In order to greet one another, Indians hold their palms together and utter "Namaste" (nuh-mus-tay). Hugging and cheek kissing, especially with the opposing sex, are inappropriate and should be avoided. Before entering a home or a place of worship (temples, mosques, gurudwaras), remove your shoes.

Do not critique the attire worn by Indians. Some folks may have a different idea of what constitutes formal attire than you do; they may choose to don a traditional kurta pyjama rather than a shirt and slacks. Do not comment on women who wear veils, whether it is the ghunghat (head wrap drawn to the chin) used by Hindu women or the burqa or hijab worn by Muslims.

The notorious head-bobbing gesture is another typical move. A nod that is vertical says "yes," while one that is horizontal means "no." Do not take offense if Indians refer to you as a "American" or "Englishman" without regard to where you are from. Many of them have a propensity to lump foreigners into one of these two groups.

Do not decline a casual invitation offered to you by friends or colleagues in Indian etiquette and customs. There is no reason to feel uneasy because Indians frequently invite guests to their homes and show them around the entire house, including the bedrooms. By all means, bring a gift, but make sure it isn't too pricey. If the gift is not a memento of your home nation, stick to sweets or chocolates. Even then, it shouldn't be a significant investment.

Some homes may still prefer to eat on the floor, even when the custom of doing so has altered. Do not take this offense. Take whatever is being provided to you, and if the host asks if you would like a second helping, say yes if you do not object to it.

Keep in mind that Hindus, Muslims, and Sikhs in India have specific dietary requirements. Hindus believe cows to be frightened and avoid beef intake; Muslims eat beef but view the consumption of pork as "haraam" or sinful. Sikhs avoid eating beef and pork.

Indians are fiercely proud of their history and rich culture, so never speak negatively about them or their way of life. Additionally, avoid talking about any religious subjects; this is a touchy subject in the nation.
Affection should not be shown in public places too often. Although Indians' responses to PDA have significantly improved, it is still preferable to save the hugs and kisses for a less obvious occasion.

No matter if you are going to a business meeting or a stroll in the park, dress accordingly. Avoid wearing clothing that is too tight around the body or too revealing of the skin. If you decide to dress traditionally and wear a kurta pajama (for men) or a salwar kameez/saree (for women), Indians will be completely impressed; they view this as a sign of goodwill.

Meetings for business purposes rarely begin on time. Punctuality in India could easily be interpreted as being 30 minutes to an hour late. Be prepared to participate in endless small talk on everything from the weather to the political situation in your home nation.

Answer courteously or just smile. Indian etiquette may give the impression of being a generally rigid, formal rule of behavior, but in practice it is far more flexible and tolerant. Don't be startled if your Indian friends come by at any time to say hello; they aren't simply being nice when they say "drop in at any time."

Indian culture has a rich tradition and folk culture as a result of the many various practices and concepts it has assimilated over the course of its lengthy history. The sitar, a guitar-like instrument that is the most widely used musical instrument in India.

India is renowned for its rugs, crafts, jewelry, bronzes, ceramics, woodwork, metallurgy, and stone carving.
Traditional competitions include cockfighting and camel racing. Regional folk dances are frequently performed at festivals. The prominent Mumbai-based film business is known colloquially as "Bollywood." Bollywood has the highest output in the world in terms of the number of films made and, probably, the number of tickets sold.

One of the world's oldest caste systems is found in India. People are divided into four main groups according to the caste system: Shudras, Vaishyas, Kshatriyas, and Brahmins Brahmins, educators, and thinkers are the head of Brahma. Brahma's arms are the Kshatriyas, the warriors and kings. Finally, Shudras, the domestic workers, are Brahma's feet. Vaishyas, the traders, are Brahma's thighs.

Within a community, there can be as many as thirty castes. Contrary to earlier prohibitions, intercaste marriage is increasingly more widespread in urban areas. Caste is determined by birth. In India, family values are widely cherished and integral to daily life. The family is patriarchal, and a woman is expected to submit to her husband, son, and father.

The majority of weddings are arranged. India's urban middle class has started to turn away from arranged weddings. Three or four generations of a family frequently reside in the same home. Traditionally, daughters receive a dowry while sons inherit. The female members of the family take care of the children.

India has many different cultural groupings, hence different regions have different name traditions. Ask if you're unsure. This will probably offend people the least. Generally speaking, it is safe to address an older as "sir" or "Ma'am." Indians typically use their "given name" at work or while speaking to individuals they don't know well.

In India, a lot of people also have nicknames for their family and close friends called "pet names." Even if they are not related, elder women are frequently addressed as "auntie." Younger men are commonly referred to as "little brothers." Family names or surnames frequently indicate a person's caste or region of origin; they may also carry a suffix that indicates the nature of an ancestor's trade.

Indians may also go by another name for their religion. Muslims frequently lack surnames. Instead, men use the connector "bin" to combine their own name with the name of their father. Sikhs all use the name Singh, for instance, Abdullah bin Ahmed is Abdullah the son of Ahmad. It is either used as a connector name to the surname or as an adopted surname.

Avoid approaching anyone too closely. It could be difficult to communicate clearly; you might need to interpret gestures and signs. People will engage with each other differently depending on their relationships, so pay attention to what others do.

Indian men frequently give one other pats on the back to show their camaraderie. Some gestures are simple to misinterpret; for example, in India, a side-to-side hand wave used in the West can be taken as "no" or "get away." When an Indian says, "I will try," this is typically taken to mean, "no."

The majority of Indians hate open rejection of anything or anyone. In order to touch, accept, or give something, use your right hand. Instead of beckoning or snapping your fingers, extend your arm and curl your fingers inward like a claw. One or two fingers pointing are considered impolite and are reserved for inferiors. When directing someone's attention, chins, thumbs, and entire hands are employed. When a head is pulled back or moved in a figure-eight motion, this typically denotes "yes."

Typically, gifts are not exchanged at the initial meeting. Presents can be exchanged once the connection has grown. Individual gifts are particularly welcome if they are from your own country. Never use just your left hand to give or accept presents since that hand is seen as dirty. Gifts are typically not unwrapped in front of the benefactor.

Instead, use red, blue, or green for a present or wrappings. Black symbolizes wrath, evil, and negativity, while white is only appropriate for funerals and times of mourning. Avoid purchasing presents made of pig or leather. Avoid being within arm's reach of other people. Avoid touching somebody on the head in public and refrain from doing so. Avoid touching another person's foot as it is deemed unclean (this rule also applies to the left hand) (apologise immediately if this is accidental).

Indian cuisine is frequently served on a "thali," a plate or tray that may accommodate multiple courses. The word "curry" originated in Europe to describe the hot Indian food. While flat breads (roti) are preferred in some regions of India, others prefer meals to be served with rice (chawal). Spices like cumin, turmeric, black pepper, cardamom, cloves, and coriander are added to food. Most Hindus refrain from eating beef.

Many devout Muslims and Hindu women abstain from alcohol use. Before dining, you could be asked to wash your hands. Eating is frequently done with the right hand. Typically, guests are served in the following order: guest of honor, males, and then children (Women may eat later) Various desserts (paan) like betel nuts served with lime and wrapped in betel leaves are frequently served as an after-dinner treat.

Guests are always taken care of by hosts. Accept whatever is given to you, but don't feel obligated to consume everything. Use a spoon whenever food is served in communal dishes so that you can help yourself. Breads can be used to scoop up food. Reciprocate your invitation to a similar-valued person for dinner. Usually, the host in a restaurant foots the tab.

Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism, and other religions all originated in India. Along with Abrahamic religions, Indian religions make up a significant portion of world religions. It is required to remove your shoes when entering mosques, churches, and temples. Following others' lead, it may also be customary to remove your shoes before entering a residence.

Touching or pointing with your foot at another person is impolite. Indians will quickly touch the offended person with their right hand, then move the hand to their breast and eyes as an apology if it was an unintentional offense. Emulate that is a smart move.

Books and written information are respected because they are thought of as actual, physical manifestations of Saraswati, the Hindu goddess of learning. A book shouldn't be touched with the feet, and if it is, an apology should be offered in the same way that one would to a person. The same is true with money and other wealth-related items (especially gold). They are respected because they are seen as actual, human-like manifestations of the Hindu goddess Lakshmi (of Wealth).

The Swastika, which is regarded as a holy sign by Hindus, Buddhists, and Jains, is frequently found throughout India. Visitors from Western countries shouldn't be outraged if they find a Swastika at a temple or a local's home because it is not widely recognized as a sign for Nazism in India and had its roots in Hinduism long before the rise of Nazism.

It does not imply that the individual supports the Nazis or represents anti-Semitism. In India, the connection between the Swastika and anti-Semitism is largely unacknowledged. In fact, Jews have lived in India for thousands of years and have always maintained positive relationships with their non-Jewish neighbors.

For instance, it is noteworthy but not surprising that the local Hindu raja shielded the Goan Jews from the Inquisition after the Portuguese took control of that port.

You should remember that do not use your shoes or feet to touch somebody. Do not express rage. Keep your affectionate displays private. Avoid winking, whistling, and similar behaviors. Do not box or pull on another person's ears since they are considered sacred.

Particularly in rural areas, Indians choose a fairly modest style of attire. Major cities now frequently observe Western dress standards, including the wearing of jeans by women. However, you ought to cover your legs out of respectability. Although the beaches of Goa and college students are frequent exceptions, it's uncommon to see an Indian man in a well-dressed outfit wearing shorts or an Indian woman wearing a skirt that extends past the ankles. Yes, you can do it, and nobody will likely object.

However, first impressions matter! Wearing unsuitable clothes contributes to the widespread misconception in India that foreign women are promiscuous. You'll gain more respect if you dress formally. When visiting Indian temples, it's extremely vital to cover your legs, shoulders, and even your head. Avoid wearing strapless tops wherever else as well. If you do choose to wear a spaghetti strap top, remain modest and cover it with a shawl or scarf.

Pakistan is a touchy subject, and many Indians would have strong opinions on it. Be cautious when bringing up the subject and try to stay out of a discussion about the entire thing. It's acceptable to discuss your trip to Pakistan, the people, and the cricket matches between India and Pakistan.

The Jammu and Kashmir Conflict and political disagreements with Pakistan are much better avoided altogether because they have forced a significant number of people to flee their homes within India. Similar animosity and frequently strong disapproval may be shown toward Pakistanis or the country of Pakistan.

China is a very touchy subject in the nation as well. There are disagreements as a result of the territorial war between the two nations. The same goes for bitterness and a strong disdain of Chinese people. When discussing business, it's possible that the Indians will prefer to talk about China.

Do not disparage or cast doubt on religious beliefs. This could seriously hurt their feelings even if you didn't mean to and put you in an embarrassing situation. When describing the caste system, exercise caution because Western perspectives on the subject are frequently either out-of-date or inadequate, or both. Caste prejudice has virtually disappeared in some urban areas as a result of recent social transformations.

Sri Lanka is a contentious topic throughout the subcontinent, but particularly in Tamil Nadu. The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, a rebel organization located in Sri Lanka, assassinated former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi in 1991.