India is a vast country with
different customs which are followed in different parts of
the country. You may find the metros more liberal and cosmopolitian
as would be the case anywhere in the world and you may come
across various unusual customs as you move into the hinterland,
which are preserved over thousands of years. You may also
find that in general, the attitude to life is vastly different
compared to your part of the world.
However, Indians are hospitable
by nature and usually take in their stride your different ways.
Nevertheless, there may be certain situations where your not following
the accepted norm will be seen as a sign of disrespect. These are
the situations you need to know about.
Always remove your shoes before entering a holy
place such as a temple,gurudwara or mosque,Gurudwaras and tomb of
Muslim holy men will also require you to cover your head .In general,dress
conservatively at a place of worship.
Do not touch any holy object with the feet or
your left hand.Also,do not give ,take or point at anything with
the left hand.If you are required to eat with your fingers at any
place your right hand.
Public show of personal affection is generally
disapproved of, particularly in smaller cities and villages.Avoid
it.
Always follow the rules writtern on notice boards
at holy places. These may include'leather objects not allowed','cameras
not allowed', 'menstruating woman not allowed', and so on and so
forth.
Giving tips is customary but not mandatory. At
resturants, the usual rule of 5-10 percent applies while giving
tips. The trick is if you want quicker service, you give a tip.
Bargaining for a lesser price is a fairly common
fact of day to day life, especially at local bazaars,with rickshaws
and with autorikshaws branded. However, recognised and larger shops
as well as departmental stores will usually charge fixed prices.
