Indian customs and taboos

India is a multi-ethnic country with many religions, many sects and different customs. Therefore, tourists must respect local customs. When visiting mosques and temples, they must take off their shoes when entering the temple (especially mosques) and should not shout loudly. If you see Muslims praying next to you, you must walk by softly and not disturb them., so as not to affect their worship. In India, cows are sacred and inviolable, and every year monks hold a festival called the "Boko Festival" to imply the worship of cows. Women are not allowed to participate in this ceremony.

In some places in India, cows can be seen wandering the streets at will, sharing road scenery with pedestrians, vehicles, etc. Hindus avoid eating beef and using cowhide products. Hindu temples do not allow things made of cowhide to enter, and must enter with bare feet. In addition, many Indians worship snakes, and people living in Yasen regard snakes as their ancestors. Many people also believe that killing a snake is an act that violates the gods. Avoid bathing your child with a bathtub, and think that the water in the bathtub does not flow, which is unlucky.

India is an ancient civilization in Asia and attaches great importance to etiquette in communicating with each other. When Indians meet friends, they usually fold their hands or raise their hands and say Namaskara, which means "Greetings." However, the posture of closing hands or raising hands is very particular, and it should be high to show respect; it should be level to show reciprocity; and it should be low to show consideration to young people. Sometimes they support each other and put their hands on each other's shoulders to show intimacy. If you meet guests waiting for you, you will often lay a wreath and hang it around the guests 'necks to imply a heartfelt welcome. If you have a wreath around your neck, this is the respect that Indians have for you. You should take it off immediately to imply your humility.

What is different from the habits of China is that when Indians agree or agree with each other's opinions, they neither nod nor shake their heads, but shake their heads left and right. People who deal with Indians for the first time are often at a loss whether the other party is implying agreement or disapproval. Indian women, especially Muslim women, are influenced by the boudoir system and rarely appear in public. They do not interact casually with strangers or shake hands with the opposite sex. Indians also have a culture of respecting the elderly and generally do not drink and smoke in front of the elderly. When the elders give orders, the younger generation should agree "yes" and hold their heads high to show their willingness to obey. For an elderly person or father, add a "auspicious word"(meaning "old man","Ruobo", or "Babu"(meaning "uncle","father") after the name. Great men, old people and masters are more respected, such as calling teachers and teachers "guru", calling Gandhi "Mahatma"(meaning father of the country), and calling polymath and Sanskrit scholars "Pandit"(Ja Nehru enjoyed this reputation during his lifetime). Call it "Sly"(meaning Mr.) to ordinary scholars. Muslim scholars who are proficient in Islamism and Arabic are called "mullahs" or "big mullahs".

When dealing with Indians, generally do not ask about their family, work, income and other questions to avoid causing displeasure. Don't start the conversation with a political topic. Especially on some sensitive issues, Indians like to talk about cultural achievements, Indian legends, religion, social customs, and history. Talking about such topics is more speculative and may help you establish a good partnership with the other party.

Indians generally eat rice and wheat as their staple foods. Use cooking methods such as stewing, roasting, boiling, and roasting; use curry, peppers and butter for seasoning rather than greasy food. Favorite vegetables include: tomatoes, onions, potatoes, Chinese cabbage, spinach, eggplant, cauliflower, etc. I especially like potatoes (foreign sweet potatoes) and think they are the best food among vegetables. Do not eat mushrooms, bamboo shoots and fungus. Generally, they do not drink alcohol, believing that drinking is against religious customs, but drinking is very restricted. It is common to drink tea and drink black tea, coffee, milk, cold water, etc., so when entertaining Indian guests, if the other party is unwilling to drink, do not force themselves to persuade them to drink. Sikhs absolutely prohibit alcohol.

Indians have the custom of eating pilaf. Grab rice and pick up food with your right hand. When friends gather or participate in receptions or dinner parties, the host often entertains the guests in the form of a buffet. On this occasion, you usually eat standing up and go to the table to pick up the food you like. Hold the plate with your left hand and grab the food with your right hand. Use 3 fingers (thumb, index finger and middle finger) to mix well the food well, and then grab it and eat it one by one (usually no chopsticks, forks and spoons). Indians have a clear division of labor between their hands. Except for WC, they generally use their right hand. Therefore, when meeting friends, never hold out your left hand and shake others.

Most Indians believe in Hinduism. There are many vegetarian people in the middle and upper classes. The higher their status and social status, the fewer they eat meat (people with lower social status eat mutton), but they also eat eggs, butter, and milk. Meat eaters among Hindus abstain from beef and are allowed to eat chickens, ducks, and fish. But Hindus avoid eating on the same plate. Muslims prefer to eat beef and mutton, but ban pork. Therefore, when entering a restaurant, you should order according to the recipe and not order pork or beef easily. There are many vegetarian restaurants and hotels in India that do not serve meat.

Indians like red (symbolizing vitality and vitality), blue (symbolizing sincerity), purple (symbolizing tranquility), gold (symbolizing brilliance), and green (symbolizing peace), and do not like black, gray and white. My favorite pattern is "Respect the Ox". Lotus flowers are highly rated in India. Elephants are regarded as auspicious animals in India and as symbols of wisdom, strength and loyalty.

India is an area prone to infectious diseases. Before leaving, you should get vaccinated and carry an epidemic prevention certificate to be prepared. In addition, material preparations need to be made. Such as luggage reservations, foreign exchange, air tickets or ferry tickets. Relevant reference books, academic exchange materials, product samples, small gifts for friends, and regular medicines. Like Western countries, Indians generally like to drink raw water, and restaurants and hotels generally do not provide hot boiled water. Due to the poor water quality in some cities, drinking raw water will cause acclimatization and be prone to illness. Therefore, try to drink as little or no alcohol. If you need water and tea, you can ask the hotel attendant to prepare and collect it, but you need to pay a tip.

It is best to arrange a trip to India in the cold season, that is, from October to February to March of the following year. This season is cool and pleasant. Avoid traveling in July and August, when it is the rainy season and transportation is inconvenient. Before leaving, you should understand the holidays in the country to avoid delays during holidays. When women travel alone. For safety and comfort, and to avoid unnecessary trouble, it is best to wear Indian clothes so that others will treat you as a local. It is best to sit with women when going out for a ride. Don't talk too much with strange men. Generally speaking, it is limited to talking about the weather.

At the same time, note that it is best to avoid walking when going out, even for a short distance, because there are many beggars on the streets of India, and never be kind enough to pay for beggars. Otherwise, more beggars will surround you, and you will be unable to escape without paying the fee. The more you pay, the more beggars will come. In particular, it is very difficult to purchase train tickets in India. Under normal circumstances, you need to book tickets 60 days in advance, and there is basically no hope of temporarily purchasing train tickets. So within India, you may still need to travel by air.