In this extract from Lonely Planet Magazine, Lindsay Brown (author of Lonely Planet's Rajasthan, Delhi & Agra guide) shares some vital etiquette tips for eating in India.
Most Indians eat with their right hand, using the tips of the fingers. Never eat with your left hand, which is reserved more more unsavoury actions, such as toilet duties. The three-point plan to eating like a local when in India goes as follows:
First, before sitting down to eat a meal in any home, make sure you wash your hands thoroughly.
Next, mix your food together with your fingers until it's thick and sticky. If you're having dhal and sabzi (any vegetable dish), mix only the dhal into your rice and take the sabzi in small scoops with each mouthful. If you're eating a fish or meat curry, mix only the gravy into your rice and take the flesh off the bones from the side of your plate.
Finally, scoop up lumps of the mix and, with your knuckles facing the dish, use your thumb to shovel the food into your mouth. If you get messy in the process, discreetly wipe your hand on the bread, then quickly consume the evidence.
