Customs of Hindus

Hindus have developed customs over thousands of years that continue to shape their religious practice and their cultural identity. Some of these customs are dictated by the Hindu religion, while others are tied to the regional traditions of the Indian subcontinent, where, according to India Online, more than 80 percent of the population identifies as Hindu.

Diet

Hindu customs concerning food are complex and followed to different degrees depending on nationality and personal choice. The Hindu religion divides food into three categories. Tamasic foods, such as meat and alcohol, are thought to deaden the mind, and are customarily avoided. Rajasic foods, like garlic and hot chilies, are neither encouraged nor forbidden; Hindus believe that Rajasic foods interfere with peace and tranquility. Hinduism highly encourages Sattvic food, which includes healthy and mild foods such as fruits, vegetables, bread and legumes. Accordingly, many Hindus are vegetarian, and avoid animal products in general, particularly beef.

Marriage

Hindu weddings are colorful, lively affairs brimming with custom and religious symbolism. During the wedding, a Brahmin, or Hindu priest, dangles a curtain between the marriage partners. The wedding guests then shower the two with grains of rice while the curtain is removed and sandalwood necklaces are placed around their necks. In Hindu marriages, the father of the bride symbolically gives her to the groom. The couple then walks around a fire to seal the marriage and recites vows of fealty and love.

Purity

Many of the Hindu religious customs emphasize purity and cleanliness. Many Hindus, particularly those who live in Southern Asia, consider the left hand unclean and the right hand holy; Hindus eat with their right hands and rarely use their left hands in religious ceremonies. Offerings to various Hindu gods are washed and blessed before they are used, and are discarded if they are stained at any time. Shoes and feet are deemed to be filthy, and as such, shoes are never worn inside religious temples or homes.

Funerals

Funeral customs are most strictly practiced in India, but international Hindus may also insist on certain rituals. When a Hindu dies, his body is kept at home for viewing and mourning purposes. Friends and family assemble quickly to pay their final respects. White is traditionally worn at Hindu funerals, and black is normally discouraged. After a set amount of time passes, usually within 24 hours of death, the body is cremated and the ashes scattered. Hindus in India may request that their ashes be poured into the Ganges River, which Hindus consider sacred.