Dining Etiquette
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.
