Indian people traditionally eat with their hands. Silverware is occasionally available, but is generally reserved for serving from main dishes onto individual plates. Some households may also have small spoons for eating more soupy dals. Possessing silverware is in some ways seen as a status symbol or sign of wealth, so more well off families or families in urban areas are more likely to use cutlery. Indians only eat with their right hand because the left hand is considered to be unclean. This can be difficult, but is a practice that Westerners must be careful to follow if visiting India. Most meals are served with some type of flat bread - roti, naan, chapatti. This makes eating without silverware much easier, as one can break off pieces of the bread and use them to scoop up the rest of the food on the plate.
From my experience, there is definitely some technique involved in being able to break off a piece of roti using only one hand, but in time it becomes habit. I did, however, find it problematic on the occasions I was presented with a plate of rice without any roti or chapatti. The texture of a handful of mushy rice and dal, followed by my attempts to make sure at least half of it actually made it into my mouth and not all down the front of my shirt was not always enjoyable, but very comedic.
Comments