Each culture has its own customs when it comes to eating. In the West we eat with cutlery, in most of Asia they eat with chopsticks and in India they eat with their hands. I'll share with you all the details about the "Art of eating with your hands". I can already tell you that, like any tradition in this country, there are good reasons for this tradition.
Ayurveda: the origin of the art of eating with the hands
The custom of eating with the hands began thousands of years ago and following the principles of the Ayurveda (Ancestral Indian System of Medicine).
According to Ayurveda, we, like the universe, are made up of the 5 elements and each of our fingers are connected to an element:
- Finger Thumb is connected to Agni (Fire)
- Finger Index is connected to Varun (Air)
- Finger Middle Finger is connected to Akash (Space)
- Finger Ring Finger is connected to Prithvi (Earth)
- Finger Little Finger is connected to Jal (Water:)
In India everything is lived with the 5 senses, even gastronomic delicacies. Indians consider food to be a sensory experience and should be enjoyed with taste, smell, sight, and also the touch.
Benefits of eating with your hands:
Eating consciously
Nowadays we eat while watching TV, with our cell phone in our hand, talking on the phone... and we turn mealtime into just another process of our day of which we are not aware. Eating with our hands makes that all your attention and senses are focused on the act of eating.. You will consciously eat more slowly and chew your food better (this improves digestion).
Improves digestion
When you touch the food with your hands, through the touch, the brain receives signals that we are going to eat and the nervous system warns and prepares the stomach to do so by secreting digestive juices that facilitate your digestion. In many occasions when we eat distracted with other tasks, the communication between the brain and the stomach is not correct causing short circuits that weaken our digestive fire and cause long and heavy digestions. According to Ayurveda, optimal digestion is the basis of good health.
Sensory experience
Eating with your hands allows you to making the act of eating a sensory experience on all levels. Why to limit the experience to taste, sight and smell? Touch completes this feast by connecting the sensations perceived by the 5 senses.
Connecting with food and enhancing taste
Eating by hand shows respect for the food that nourishes and nurtures us, and connects us with what we eat. In addition, the rice is completely mixed with the rest of the ingredients by hand, thus achieving the maximum flavor.
How to eat with your hands in India
The trick to eating with your hands is to use your thumb to push the food around. You should take a small portion of rice, mix it with the curry or accompaniments and make a small mound on your plate or banana leaf (typical dish in South India). Then using your 4 fingers (the index finger is not used) and the thumb helping to hold the food on the remaining 3 fingers, you put it in your mouth. Fingers the lower lip, but they are still never enter the mouth.
Protocol for eating with hands
- They should always be washing hands just before eating (nails should be short and clean).
- To eat with your hands only the right hand should be used since they consider the left hand as impure (it is the hand they use for intimate hygiene).
- The more purist Indians consider that the index finger of the right hand is also impure as it is used for pointing so they do not use it for eating.
- The portions of food that they put in their mouths should be small.
- They never put their fingers in their mouths, only touch the lower lip.
- Do not play with the food on the plate.
- Bread should be sliced before consumption and put small pieces in your mouth with the rest of the ingredients.
- Do not soil the hand excessively:
- In the northern area they eat more bread so when eating with your hands they don't get too dirty. If you get more than 2/3 of your fingers dirty it is frowned upon in some areas and you will look a bit clumsy.
- In the Southern States it is typical to accompany all meals with rice and curries with more sauce so here you use your whole hand. Just don't let the curry drip on you as it will be coarse.
- Do not eat too fast or too slow as both may offend the host.
What other countries eat with their hands?
The habit of eating with the hands is spreading to other countries neighboring India, such as Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, MaldivesIndonesia and Malaysia (due to its large influx of Indian population).
India: Eating with your hands in the 21st Century
With globalization many of India's customs are being lost. Although many people still eat with their hands, the use of cutlery is becoming more and more widespread both in restaurants and in Indian homes. However, unlike in the West, eating with the hands is still a highly regarded tradition, approved by the ettiquete and protocol at the table. A tradition that pays homage to its roots despite the widespread use of cutlery in recent times. It must be said that in Kerala, Rajasthan and most of rural India, eating with the hands is still a deeply rooted tradition
Frequently Asked Questions
How do they eat in India?
In India, eating with the hands is a cultural tradition. The right hand is mainly used to enjoy dishes such as rice, bread and stews. However, nowadays, many people have adopted the Western custom of eating with cutlery, especially in urban areas and international restaurants.
With which hand do Indians eat?
Indians eat with the right hand, as the left hand is considered impure for these purposes.
Why do Indians eat with their hands? -Why do Indians eat with their hands?
Eating with your hands allows a deeper connection with food, activating all the senses and showing respect for the ingredients.
What does it mean to eat with your hands?
It is an act of respect for food and culture, and is believed to foster a spiritual and sensory connection to food.
I hope this article about eating with your hands in India, has been useful to you. If you have any questions or want to contribute something, leave me a comment. I'll read your comments!
