Travelling in India also means entering a culture with precise customs. A few landmarks of etiquette to be a respectful and well-received traveller.
Greeting
Unless the other person takes the initiative, do not shake hands: it is considered impolite. Greet with a “Namaste”, hands joined at the chest — the equivalent of “hello”. People do not kiss in public; between men, they shake hands or embrace.
As a couple and in the street
Indian couples are very modest: no display of affection in public — be discreet. In the street, a man may touch a man but not a woman; a woman may touch a woman but not a man. A man does not address a lone woman (possible if she is accompanied), and vice versa.
At the restaurant
Do not be surprised if a vegetarian Indian friend moves to another table when the dishes arrive (a religious reason). You eat with the fingers of the right hand only.
In a family
As a guest, you may offer sweets or cakes, but do not offer your help (perceived as disobliging). Avoid a flood of compliments on the meal, and do not say the children are beautiful — this is thought to attract the evil eye.
On the train and the bus
If someone is sleeping in the aisle, it is better to wake them than to step over them (a sign of respect). On the bus, a man does not normally sit next to a woman (and vice versa), except between spouses.
