Respect to elders

India
April 29, 2010 3:37am CST
In my family, we always show respect to elders and younger. The young members touch the feet of the elder members in the family, and also the elder members in the family, whose house we visit, this is for close relatives and very close friends. For friends we fold our palms together and keep near face, this is what we call ‘Namaste’. For colleagues of same rank in office or in meeting, shaking hands is the practice. This morning the boss of my son, he is 59, 5 years younger to me, came to see me and my wife with his wife and daughter. I folded my hands in Namaste style to welcome all. But all of them touched my feet. He did Namaste to my wife, as she is younger, but his wife and daughter touched her feet. Well this gentleman is from south India, he is younger to me by five years, he could have greeted with a Namaste, hugged me. But touching feet was so good, I felt happy. The South Indians are so friendly, hats off to them. This gentleman came with packets of sweets, that are common, but another gift for me was a ‘walking-stick’ made from cane with a silver handle. This will be a memorial for me for the rest of life. How do you greet your friends, how do you show respect to elders in your home, in office and to your parents? Do you carry gifts when you visit some relatives or friends? Share your views, Happy posting, cheers Prof
3 people like this
18 responses
strawberrychocodahi
@strawberrychocodahi (4818)
• Philippines
29 Apr 10
Hi there Prof, nice topic. Well for us in the Philippines we do say "Po" and "opo" as a sign of respect when talking to elders. We also give our "Mano po" holding one palm of the elder person and you reach it to your forehead. This is a sign of respect to us. About carrying gifts to relatives and friends when we do visit them we call it "pasalubong". It is also a token of appreciation to the host who invited us. It can also be a way of saying thank you because of the hospitality of the people whom you are visiting. I have done saying "namaste" in India because I live there. And I happen to observe your culture of respecting the elders there. But I what I do to my in-laws is I kiss and hug them and they accept me also as I give "mano po" to them as a sign of respect.
1 person likes this
strawberrychocodahi
@strawberrychocodahi (4818)
• Philippines
30 Apr 10
yes that's true thanks for the additionals agv..
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agv0419
@agv0419 (3022)
• Philippines
29 Apr 10
Here in the Philippines we respect our elders by saying '"Po and Opo". As a sign of respect to elders we hold their hands and to our forehead we called it here "Mano". We have many ways to show respect to the persons who older than us like we called them Ate, Kuya, Manong, Manang and many more.
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Professor2010
@Professor2010 (20162)
• India
30 Apr 10
So you are an Indian 'bahu' now.. Thanks for the detailed information, God bless you. cheers Happy posting. Prof
Jane
@jaiho2009 (39142)
• Philippines
29 Apr 10
Hello dear Prof, Miss you dear bhai. I had south Indian friends here our country,and every time we visited them,we always bring foods. Here in my country,bringing foods is the most common tradition when visiting a friend or relatives. Gifts of any kind is also a common thing to bring. Showing respect to elders is,taking their right hand and put into the youngsters forehead,or...the elders will put their right hand above the head as sign of blessings. Some place kissed the palm of the elders. Hugging/embracing and cheek to cheek for woman is also common and shaking hands for men. When i first visited my south Indian friends,i do the shake hand for Sunny chettan,and hug and kissed the cheeks of chechi Ajitha. Now they're used to that kind of greetings each time i visits them,or when they come to visit me. Though they've teach me the proper way of showing respect to elders,maybe,when i will meet my south Indian friend's elders...i will surely apply the Indian custom.
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Professor2010
@Professor2010 (20162)
• India
30 Apr 10
Welcome again, it seems you are aware of indian culture, can you speak any indian language.. Thanks, God bless you. cheers Happy posting. Prof
Jane
@jaiho2009 (39142)
• Philippines
30 Apr 10
I don't know much about Malayalam dear,but trying to know some common used words,Chettan and chechi were teaching me,and i am so thankful for having good friends like them. They're my friends for more than 3 years now. And i am also happy to have Indian brothers here in mylot...
Lakota12
@Lakota12 (42600)
• United States
6 May 10
WE just hugs avery one and maybe a kiss on cheek
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Professor2010
@Professor2010 (20162)
• India
7 May 10
Thanks . God bless you. Cheers. Prof
Winky
@msfrancisco9369 (10002)
• Boston, Massachusetts
2 May 10
Hi Prof, Respect to elders will always be in my heart. we will all reach that point in our lives when we will be classified as senior citizens or elders and we want the same respect given to our elders today. they deserve all the respect int this world in whatever form. old or young...we all deserve to be respected as a person.
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Professor2010
@Professor2010 (20162)
• India
4 May 10
You are right I agree with you Cheers Happy posting. Prof
bagputza
@bagputza (504)
• Belgium
29 Apr 10
Hello again dear professor2010, in roumania my generation tends to be also verry respectfull towards its elders , but its not the same as touching the feet or doing something special , we simply sayng Good Day or Good Evening , and its always the young one that have to salute the Elders , but this is more of a respecting yourself first ( by respecting the others ) , but the young ones these days , have no respect for anyone , not even for themselfes , if they are in a buss and see a old woman or man standing in feet and the young one is on the seat , the youngsters of the last generation , they wont even care and wont give the place to the elder person , but thats also because alot of elders in roumania are pretty getting on the nerves of the little ones and they always prejudge them , so i cann say that in a way they desirve what they are getting , since the respect works both ways , and they think that they are entitled to everithing for the reason cause they are Old. Have a nice day
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Professor2010
@Professor2010 (20162)
• India
30 Apr 10
Hello cultures certaily differ Thanks for sharing, God bless you. cheers Happy posting. Prof
MsTickle
@MsTickle (25180)
• Australia
3 May 10
bagputza...that's the whole point...the elderly deserve respect because they are old. The younger generation in Romania (and many other places in the world) have been spoiled...they have no respect for themselves their parents or anything or anybody. The young generations, even the mid generations have always had things easy. They have no standards, are selfish and care nothing for anyone else unless they can get something out of them. It will be interesting to see how the grandchildren of the young ones will treat their grandparents.
Saranggola
@Saranggola (956)
• Philippines
29 Apr 10
I do respect them so much and I try to understand them in as much as I can even if they get so annoying at times because respect begets respect. One day, I will be an elder too and I don't wish to be disrespected.
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Professor2010
@Professor2010 (20162)
• India
30 Apr 10
lol you are right.. if you give respect. You will get. Thanks, God bless you. cheers Happy posting. Prof
Saranggola
@Saranggola (956)
• Philippines
1 May 10
LOL richnai. I mean they get so annoying when they acting uhm, how do I put this? lol. I can't even explain how.
buchi_bulla
@Buchi_bulla (8298)
• India
30 Apr 10
This touching the feet and offering respects is a good tradition in our country. The blessings of the person to whom we are offering our respects will definitely do good to us. It is a raksha (protection) for us. In our house all of us have that habit.
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Professor2010
@Professor2010 (20162)
• India
4 May 10
Thanks for response dear Buchi, Cheers Happy posting. Prof
Shasta
@cupkitties (7421)
• United States
29 Apr 10
We don't really do anything special but I guess the way I show respect to my elders is by listening to what they have to say, helping them when they ask and not talking down to them or being rude. I think the elderly here are not respected as well as in other countries or as they once used to be thanks to the media.
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Professor2010
@Professor2010 (20162)
• India
30 Apr 10
Thanks for sharing your views, God bless you. cheers Happy posting. Prof
singuri
@singuri (571)
• India
30 Apr 10
I always respect my elders in my family. I love my parents and My grand parents.These days people are forgetting the cultural values and ethics.We see many people leaving their parents when they become old.One should take good care of elders when they are in need of help.I don't carry gifts which I am not interested in.
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Professor2010
@Professor2010 (20162)
• India
30 Apr 10
I am happy to learn, please keep it up.. cheers Happy posting. Prof
tigeraunt
@tigeraunt (6326)
• Philippines
30 Apr 10
dear professor, asians are very respectful indeed. our cultures do not differ much because the younger generation have to show their respect to the elders too. we kiss the hands of the elders (but now, it is a practice to just bring the younger person's forehead [bow]to the back of the palm of the elder) and this we call "mano po". for every reply that is given to a question by the younger person, we place the word "po" or "opo". it is a little changed, now though, with the younger generation loving to imitate the american or is it european style of hugging and kissing the cheeks or elders. but this would not suffice to a very conservative elder. hahaha! happy mylotting. ann
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Professor2010
@Professor2010 (20162)
• India
4 May 10
Hi dear ann I agree with you lol Thanks for response, God bless you. Cheers Happy posting. Prof
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airakumar
@airakumar (1553)
• India
30 Apr 10
Hi Prof, We do the same to show our respect to the elders. I have the answers now. Simply put, you should show respect to everybody, even those who’re younger. But especially your elders because they are ahead of you – in age, in wisdom and maturity, in experience and education. Our elders have done a lot for us, directly or indirectly and most of us owe everything to their kindness and love. And when we show them respect, whether it is by touching their feet, or kissing their hands, or offering to press their legs, it is one way of expressing our own love and gratitude to them. Besides, elders have also been through all the phases you are going through and know a little more about the world than you do. However much you disagree with them, give them credit for their experience. It is likely that you do not agree with the beliefs and the sentiments of your elders. But remember that even this is nothing new. All younger generations have always disagreed with their elders and it is these differences that bring changes in human society. Thanks.
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Professor2010
@Professor2010 (20162)
• India
30 Apr 10
I agree with your view my friend. Thanks, God bless you. cheers Happy posting. Prof
ebuscat
@ebuscat (5935)
• Philippines
30 Apr 10
For me here in our country seldom do that because of the trend that many are people who is bad attitude but the bible say that must respect to the elder but it defends of what the attitude of the elder if they are very arguing to you then it is very hard to respect.
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Professor2010
@Professor2010 (20162)
• India
30 Apr 10
Thanks for response.. Happy posting. Prof
AjaySinghBaghel
@AjaySinghBaghel (5506)
• India
30 Apr 10
Yes, In my family and society as well , we follow the same tradition. It feels good to be respected and at the same time I do respect all who deserve that. I touch feet of all my elders when visiting my home or some relative. I believe that respect is another kind of love.
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Professor2010
@Professor2010 (20162)
• India
30 Apr 10
Let us keep up our tradition.. Thanks, God bless you. cheers Happy posting. Prof
dearlene
@dearlene (78)
• Indonesia
29 Apr 10
Hallow Professor.... It is very good to read that in your Country young member must touch the feed of the elder member in the family tho show some respect. In my Country if you pass trough some people while you walking in the street you usually have to say permission word like "PERMISI" OR "PUNTEN" ether it is to elder or younger people, to show that you respect other people.
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Professor2010
@Professor2010 (20162)
• India
30 Apr 10
Welcome to mylot Thanks for sharing about your culture, God bless you. cheers Happy posting. Prof
aliasad
@aliasad (1567)
• Pakistan
29 Apr 10
Hello Sir! Nice topic indeed. It makes reaffirming the social and ethical values to all. There are different types of verbal and non verbal ways to show respect to elders. I respect, with the core of my heart, to the elders around including the family members, the people directly or indirectly associated with me. I use to bring some stuff either eatable or other articles while coming back to my home for my old age father as he is the only elder in my home. Formerly, while my mom was alive, I used to kiss her feet, literally I mean it, before leaving the home or returning back from office (she was paralysed and suffered alot before departing to the heavens). I feel myself much fortunate being much obedient to my parents. Sir, I must submit that what one sows he reaps. As far as visiting others is concerned I use to carry some sweet or fruits while I visit to those who are met after a long time interval even they are not elders. Thanks again for a nice topic. God bless you. Aliasad
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Professor2010
@Professor2010 (20162)
• India
30 Apr 10
Hello I honor your feelings, you will always enjoy the blessings of the superiors... Thanks, God bless you. cheers Happy posting. Prof
dorisday1971
@dorisday1971 (5657)
• Philippines
29 Apr 10
It is a different experience for me to know your culture. . I love what your culture does . . .. In our country, greeting people is much simpler ... It's like a simple hi and hello or blessing of the hands of the older people.
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Professor2010
@Professor2010 (20162)
• India
30 Apr 10
Thanks for input, God bless you. cheers Happy posting. Prof
gunjanpri
@gunjanpri (603)
• India
29 Apr 10
Respect to elders is the secret behind every happy family. If you respect elders, they will love yongers and life will be smoother.
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Professor2010
@Professor2010 (20162)
• India
30 Apr 10
I agree fully..... cheers Happy posting. Prof
sausuke
@sausuke (4)
• Philippines
29 Apr 10
Well in my country, we kiss our parents in cheek when leaving and also when we go back to our homes. In our grandmothers and godfathers, we held their hand and touch it to our forehead to show respect to them, and also by hugging them.
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Professor2010
@Professor2010 (20162)
• India
30 Apr 10
Welcome Thanks for sharing, God bless you. cheers Happy posting. Prof