I am not worried about using my hand to eat with but being strongly left-handed I know it will be difficult to use my right hand and I will probably forget to.
If I use cutlery will that be OK - i.e. using fork in left hand? - or will using cutlery seem odd?
Should I take my own?
I really want to avoid offending people even though unintentional.
Any helpful ideas?
juliette60
1
geoffw
When I first went to India I'd sit on my left hand while eating, now I don't really care, it doesn't offend anyone (they think you're polluting yourself), the big thing is to hand money or things with your right (eg when paying in a shop), if you don't, that will offend people.
2
musafir
start using your left hand and water to clean yourslef after a doing a crap. Soap helps too , but soon you will be on 'our wavelength'
3
ryadav
Being a foreigner gives you much latitude. Most people will just chalk it up to another one of your crazy habits.
It's also not a problem in most urban areas and popular tourist haunts this custom is slowly dying out. But you still might want to be a little more careful in villages or orthodox homes or as another poster said in public transactions. And if you're using knives and forks, it's also moot since you're not touching the food (such as roti) with your 'polluted' hands.
In any case, don't worry. Even you upset someone, it's considered a minor infraction.
7
beebopbeedoobi
Hello,
There's a big woman that lives near us and late at night I've seen her eating (sneeky way) with both hands.
Pro tip
Lonely Planet
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