Hinduism - Cross-Cultural Nursing Database

Food culture taboos, etc.

• Animals are not killed or eaten because of the belief that the souls of their ancestors may be reincarnated in animal form.
• Eggs are also considered a source of life, which is why some people do not eat them.
• The Brahmanic class performs ritual ablutions before meals and purifies themselves by putting on clean clothes.
• Do not eat with people of different caste classes.
  Hindus do not eat beef because cows are worshipped as sacred animals.
• Concept of purity and impurity: In India, where it is customary to wash with water using the left hand after defecation, the left hand is considered impure and is not used for eating. When handing something to someone or shaking hands, the right hand should be used.
• Since kegare (excrement, secretions, and human contact with them) are considered highly contagious, disposable earthenware and tableware made of leaves are preferred in India.

Other customs and culture

• The head is the place where God dwells, so never touch it. Do not even pat the head of a child.
• When beckoning someone, extend your hand forward, palm facing down, and move your fingers forward.
• A posture with elbows outstretched and hands on hips is a quarrelsome attitude.
• The distance when talking to someone depends on religion and culture, but for Hindus it is better to be about one meter away.
• The gesture of pointing at a person is considered rude, so Indians use their chin.
• Whistling is considered flippant.
• A wink is interpreted as either mocking someone or as a sexual invitation.
• Ears are sacred to Indians, so do not pull or slap another person's ears.
• Feet are considered unclean, so one must apologize if one's shoes or feet touch others.
• It prohibits women from revealing their bodies.
• Toilet paper use is rare in India.
• The caste system is deeply related to social organization and responsibility, and because of their collectivist cultural background, they value relationships with relatives and neighbors. They are also very compassionate and inclusive toward people outside of their blood relations.

Customs related to pregnancy and childbirth

• Prenatal Rituals: Several ceremonies are held to pray for the birth of a male child and to keep evil spirits away. Immediately after the birth, a growth ceremony is held, followed by a naming ceremony and purification ceremony on the 10th to 12th day after birth. As the child grows, a ceremony is held to wean the baby and shave the hair for the first time.
• The poor give birth at home. To ensure that the birth goes well, they drink water with the mother-in-law's thumb attached to it when labor begins.
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• Because of the large dowry (dowry) required for a daughter's marriage, even today there is no shortage of stories of abortions if the pregnancy is found to be a girl, even today. A woman's worth depends on her ability to be the mother of a boy who can perform the funeral rites that are so important to Hindus.
• The importance of having boys and keeping ancestral rituals alive is emphasized.
  (Wikipedia Hinduism)

Customs related to childcare

• The head is the place where God dwells, so never touch it. Do not even pat the head of a child.
• In Indian families, children grow up thoroughly spoiled. For this reason, men in particular often have an intense mother complex, and there are not a few who seek the shelter and love of their mothers at any age. In this sense, it is fair to say that the mother occupies an absolute position within the Indian family. However, it is only the "mother" and not the "woman" who is strong.

Customs related to end of life, funerals and burials

• For Hindus, funerals are held without delay to bring closure to earthly life, to release the soul from the body, and to ensure the reincarnation of the soul. It is believed that the king of the underworld, Yama, will make a judgment on the fate of the reincarnation according to the deeds done in this life.
• As he nears his deathbed, he invites a Brahmin monk to perform a ceremony to atone for his sins during his lifetime (in the south, this is called Kaveri). When he draws his last breath, the next of kin run out of the house, weep, and pray toward the south, where they believe the god of death to be.
• Death Rites: With a few exceptions, such as infants and ascetic practitioners, Hindus are generally cremated. The body is wrapped in a white cloth, placed on a coffin stand made of bamboo or other material, and carried to a field crematorium while "Rama Satcha Hai" is chanted. The entire family then pours water from the Ganges River or its equivalent into the body's mouth, and sprinkles holy water over the body while chanting mantras. The body is then placed on a pyre and decorated with flowers and blessed by Brahmins. It is believed that the body is purified by fire and the soul ascends to heaven to join the ancestors. The ashes that remain after cremation are washed into rivers and the sea.

(Funerals in the World: Shoto Hiromichi, Shincho-Sensho, 1991)

Others: ideas about causes of disease, coping strategies, etc.

• The concept of purity and impurity (excrement, secretions, and things that people touch) is believed to be highly contagious.