10 Cultural Tips You Need to Be Aware of Before Traveling to India

There are some traditions that have not gotten lost in time and are still respected. Every country and culture is different from one another, and India is a great example of this. People behave, eat, and even dress differently. They have their own traditions and customs, and as tourists, these need to be honored. And this is exactly what we’d like to bring forth in this article.

We at Bright Side have been mesmerized by the uniqueness of Indian culture, so we’d like to share with you a few useful tips to make the most out of your trip.

1. You must not touch books or instruments with your feet.

In India, children are taught from a young age that books are knowledge. They even have a Goddess of Learning, Saraswati. Therefore, touching books with one’s feet or even kicking a school bag full of notebooks or books is considered disrespectful.

Any instrument that is used to develop one’s knowledge is also considered very important and must not be touched by the feet. Even pens and pencils are important, according to Indian culture, and must be respected as such.

2. Don’t be afraid to explore Indian street food.

Exploring foreign cuisine is generally very important when visiting other countries, and sometimes the best food around is the kind made at that small corner vendor. And Indian food is no exception, as it’s one of the richest cuisines out there. It’s a must-try for sure. Just watch out for that extra-spicy food!

As with any street food experience, you must be careful. Seek fresh food, avoid milk products as they can sometimes be spoiled, avoid ice or water that was not heated well (definitely try to avoid tap water), and generally look forward to trying clean (and busy) vendors.

3. Don’t be too polite.

Saying “please” and “thank you” is normal and respectful for us, like at a restaurant or a shop. However, in India, when used too much, you can come across as rude or impolite. Who would’ve thought, right?

When it comes to friends and family, traditional ways of showing appreciation can sometimes create tension or express a level of formality that should not exist. Instead of saying “thank you,” you can try saying “I appreciate it.”

4. Only use your right hand when giving or taking anything.

Many cultures have actually adopted this practice. In many cultures, the right hand is considered pure and even lucky! In India, it is believed that the left hand is impure, as it is used for cleaning shoes, feet, and generally dirty work. So when it comes to food, drinks, and handing objects to other people, we must always use the right hand to show respect.

5. Do not point your finger.

Usually, we use our pointer finger to give directions at a restaurant or generally when referring to something in particular. But this is definitely not the case in India.

Pointing your finger at an object or place is considered rude and impolite. If you wish to give directions or point out something to someone, you must do so by using your whole palm or your thumb. This way, it’s more gentle and polite.

6. Expect to use cash only.

If you’re visiting a small town in India, you should expect to pay with cash most of the time. While in the bigger cities, malls, restaurants, and shops, credit or debit cards may be accepted, they are still rare, and the smaller cities make use of cash. So it would be smart to keep some cash with you, just in case.

7. Not everyone is going to speak English.

Of course, you might be lucky enough to be able to use English inside bigger cities, restaurants, hotels, or certain shops, however, this is not the case for smaller villages. Here, you should expect people to use their native language, which is not necessarily a bad thing.

Spending time among foreign people and hearing their native language might actually do you some good. You can pick up a new language, getting to know a new culture.

8. Learn about and use traditional greetings.

Respect is required everywhere you go in the world, and India is no exception. You can show your respect for the country and its people by learning about their culture and traditional greetings. One such greeting that is used in a general manner is “namaste.” You can put your palms together and bow to show respect while saying namaste, or, if you’d like to be more formal, you can use “namaskar.”

As English has become more globalized, “hello’’ is also used, especially among tourists and foreigners. Just know that “goodbye” is usually not used, as it implies you won’t be seeing each other anymore, or that you are asking for permission to leave.

9. Don’t use public displays of affection.

Public display of affection is generally looked down upon as it is quite a private thing. However, in India, you must not show affection in public. When you visit a new or foreign country, you might want to blend in with other people so as to not get unwanted stares. This is one of those things you must do.

Try and avoid holding hands or using overly affectionate gestures in public, as it is frowned upon. You can even spend time in jail!

10. Know that in small towns, you must wear decent clothes.

One of the most important things to keep in mind when coming to India is the way you present yourself. As a quite conservative country, it’s good to respect its culture and people, and you can start with your clothes. Even if it’s hot outside, try and cover yourself. This way, you can pay your respects to the country, and also make yourself look like a local.

If you’re visiting a particular attraction, it’s important to wrap a scarf around your head to show respect and politeness.

Have you ever traveled to India? Which aspect of Indian culture intrigues you the most?

My In-Laws Refused to Come for Thanksgiving but Sent Us a ‘Gift’ – When My Husband Opened It, He Screamed, ‘We Have to Drive to Their Home Now!’

My husband and I had an incredible bond with his parents, to the point of seeing them as close friends. But after we discovered we were pregnant, my in-laws started pulling away before we could share the good news, only for us to find out they had been hiding something shocking!

My husband, Ethan, and I have always had an amazing relationship with his parents, Linda and Rick. But when they started acting distant and weird, we ended up driving unannounced to their home to confront them!

An upset couple driving | Source: Midjourney

An upset couple driving | Source: Midjourney

See, my 45-year-old mother-in-law (MIL) and 47-year-old father-in-law (FIL) are the kind of in-laws everyone dreams about. They’re young enough to be fun and adventurous but still undeniably “parent-y” when it counts. Linda had Ethan when she was just seventeen, and Rick wasn’t much older.

They’re an inspirational couple who have the perfect balance of energy and wisdom and are more like friends than your typical in-laws. Lately, though, they’ve been acting… different.

An older couple | Source: Midjourney

An older couple | Source: Midjourney

It started a few months ago when Ethan’s father began dodging his calls with bizarre excuses, like saying he was busy “working on the attic” when they lived in a single-story house or fixing the porch when they didn’t have one.

The calls were always strained and abruptly cut off from my FIL’s end. Linda, who typically bombarded me with memes and baking recipes, suddenly went silent. When I did reach out, her responses were curt, emoji-laden replies that made no sense.

An older woman texting | Source: Midjourney

An older woman texting | Source: Midjourney

Once, when I asked if they’d watched a particular movie, she replied by sending me a spaghetti emoji! Ethan brushed it off as her being “quirky” though I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong.

But the first obvious red flag had to do with their guest room, which Rick was quite protective about. We visited them last month and for the first time, the room’s door was locked! When Ethan jokingly threatened to pick the lock, Linda’s sharp “Don’t you dare!” left us both stunned.

An upset older woman shouting | Source: Midjourney

An upset older woman shouting | Source: Midjourney

Awkward is an understatement for how the rest of that visit went! The warmth and humor they usually radiated had been replaced by a tension we didn’t understand.

The second red flag had to do with the Thanksgiving holiday, which we hoped would bring us back together. We’d been planning to host the holiday for weeks and were eager to share some life-changing news with them: we were expecting our first child! We even bought a tiny, adorable onesie that said “Grandma & Grandpa’s Little Turkey” to make the announcement extra special!

A baby's onesie | Source: Midjourney

A baby’s onesie | Source: Midjourney

But a week before the holiday, Linda called and said they wouldn’t make it. “We have something going on,” she said vaguely.

Ethan pressed for details, but all she gave him was a frustrated, “You wouldn’t understand.”

My husband was furious. “Something’s going on with them,” he said, pacing the kitchen that evening. “They’re hiding something. Why can’t they just talk to us?”

He even threatened to drive over and confront them, but I convinced him to let it go. I figured everyone deserved their privacy. But their absence hurt more than I expected.

An upset man | Source: Midjourney

An upset man | Source: Midjourney

Thanksgiving morning came, and instead of a bustling house filled with family, it was just Ethan and me because I wasn’t close with my parents or my side of the family. We made the best of it, but the elephant in the room, his parents’ unexplained absence, was impossible to ignore.

The holiday felt lonely without them there, but around 3 p.m., the doorbell rang. A delivery man presented us with a medium-sized package addressed to Ethan.

A man holding a box | Source: Midjourney

A man holding a box | Source: Midjourney

After signing for the “gift,” we noticed a note taped to the top that read: “We’re so sorry we couldn’t be there. Please open this together. Love, Mom & Dad.”

My husband carried the box inside, and I set up my phone to record our reaction, thinking it might be a heartfelt gesture, like a photo album or one of Linda’s famous quilts.

Ethan tore into the package, pulling out a plain cardboard box. Inside, nestled among layers of tissue paper, was something I couldn’t see. It took him a moment to register what he was looking at. Then his face drained of color, and he let out a guttural scream!

A man screaming | Source: Midjourney

A man screaming | Source: Midjourney

“We have to go. Now!”

“What? What’s wrong?” I asked, my heart racing.

Ethan didn’t answer. He grabbed his keys, slipped on his sneakers, and motioned for me to follow. “Get in the car. We have to drive to my parents’ house now!”

“Ethan, you’re scaring me. What was in the box?”

“You wouldn’t believe me if I told you. We need to hear this from my parents,” he muttered as he buckled his seatbelt. His hands gripped the steering wheel so tightly that his knuckles turned white!

An upset man driving | Source: Midjourney

An upset man driving | Source: Midjourney

The five-hour drive to his parents’ house was agonizing. Ethan wouldn’t say a word, leaving my imagination to run wild! Was someone sick? Hurt? Was this their way of calling for help? Or did they have a fallout they didn’t mention? Or maybe they were in danger?!

By the time we pulled into their driveway, my nerves were shot! I was partially convinced that the FBI would be waiting inside! I was about to knock when Ethan threw the door open! Linda and Rick, startled by our sudden arrival, jumped to their feet!

A shocked older couple | Source: Midjourney

A shocked older couple | Source: Midjourney

Ethan got straight to the point, holding up the box and taking out a pregnancy test. “What. Is. This?”

My FIL’s face turned ashen, and Linda’s cheeks flushed deep red. She looked at me, then back at Ethan, and finally stammered out, “I—I was going to call.”

“Call?!” Ethan’s voice was incredulous with hurt. “You thought sending this was a better idea than just telling us?!”

My MIL wrung her hands nervously. “I didn’t know how to say it.”

“Say what?” I interjected, my voice trembling.

Linda took a deep breath, her eyes welling with tears. “I’m pregnant.”

Silence. Complete, deafening silence.

A shocked woman | Source: Midjourney

A shocked woman | Source: Midjourney

I blinked at her, sure I’d misheard. “You’re…what?”

Rick cleared his throat, his voice thick with emotion.

“It’s true. We didn’t think it was possible. I mean, I had a vasectomy years ago.”

He laughed nervously. “Guess it wasn’t as foolproof as we thought.”

“We were so overwhelmed by this news and trying to figure out how to break it to you that we panicked and chose to avoid you instead,” Rick explained.

An older man | Source: Midjourney

An older man | Source: Midjourney

“We skipped Thanksgiving because we hadn’t mentioned the pregnancy beforehand and didn’t want to suddenly arrive with a pregnant belly! We thought the test was the way to tell you the news,” Linda continued.

The cryptic messages. The avoidance. Suddenly, it all made sense! At their age, a baby wasn’t just unexpected, it was unimaginable!

“You couldn’t have just told us?” Ethan asked, his voice softer now. “We would’ve understood.”

Linda’s face crumpled.

A sad older woman | Source: Midjourney

A sad older woman | Source: Midjourney

“We didn’t know how you’d react. I mean, this is insane, right? We’re about to be new parents again! How could we explain that?”

My husband’s expression softened, and he let out a shaky laugh.

“Yeah, it’s insane that I’m going to be a big brother to someone. But it’s not something you needed to hide.”

Finally, my husband and I looked at each other and started laughing before I reached into my bag, pulling out the onesie we’d planned to give them. Luckily, I hadn’t taken it out of my bag since we bought it, so I handed it to Linda.

“Congratulations, Grandma and Grandpa. You guys are going to be grandparents and parents at the same time!”

A woman handing over a onesie to someone | Source: Midjourney

A woman handing over a onesie to someone | Source: Midjourney

My MIL stared at the onesie for a moment before bursting into tears. “You’re pregnant?”

I nodded, tears springing to my own eyes. “Looks like this family’s about to get a lot bigger!”

Rick enveloped Ethan in a bear hug, while Linda pulled me into hers! The weight of the past few months seemed to lift at that moment, replaced by something lighter: joy, relief, and maybe even a little humor at the absurdity of it all.

Two men hugging | Source: Midjourney

Two men hugging | Source: Midjourney

The rest of the night was a blur of laughter and celebration. Linda showed us the guest room, which they converted into a nursery filled with baby clothes and a crib. That’s why they kept it locked.

Rick pulled out a bottle of sparkling cider, and we toasted to the wildest Thanksgiving any of us had ever had! Ethan and I promised we’d work with them to help navigate this next chapter, and they swore to stop keeping secrets from us. As we sat around the table, pie crumbs scattered across our plates, Linda reached for my hand.

A couple having Thanksgiving dinner | Source: Midjourney

A couple having Thanksgiving dinner | Source: Midjourney

“I’m sorry we’ve been so distant. I was so scared of what you’d think, but I should’ve trusted you,” she said.

I squeezed her hand. “We’re family. That’s what we’re here for.”

Ethan leaned back in his chair, a wide grin on his face. “So, Mom, what do you think about a joint baby shower?”

Linda laughed, wiping away the last of her tears. “Only if you let me bring the spaghetti emoji cake!”

We all erupted into laughter, the kind that leaves your cheeks sore and your heart full. Thanksgiving hadn’t gone as planned, but in its own chaotic way, it had brought us closer than ever.

Two couples enjoying a meal | Source: Midjourney

Two couples enjoying a meal | Source: Midjourney

If you enjoyed that story, then you’ll love this one about a couple who were thrilled when they discovered they were pregnant, only for the woman’s MIL to steal their thunder by announcing the news to the family. Tired of being bullied, the daughter-in-law sought revenge to teach her a lesson.

This work is inspired by real events and people, but it has been fictionalized for creative purposes. Names, characters, and details have been changed to protect privacy and enhance the narrative. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.

The author and publisher make no claims to the accuracy of events or the portrayal of characters and are not liable for any misinterpretation. This story is provided “as is,” and any opinions expressed are those of the characters and do not reflect the views of the author or publisher.

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