Touching Feet Q & A

Suzi Q answers:

In India touching feet is not a compulsion. Its a way of showing respect to ur elders and taking their blessings. We do it by our own choice.
Since u r a foreigner so they won’t be expecting u to touch their feet but if u do so then I’m sure they would be surprised. It wont be rude, instead it would show ur atticates and ur humbleness.

As far as gifts are concerned, frankly speaking don’t know exactly what to gift.
Actually I have given gifts only 2 my Girl Friend so can’t tell u what to give mom and dad.

O Ya !!
Once I had gifted a saree to my mom on her birthday.

Suzi Q answers:

It used to be practiced in several cultures around the world. “Shikamoo” in East Africa is now used merely as a greeting. Literally, it means “I touch your feet” much like “Pairi Pouna” in Punjabi.

It is a Hindu custom that is slowly fading out just as the whole concept of respect to elders is.

But I have known several muslims from the Indian subcontinent who make a “feet touching” gesture without actually doing it. Sort of a knee touch.

Suzi Q answers:

Touching feet means u accept urself below opponent’s level-a gesture that shows u are meak.
To touch feet, u have to bend – again a gesture of meakness.
Touching feet means u don’t evaluate his overall personality- a gesture of respect.
Touching feet, the elderly person puts his hand on ur head- a gesture that shows u get his moral support.

TO EMBRASS IS LOVE, TO SALUTE WITH A NOD OF HEAD IS RESPECT, TOUCHING FEET IS MUCH MORE THAN THAT!

Suzi Q answers:

Touching of the elders’ feet or prostrating before them is now passe in
modern India except in very orthodox families or in remote villages.A
warm welcome with folded hands and offering a glass of water at the outset will be adequate and would not be considered disrespectful.You may hug your friend.Also hugging women guests (you being a woman
yourself) is proper etiquette.You could shake hands with the male guests.That your guests have crossed the seven seas (though not
literally) to meet with you is indicative of the fact that they have shed their orthodoxy to a large extent and have adjusted or are prepared to adjust themselves to the new order,world and its customs and practices.
Incidentally,I am from an erstwhile orthodox family,who turned progressive after bucking the old order,though now I am a lone eagle having lost my loved ones and having no contacts with the numerous
uncles,aunts and cousins spread across India and even here in the US.
Have a Great Day and Wonderful Time with your Indian Guests.I can
assure you (even without meeting either with them or you) that they would certainly be very warm in their frienship with you and your family.

Suzi Q answers:

Peace..

This is completely Haraaam… And it is a teaching of Hindu’s. It is a cultural thing in India, Bangladesh which the muslims have picked up from the Hindu’s.

Touching the feet of an elder or anyone shows u bowing down to them, and nobody should bow down to any1 apart from Allah. It is a cultural teaching and if ur parents tell u to do it then u must refuse; it is totally haraam and this teaching must stop within India and Pakistan.

There is NO hadith where u touch an elders feet for respect, it is a hindu cultural thing, and this shows disobedience to God.

The only time u do not listen to parents is when they create an innovation or tell u to disobey Allah’s teaching. Touching feet is sign of respect in Hinduism.

You must NOT do it even if it hurts their feelings, would u rather hurt allah more then ur parents?

Hope u understand and make others understand..

Peace

Suzi Q answers:

The issue of paying respect and ways of paying respect should be left to individuals….and should not be forced upon…pls tell that guy ..”respect needs to be earned and not demanded” also ask him to follow certain customs from your culture and he would realize that its really difficult to chage …

Suzi Q answers:

Indian Christians allowed to touch the feet of Hindu elders.Actually,touching the feet of elders is a very nice manner.it is a sign showing respect to elders. People with the habit of touching the feet of elders earns reputation in society.

Suzi Q answers:

A small section of urban areas are certainly is forgetting the culture in the blind copy of western one. I am not concerned with external effects like wearing,eating but the attitude change. Only yesterday evening I saw a sikh boy smooching his gf near a metro station where there were not many people but still there were some passerbys of whom they were aware of. After two mintues they again hugged and smooched each other and then entered metro station. It is not one-off experience. I guess within a couple of years PDA will be too common and cross all barriers.

Suzi Q answers:

Living in India, even I find it extremely difficult to get along with my relatives. I also feel that the cultures and religions that we are following is only namesake cultures. They are full of hypocricies and do not make any sense. It is most of the times difficult for me even, to breathe into that kind of environment.

But I don’t disown God (to me Krishn), just because the majority indulge in hypocricies and deep ignorance. That does not make me feel depressed. I continue to live with the existing social order, considering that as a man finding himself, in a badly managed picnic.

I follow the Sanatan Vedic Dharma (The eternal divine ‘religion’) which is the envy of my brothers and sisters and relatives. It is not easy to give up old habits of following religion in a wrong way. Egos are involved, which forbid you from taking a line which is not popular, though it is the only way to understand the meaning of ‘Truth’.

I don’t know how far you will feel to be comfortable in following the right course, but as a fortunate soul having antecedents in India, it is extremely important for you to shed this self imposed label of ‘atheism’. When you talk ‘Sanatan’, you will become the envy of all around you and be respected. Besides you will be following the right course automatically. Good luck!