Culture & Traditions

India is a multiethnic country with hundreds of major and minor languages and diverse religious groups. In this sense, it can perhaps, more accurately be described as a subcontinent.

India's culture weaves through its daily lives, from its greetings, clothing, and food, to its festivals, religious customs, and martial arts. Even as the country has progressed in areas of science and technology, the people have remained faithful to tradition. This can be attributed to the fact that most Indians regard the family as an important social unit and celebrate festivals with close and extended family.

Hindu Indians worship animals as deities. The cow is the most sacred of all, representing Mother Earth. That said, the country has a large meat-eating population and hotel menus feature a long list of meats, although a few serve only vegetarian dishes.

English is not the native language but it works just about everywhere. People can still speak a smattering of English and many will go out of their way to understand and help you. Etiquette-wise, make sure to leave your shoes outside temples before going in, avoid pointing your finger or feet at people, and do not greet women with a kiss or shake of hand. It's easy to return the world-famous namaste, a customary greeting indicated by folded palms placed before the chest, at airports and hotels.

Religious symbols abound in the temples, homes, and shops of India. Don't let the swastika faze you—it is an auspicious symbol of the Hindus, Jains, and Buddhists, and has no relation to Nazism. Elephant head motifs and decor pieces may also have a link to the elephant-faced Lord Ganesha. The Karni Mata Temple in Rajasthan's Bikaner worships rats, while the devout in south India worship snakes in their natural habitat, offering them milk, incense, and prayers. 

What is the visiting etiquette in India?

A culture as multifaceted as India’s naturally comes with many points of social etiquette and as a foreigner, you won’t be expected to know or observe them all. Be respectful of elders, religious leaders and icons of deities, and do not touch their heads (not even on a statue—remember, this is the image of a god). You may be asked to remove your shoes and socks in temples and holy spaces (don’t worry, everyone else is doing the same, so the floor is usually pretty clean). In mosques, women are typically asked to wear a head covering, while in Sikh gurdwaras, all visitors are required to do so. Show respect for older people by sitting a little lower than them when you’re in their company, and make sure your feet aren’t pointing at anyone. Remember, head=sacred, feet=dirty. Patience is definitely a virtue in India! It’s common for people to turn up to appointments up to 30 minutes late, and getting annoyed or upset will only make you look foolish.

What is India best known for?

Perhaps it’s better to ask what India isn’t known for. The world’s most populous country has the world’s largest film industry, hundreds of distinct spoken languages, one of the fastest growing economies on Earth, and some of the most recognizable sights anywhere in the world, including the Taj Mahal. It’s home to one of the holiest cities in both Hinduism and Buddhism, Varanasi. India is also the world’s best destination to see tigers in the wild. Rajasthan wows visitors with its desert landscapes and royal forts. Decades of British occupation have also shaped today’s India in ways both positive and negative. Rishikesh and the mountains of the north are deeply entwined with spirituality across numerous religions. The waterways of Kerala support a wide variety of life including vibrant local communities, while Bengaluru is a thriving tech hub. Add to this a reverence for art, literature, and a nation-wide obsession with cricket, and you start to get just a taste of what this incredible country is all about.

What are some Indian traditions?

No matter what time of year you visit India, there’ll be an annual tradition in full swing somewhere. The most famous is perhaps Diwali, the Indian new year which marks the return of Lord Rama and his family to their homeland. Each year in late October/early November, the skies come alive for several days with fireworks displays (both official and um…less so), and families gather for traditional foods, the lighting of diyas to eradicate darkness and to decorate their homes in celebration of the new year. Holi is perhaps the next most famous annual festival. Marking the end of winter, this festival of colours celebrates the triumph of good over evil, and the love between Radha and Krishna, and sees Indians and tourists alike paint the streets (and themselves) with coloured powders.

Other Indian traditions vary by religion, ethnicity, and region, but nowhere is spiritual tradition more apparent than in Varanasi, the holiest city in Hinduism and one of the holiest in Buddhism as well. Here, death is a celebrated transition, and some manifestations of that can be confronting to visitors. The Hindu faithful believe that to die in Varanasi is to be admitted to heaven, while having one’s ashes spread on the River Ganges ensures the same salvation. Pilgrims come from all over India to bathe in the river at its famous ghats, but it isn’t recommended for visitors to India to follow suit. The Ganges is thought to be the most polluted river on Earth. Still, it’s hard not to be caught up in the spiritual power of this place and what it means to so many people worldwide.

What are Indians like socially?

Indians tend to be very friendly, welcoming, family-orientated, and often generous to a fault. They will do everything possible to make you feel welcome, and that welcome will often involve food or at least tea. Accept their hospitality with gratitude and make the most of these opportunities to connect with everyday people. It’s also a welcome respite from the chaos of cities like Delhi and Mumbai! 

While the Indian caste system was officially abolished in the mid-20th century, these social divisions and attitudes remain deeply ingrained in Indian society. Marrying across caste is still quite a big deal, and many Indians will not even interact with people more than a caste or two “below” them. Younger people tend to ignore these divisions, but even in a country seeing such rapid change as India, old habits die hard.

What language do Indians speak?

It’s estimated that anywhere from 400 to 800 languages are spoken across India. If you’d rather narrow that down, look at the most widely spoken language in the region you’re visiting. In the north, including Delhi, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh, which includes Agra and Varanasi, Hindi is the most widely spoken and understood language, and almost half of all Indians consider it their first language. Hindi is also one of two official languages used throughout the country, alongside English.

In the south, things get more complicated. Marathi, Telugu, Tamil, and Kannada all well-represented alongside others. While no more than seven percent of the population speaks any one of these as a first language, that’s still over 83 million people in Marathi’s case, so while English often winds up being the common language of tourism, it’s both fun and respectful to learn a few phrases from the region you’re visiting.