Indians live to eat thus food is a very important thing for us. We always give a lot of importance to the preparation of various dishes. Most of our conversations are also centralized around food. Whether it’s a birthday or get-together, wedding or house warming party the main thing is food.
Even in our daily lives we think so much about what to eat in breakfast, lunch or dinner and most of us discuss what we eat with our friends, family, colleagues etc. If you are a guest in Indian home than all the love is going to be showered on you via food.
If you like something than you’ll be fed till you die and if you don’t the case gets worse since you can’t say it to your loving host and you have to politely say that it’s nice and before you even realize another serving of that dish is in your plate.
However here are a few etiquette’s of Indian dinning:-
- Irrespective of whether one takes food with cutlery or with hand. one is expected to wash hands before and after taking food.
- It is customary to share food with anyone who wants it.
- It is rude for your host to not offer you food multiple times.
- Similarly, it is expected that one should not leave the table before the host or the eldest person have finished their food.
- It is not necessary to taste each and every dish prepared, but you should finish everything on the plate as it is considered a respect for served food, and food is sacred. Depending on the family or community, you can leave the left-over food in the plate if you cannot eat any more. Also, at many places, someone insisting you for trying a dish or serving special dishes in excess is considered as a sign of their affection towards you.
- If a meal is served over banana leaves (in South India) then it’s customary to fold the leaves over from the top at the end of the meal. This is to note the host that you have finished eating.
- This is more of a healthy practice than a rule. In some parts of India people prefer not to drink water while eating, and drink it after the meal is finished. This is to ensure a better digestion of the food.
- Courses in Indian meal depend on the area. North India has one course and desserts. Gujaratis have roti course with desserts followed by a rice course. South and East India, where meal is mostly rice based, orderly servings of accompaniments make various courses.
Bon Appetiete – Enjoy your meal!
– Anjani M Nautiyal
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