Indian Customs

There are several customs associated with the manner of food consumption. For example, traditionally, meals are eaten while seated either on the floor or on very low stools or cushions.

Food is often eaten without cutlery, using the fingers of the right hand. The food has to touch only the two phalanges of fingers. Westerns often ask themselves to know why Indians eat with their hands because for them, it is uncultured and uncivilized. But if you ask any Indian, he will tell you that it is to completely enjoy the food. But the practice of eating food with the fingers has to lead to a certain minimum level of hygiene. People have to wash their hands before and after meals. One point to note is that in the past, meals were served on banana leaves. So, using cutlery would have only resulted in shredding the leaves. One thing that should be noted also is that Indian people eat only with the right hand. The left is considered unclean. There is a philosophy behind this Indian practice of eating. In India, eating is perceived as a sensual activity. When you are eating, you have to use four senses: the taste, the smell, the sight and the touch. If you ask any Indian, he will tell you that Indian food tastes best when you eat it with your fingers.

In India, traditional serving styles are varying from one region to another. A universal style of presentation is the thali, a large plate with samplings of different regional dishes accompanied by raita, which are breads such as naan, puri or roti and rice. In South India, they use a cleaned banana leaf and other leaves as an alternative to plates. These original plates are principally utilized for festive occasions.

After eating, there is a procedure. You have to wash your hand and fingers using soap and your mouth with water. In most of the families, each family member has to carry the plate to the wash basin and wash it himself/herself. As for guests, the normally practice is to leave the plate right at the dining place and one of the lady members of the host will volunteer to clean it.

Indian cuisine has got some rituals. For example, the Wazwan is a ritual serving of all the food in the house to the guest. It has to be appreciated by the guest, so, it is not a simple meal. There are days of planning and hours of cooking the wazman. This meal is normally restricted to special occasions of celebration in homes and it includes table settings for groups of four on the floor. But these traditional ways of eating have been influenced by eating styles from others parts of the world. For example, the Indian middle class use spoons and forks, but no knife.