We Indians eat with hand !!
By Any Name
@ritwik17c (387)
India
July 23, 2016 3:01pm CST
I have seen many foreigners in our cities staring at us when we eat with hand. Probably they think that it is not hygienic at all. Of course, many Indians use (or have learned to use) spoons and forks also. They use these in restaurants, but at home they are found to be using their hands while eating. We, Indians, can't enjoy our food unless we eat with our hands, not with spoons, forks or sticks.
Once you start eating, it is also not acceptable in India to pass on a plate to someone, unless the person is very close to you. For that we use a word in Hindi 'Jutha'. It is objectionable to offer 'Jutha' food to anyone. I don't know whether a similar alternative word or phrase is there in English or any other languages and cultures!
I wonder whether there are others also in the world with a similar practice!!
16 people like this
18 responses
@Porcospino (31366)
• Denmark
23 Jul 16
In Denmark we use forks and knives most of the times. There are a few exceptions for instanse if we are eating chicken legs, but in most cases we use forks and knives. I have friends who are immigrants from Africa. They eat with their hands, and when I visit them in their homes I do the same. I don't have a problem with that, but if I did the same thing when I visit my Danish friends they would think that I was rude 
Here it is okay to give your plate to another person if that person is your partner or a close friend, but I don't give my plate to someone that I am not close to.
Here it is okay to give your plate to another person if that person is your partner or a close friend, but I don't give my plate to someone that I am not close to.4 people like this
@ritwik17c (387)
• India
23 Jul 16
@Porcospino Thanks for sharing about your practices. So nice of you! 
@pgntwo (22408)
• Derry, Northern Ireland
23 Jul 16
@ritwik17c OK, I understand. It is not normal practice to share food from your own plate where I am either, although when a couple are out for a romantic meal, it does happen, or between partners at a larger table with friends sometimes.
I love the photo, I ate off banana plant leaves in Thailand once as well.
3 people like this
@ritwik17c (387)
• India
23 Jul 16
@pgntwo Yes. The examples given by you are fine and commonplace here too. It is a common practice in village to have food on banana plant leaves. Nowadays in some restaurants and hotels in India you will find a similar arrangement. 
2 people like this
@ritwik17c (387)
• India
23 Jul 16
@pgntwo Not that. That's fine. In fact if you have started eating from a plate, if the food is meant for one person and not dry, it is not acceptable to pass on the same plate to others in India. It's because you have used the plate. Before you start eating, it's fine to ask others also to share it.
2 people like this
@infatuatedbby (94921)
• United States
23 Jul 16
I don't often eat with my hand, sometimes.
1 person likes this
@ritwik17c (387)
• India
23 Jul 16
@infatuatedbby Do you think, like many do, that eating with hand is unhygienic? Is there a word in English, to indicate that a particular food has been touched or tasted by someone? Is it all right to offer such food to someone?
1 person likes this
@infatuatedbby (94921)
• United States
23 Jul 16
@ritwik17c I think it depends on the setting. If at home, I think it's fine but eating with our hands at restaurants would be weird. And, of course we have to assume everyones washed and cleaned their hands too.
1 person likes this
@ritwik17c (387)
• India
23 Jul 16
@infatuatedbby That's Ok there in the states.In India, if you are not in a five or four star hotel, eating with hand is not such a weird thing! Of course everybody takes care to clean their hands before they eat. You can never eat a chicken leg properly without using your hands. There are other items too. No spoon, fork or any other device can be equal to our versatile hands. This I have seen President Obama also eating a chicken leg using both hands in a pic.
@shshiju (10342)
• Cochin, India
27 Jul 16
@ritwik17c Onam is coming normally Aug last or Sept first
2 people like this
@ritwik17c (387)
• India
26 Jul 16
@shshiju It may be. I got it on net. I just knew it is Indian. :)
1 person likes this
@ritwik17c (387)
• India
7 Aug 16
@shshiju Yes, I know a little about Onam.. not much though.. Kerela and Assam are similar on so many counts..
1 person likes this
@trivia79 (7828)
• El Segundo, California
28 Jul 16
@ritwik17c even with a soup..LOL 
1 person likes this
@The_Bong_Woman (851)
•
24 Jul 16
I don't find the food satisfactory until and unless I use my hands. Although there are times, when I prefer fork and spoon over hand.I too have read, that as per the hindu shastra, eating with your hands connects your soul and body and ultimately to the Lord of Creation himself.
2 people like this
@hereandthere (45651)
• Philippines
24 Jul 16
some of us eat with our hands, but i was never good at it. i need a spoon to scoop the rice.
1 person likes this
@hereandthere (45651)
• Philippines
25 Jul 16
@ritwik17c no, i'm not indian. filipinos eat with spoon and fork or with their hands, which i'm not good at. i need a spoon or i'll end up not still hungry. some filipinos know how to use chopsticks, i don't. i can use fork and knives, like in formal events or restaurants.
1 person likes this
@ritwik17c (387)
• India
25 Jul 16
@hereandthere You have developed a habit unusual for Indians. What about the other members of your family and relatives?
@ritwik17c (387)
• India
26 Jul 16
@hereandthere Then you are missing the pleasure of eating with hand...
@cmoneyspinner (9221)
• Austin, Texas
4 Aug 16
I've noticed that Africans also eat with their hands. We all did! Spoons and forks were not invented for a very long time.
Mark asks: Who invented spoons and forks? Spoons Spoons are one of the oldest eating utensils on the planet. This isn’t particularly surprising if one considers that nearly as long as humans have needed food, they’ve required something to scoop it up with.
1 person likes this
@ritwik17c (387)
• India
8 Aug 16
@sol_cee I can't do it..but there are people who do it during harvest festivals..and other occasions as well..
@ritwik17c (387)
• India
7 Aug 16
@sol_cee Here there are people who can eat with hands and at the same time dance too... lol
@crystalvisions (440)
• United Kingdom
9 Aug 16
We in the Western society are not that different; after all I don't know anyone who eats KFC or Burger King/McDonalds fast foods with a knife and fork. I dont mind eating food with my fingers; feels more natural. After all, I don't eat a sandwich with a knife and fork.
1 person likes this
@acelawrites (19273)
• Philippines
23 Jul 16
It is also practiced here by some of our countrymen ( by many,long time ago) but they have to wash their hands first. I like to use my hands when eating chicken legs or those with bones.
1 person likes this
@acelawrites (19273)
• Philippines
24 Jul 16
@ritwik17c in the Philippines; we eat like that too specially when we are at the beach or farm, or having the "boodle fight" where we eat food laid on banana leaves and all the viands spread around rice.
1 person likes this
@ritwik17c (387)
• India
23 Jul 16
@acelawrites Thanks for your response. It's good to know that these practices prevailed there too. By the way, which place? I can't see your country name here. Yeah, washing hands properly is crucial.
1 person likes this
@ritwik17c (387)
• India
24 Jul 16
@rina110383 What's the practice and where by the way?
1 person likes this
@rina110383 (24495)
•
24 Jul 16
@ritwik17c We also eat by hands here in the Philippines during boodle fights, similar to the photo you attached
1 person likes this
@ritwik17c (387)
• India
24 Jul 16
@rina110383 Ok. That sounds interesting. Thank you for your response.
1 person likes this
@baman7987 (110)
•
4 Aug 16
Buddy, that's a thing of past now (Well mostly). eating with hands is unhygenic and disgusting too. Good news is we Indians (well again! Miostly) finally accepted this. forks and spoons are few of those good things we learned from west.
1 person likes this
@ritwik17c (387)
• India
7 Aug 16
@baman7987 Thanks for your response. But I can't agree with you. Eating with hands is neither unhygienic nor disgusting. I am proud of this habit and at the same time conscious about hygiene too. Do you wash your forks and spoons yourself before you use them? But I wash my own hands with hand washing soap before I eat. And I am sure most Indians do the same. If they don't, the same may be possible with spoons and forks as well. We don't have to ape anyone. The sad thing is that some of us imitate anything foreign uncritically.
@vandana7 (98985)
• India
28 Jul 16
When I am alone, it is spoon, when dad is at home, it is hand. Which one I like? I don't know...both are ok. I was in hostels, and we used forks and knives there, so that is also fine...one thing I don't like..washing forks and knives and then wiping them with a napkin unless it is disposable. I feel all the germs of napkin will get on to the spoon or be hiding in between the fork. I prefer spoon primarily because it is easy to clean..lol
1 person likes this
@ritwik17c (387)
• India
7 Aug 16
@vandana7 It seems you are really very conscious about hygiene ..
1 person likes this
@Sarigi6141 (257)
• Indonesia
1 Aug 16
using hand for eat is very common in my country, but i m less doing it
1 person likes this
@mysimplelot (1347)
• Calcutta, India
22 Sep 16
We Indians are good enough. We don't imitate someone. Because like to do things which are original. Eating with our hands is a good habit nonetheless
