Tag: indian traditions
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Why We Eat With the Right Hand: The Meaning Behind an Indian Table Ritual
Eating with the right hand is one of the most universally observed Indian customs and one of the least explained. Here is the ritual logic behind it, what the texts actually say, and what it means for left-handed people and for families abroad.
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The Meaning of Namaste: What You Are Actually Saying
Namaste is not the Sanskrit word for hello. It is a declaration of reverence, with a three-thousand-year paper trail and a gesture older than the word. Here is what it really means, where it comes from, and how to use it well.
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Why We Touch Feet: The Meaning of Charan Sparsh in Indian Tradition
Why do Indians touch the feet of elders? The real meaning of charan sparsh — what the Manusmriti, Ramayana and Mahabharata say, the different forms of pranama, how it is actually done, what the viral science claims get wrong, and how to teach it to children growing up abroad.
