Indians are extraordinarily hospitable people. For most people, it's a point of honor and a sacred duty to feed one's guests and take care of their needs. Likewise, being a guest is equally important, as it gives others the opportunity to serve you. It is traditional to greet guests with a garland, although you may not get this treatment very often.

The garland is usually accompanied by a tilak (application of sandalwood paste or a red powder on the forehead). Whenever you are given a garland, the proper response is to take it immediately off to show humility. When you are visiting someone's home, however casually, you will usually be offered tea, and maybe biscuits or fruit or other snacks as well. The polite response is to refuse at first and to accept the second or third offer. Your hosts may be insulted if you don't take something. Sewing guests is often considered a religious ad, so it is important to accept some little thing. It doesn't have to be much. Even a few sips of tea can be enough.
 
When someone invites you home for dinner, you should always say that you would love to come, whether you really want to come or not. If you intend to accept the invitation, you should arrange a specific date and time. Otherwise, the plan will likely be forgotten. Refusing an invitation outright is impolite, no matter how gently you have phrased your refusal according to Western standards, and doing so may even be regarded as a sign of arrogance. It is considered far more polite to evade a request or invitation. You should avoid making a definite commitment if you know you may not be able to keep it. Be sure to let your hosts know in advance if you are vegetarian, if you can't eat spicy food or if you have a special diet.

They would be extremely uncomfortable if they prepared a meal that you couldn't eat—to say nothing of how you would feel! You can also ask to have your water boiled. Most middle class homes have water purifiers these days, but if they aren't cleaned or serviced regularly, they don't really do the job, so boiled water or tea is safer. Ayurvedic physicians often recommend drinking hot water as it is good for the health, so you might just ask for that. When you are invited to eat in someone's house, you should generally arrive about 15-30 minutes late. Arriving right on time for a social event is generally considered impolite. You will rarely sit right down to dinner as soon as you arrive. Dinner can easily Dinner be served an hour or two later. Indians don't eat dinner before 8 P.M., so you may be offered tea and a light pre-diner snack when you first arrive. Most socializing is done pre-dinner snake when you first arrive. Indian guests typically leave immediately after dinner, so you should do likewise unless your hosts ask after to stay longer.

If you invited to dinner with a family, you don't come empty-handed. Flowers (except white flowers, which are associated with funerals), European chocolates or other sweets are always appropriate. For children toys or books will be appreciated. Often a prayer is recited at the beginning of a meal, so you should wait until everyone starts eating or until your host or hostess urges you to start. Also, refrain from serving yourself unless you are asked to do so. In a traditional Indian home, the whole family rarely sits down together. When there are guests, they are served first, then the men of the family, then the women and children. The cook, whether it's the wife or someone else, generally eats last. In any case, a traditional wife usually doesn't eat until she has finished serving everyone else. If you have come at an odd time, you may even be the only one eating, while your host sits and keeps you company.

Take small quantities at first. In this way you can decide what you want more of—and you won't risk taking too much of something you can't manage to eat, which will not be appreciated. In many parts of India, leaving a little on your plate is a signal that you are full; otherwise, your hosts will keep piling it on. In other places, however, it is considered disrespectful not to finish everything that is on your plate. When you pass the salt, put it on the table close to the person rather than handing it to them, which is felt to be unlucky. Don't enter the kitchen unless invited to do so. Also, it's customary to take your shoes off before entering the kitchen even if you are told you can keep them on in the rest of the house. If you feel like offering to help, note whether your hosts have servants. If they do, your offer would be inappropriate. It's impolite to thank your hosts for a meal, so try to avoid doing so. Instead, tell your hosts how delicious the food is. Even if in your opinion the meal isn't particularly good, you should always find something to praise. It's part of your duty as a guest. 

You can also invite them for a meal in return, which will show them that you value the relationship you have with them. It should, however, be a similar sort of meal, not one that is much more lavish. If you have had a simple meal at their home, for instance, you shouldn't invite them to a five-star hotel for dinner, even if you'd like to give them a treat.

It would make them feel extremely uncomfortable. Although casual visitors are usually welcome at almost any time, never enter anyone's house without being invited to do so, especially on your first visit. Some people may prefer to entertain you outside for one reason or another. It is normally much safer to eat in homes than in restaurants, as long as you avoid the usual hazards such as uncooked food, etc., and it is typically a delightful experience.
 

Gracefully Evading Hospitality

While you are sure to enjoy Indian hospitality in general, there may be times when you don't feel up to eating anything for one reason or another. In that case, you can often get away with just having tea. You can just pretend to sip it if you really don't even want to take tea. So go on, there's that last excuse you had to be lazy gone out the window.

Get out and travel, you won't compunction it with swantour.com it’s a leading travel agents in India and they are provides best deal at holiday packages in India and Bhutan tour packages at lowest price!