded as a violation of the taboo. Because in this country that believes in Hinduism, believers worship cows and regard cows as sacred objects, and cows cannot be slaughtered, and they do not even want to see things made of cowhide.
Take off your shoes before entering a temple or kitchen in India. Indians consider it impolite and unholy to wear shoes.
The conclusion is that Indians are forbidden to wear leather goods (belts, straps, shoes, clothes), especially in holy places, because Hindus do not kill cows, Muslims do not kill pigs, and Jains do not have to kill animals or insects.
To enter a temple or mosque in India, take off your shoes and cross the threshold instead of stepping on the threshold. To enter the temple barefoot, wash your feet at the entrance beforehand as a courtesy.
Those entering the mosque are not allowed to wear shorts or sleeveless vests, and are also required to take off their shoes.
Anyone entering a Sikh temple must wear a turban or hat before taking off their shoes before entering.
Flowers displayed in the market are prohibited from smelling or touching with their hands. People will dislike the above behaviors.
Avoid whistling in India, especially women. In restaurants, shops and other service industries, if the Ke people greet the waiters by whistling, it is regarded as an offensive behavior.
The head is the most sacred part of the Indian body, so travelers should not touch their heads directly. Never slap an Indian child on the head, Indians think it will hurt the child.
Even at a friend’s house, don’t praise a child, which many Indians believe will attract the attention of the wicked.
When going to India to do business, it should be noted that Indians generally do not carry out various business activities during holidays. When talking with Indians, do not involve their wives and children. They like to talk about their ancient cultural achievements and their own country. The contribution of culture to human civilization, as well as foreign affairs and foreigners’ lives.
