10 indian gestures you must know to avoid cultural shocks while volunteering
TRANSCRIPT
10 Indian Gestures You Must Know To Avoid Cultural Shocks while Volunteering
Gestures are the signs we humans use to communicate without speaking a word. While there are gestures that are common everywhere in the world, there are a few which differ from country to country. In India, using physical gestures to show or communicate is in abundance. From showing respect for elders or reverence towards God and thanking someone, to wishing good luck and applauding someone; there are a number of gestures for each action. While volunteering in India, it is always a good practice to get an understanding of the commonly used gestures, in order to avoid getting offended or offending someone, or may be getting a cultural shock of your life. Volunteering India gives you the list of some of the commonly used gestures in India:
1. Greetings -
NamasteyThis is probably the commonest of
the gestures in India that the
world knows. But then, there are
people who don’t know John
Lennon as well; thus, the mention.
Joining your palms together with a
bright smile on your face is the
way of greeting each other,
especially the guests, in India.
2. Blessings It is a very common practice in
India where the younger touch
the feet of their parents, grand-
parents, or any elder for taking
their blessings. The elders then
put their palm on the head to
signify their blessings been
given.
3. Good luck Mixing sugar in a small bowl of
yoghurt and feeding that to
someone before they leave for a
very important task is considered to
bring good luck. Even today, people
in India practice this when they
leave for examinations, interviews,
first day at job, inaugurations, and
several other tasks.
4. Respect In India, mostly in small town and
villages, women can be seen
covering their face up till the
length of their chin with the sari
they wear; especially, when they
are in the vicinity of men or elders.
This is a sign of showing respect to
the elders and men in the
community.
5. Hospitality The way of showing hospitality in
India goes beyond imagination. In
India, guests are considered
equivalent to God and are treated the
same way. As a volunteer guest to a
host family in India, you would be
offered food even if you are stuffed,
will be welcomed with garlands and
flower petals showered over, and
sweets being offered.
6. Reverence for
God People in India are very
spiritual and pious. And
barring a few percentage of
atheist (which are almost
everywhere in the world),
everyone in India show
immense reverence for God.
7. Thanking Indians take favors and obligations
very seriously, and would always
return it with great enthusiasm.
Doesn’t matter the scale of favor
someone did to them, they will feel
really obliged for it and a small
thing as a Thank You would also be
from the bottom of their heart.
8. Applauding There are claps and then there are
pats on the back; in India, expect
more of the latter. One must not
feel offended or surprised if they
get a pat from one of the locals. If
they find you are doing a great job
under your volunteering program,
this will be their way to applaud
you.
9. Laughter
Not that people in India aren’t
serious about life, it is just that
they like to laugh it out loud as
and when the opportunity
arrives. If you find someone
with a high pitch of laughter, do
not be stunned.
10. Perfect/Good Showing a thumbs up in India is
more for wishing good luck, unlike
in European and American
countries where it is used to define
‘Good’ or ‘Perfect’. For this, the
commonly used gesture is when
people make a round figure by
joining their first finger and the
thumb.
While, it is not a compulsion to be
aware of all the gestures and body sign languages used in India, knowing a few commonly
used can be of a great help; indeed! So, keep a note of these and have a wonderful and fun-filled volunteering experience in India.
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