Indian Dining Etiquette

The convention of eating in India reflects the country’s varied traditions and culture. Though most parts of the country follow the same dining etiquette, you might find some dissimilarities in practices in the northern, southern, eastern and western regions.

Don’t be surprised if you just casually visit an Indian friend and are then asked to stay over for a meal because that’s a gesture of respect and honor.

On the contrary, if you’ve been invited for dinner, it’s quite okay to arrive at your host’s place 15 to 20 minutes after the scheduled time.

Arriving early or exactly on time might seem rude as your host will be still in mid-preparation. You’ll also notice that you won’t be served your meal immediately after you arrive.

There’s a prior snack session, where you’ll be offered a few drinks and some snacks accompanied by light chit-chat.

After the meal is announced, you must wash and dry your hands. Washing your hands is the first step of dining as per Indian etiquette.

In restaurants, hotels and urban homes, tables and chairs are arranged for dining, however, in rural areas, some families sit together in comfortable clothes on floor mats made for eating meals.

In most Indian homes, generally, the homemaker arranges food for the family on the table and keeps an eye on who needs what, offering and bringing more food.

Unlike Western culture, there are no ‘courses’ when it comes to serving food in India. All of the food is served in one go. However, you might get to see varying serving styles, depending on the country’s regional cultures and different cuisines. Also, dishes will be served as opposed to individual portions, so the homemaker will either serve the food on your plate or you may help yourself.

You would usually be served the standard Indian meal, which comprises flatbreads like naan, chapatti, roti or paratha, daal, curries, raita, rice, pickles and some sweets. The food served might differ if you go to different regions of the country, like Punjab Gujarat Bengal, north-east India or south India.

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Thank you ….Indians don’t usually use cutlery for eating food, they prefer eating with their fingers. There’s also an inside joke that when eaten with fingers, food tastes much better. Eating with the fingers is done neatly and only the tips of the fingers are used. However, in urban areas and restaurants, spoons are used for eating liquid dishes like curries and daals. Indians do not encourage the use of a knife as cutlery because the food prepared here is generally bite-sized.

Flatbreads, again, are eaten with hands only. A small piece is torn using the fingers and a boat-like shape is made; curries are then scooped and inserted in the mouth. Apart from bread and desserts, the rest of the food is served on one plate, either in little cups or without.

?You must keep in mind to eat your food at a medium pace. It might seem rude if you eat your food too quickly, and if you eat too slowly, it may imply that you don’t like the food.

If you’ve finished your food early, then you must remain seated until the host or the eldest person at the table finishes their food. Getting up from the table when everybody else is still eating is considered ill-mannered. Also, if your host offers more food, do not refuse unless you’re really full. Saying ‘take some more food’ is the Indian way of showing love and respect. The amount you eat tells your host how much you enjoyed the food.

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After you’ve finished your meal, you must positively compliment your host for the food. Since food is prepared with great effort and care, expressing your admiration will make the host happy.

You must not leave anything on your plate as leftovers. Leaving food on your plate is not appreciated in Indian culture. It isn’t necessary to taste each and every dish that is served, but whatever you place on your plate must be finished. Also, do not play with food or distort it in any way.

?You must keep in mind to eat your food at a medium pace. It might seem rude if you eat your food too quickly, and if you eat it too slow, it may imply that you don’t like the food.

If you’ve finished your food early, then you must remain seated until the host or the eldest person at the table finishes their food. Getting up from the table when everybody else is still eating is considered ill-mannered.

Your Comments……

Every region in India has its own food traditions. So, depending on where you stay, your culinary experiences may vary. The plant-based nature of a large part of Indian cooking means that, in most regions, traditional dishes use fresh and healthy ingredients. For example, in Goa (west India), the staple vindaloo is a fiery curry made with garlic, wine, vinegar and chilies, offering a great source of protein and healthy spices.

Cooking and eating are social activities in India. There is an emphasis sharing and enjoying food with friends and family. As such, it is considered impolite to refuse food when it is offered – and it is often offered multiple times.

?Meals are traditionally eaten with the hands (unless you are eating a stew-like dish, like daal), though it is usually acceptable for foreigners to ask for cutlery.

In some parts of the country, particularly in north India, it is common to use pieces of chapatti, roti, or naan bread to pick up food. It is considered rude to touch other people’s food with your hands, so forks are often used to dish out food from the communal bowls.

Due to this custom, visitors (guests) should ensure they wash their hands thoroughly before starting a meal to avoid the spread of bacteria and minimize the risk of illness.

Food poisoning and digestive problems are the main issues faced by expats in India. You might want to avoid eating street food, meat, and any uncooked foods (including salads, fruit platters and fresh fruit juices), as these carry the highest risk of contamination.

Guests with digestion problems, such as irritable bowel syndrome, may want to seek advice about avoiding flare-ups while in India – for example, by avoiding foods that are too spicy or that contain a lot of fiber. Also, people with food allergies should carry the necessary treatment in the case of a reaction.

Different parts of India use a variety of ingredients that visitors may be allergic to (e.g. north India uses a lot of dairy, such as paneer cheese and yogurt; west India uses fish, coconut milk and vinegar; and east India uses mustard seeds, poppy seeds and mustard oil).

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