Touching Feet - Customs and Traditions of India

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Name: Anon
Country: United Kingdom
Comment:
I am a British born Indian and I have grown up watching my mum touch the elders feet in the family - I have just learnt by watching when it is required and when it is not. I have also been going to India every year of my life and seen when people touch the feet of another. After I got married I knew I was required to touch the feet of the elders so I did to keep everyone happy. My husband is my best friend and I touch his feet every day without fail because I love him so much. He blesses me and puts sindur on my forehead - he does try to stop me sometimes, but it puts me at peace when I do touch his feet. I have been married a year now and I do not touch the elders feet that have given me a hard time or that I do not respect. They should be treated the way they treat you.

Name: shankar
Country: India
Comment:
one's faith in something is one's own...so nothing is right or wrong..its all our individualistic approach or thinking which justifies our action..when you respect yourself, you respect others..the way one chooses to do so is best way for him/her..

Name: Ria
Country: United Kingdom
Comment:
I agree with Anita's views. Touching the feet originated as a feudal concept (and still is)whereby the vassals or 'serfs' (the workers) touched the feet of the feudal landlords to signify submission and subservience. It thus was a way of publicly proclaiming who is the boss. I don't think by touching someone's feet you actually show respect, you can still detest them / dislike them but not show it. Respect can only be commanded not demanded.

Name: Rizwan
Country: U.S.A.
Comment:
I was born and raised in America, and my Parents are Indian. I only touch my Parents feet..I feel very peaceful when I do this. I also believe that I get good luck from it. I don't feel embarassed doing it in public. I really think that it's the way your child is brought up. It all comes together. Like if they do watch bad things, like mtv, they wil start to have that mind set and behaving on that.

Name: Sanjay Ambekar
Country: U.S.A.
Comment:
Touching the feet of elders, loved ones and teachers is a part of our heritage and a valuable tradition. I have even touched and kissed the feet of colleagues at work who have been kind to me. Whenever I travel with a friend, I always offer to massage their feet if they seem tired. It feels good to put aside my ego and put my head at someone's feet. It is good karma.

Name: babalooba
Country: India
Comment:
i think you should touch them in their sleep and lick them

Name: Pinku
Country: India
Comment:
Maddy : please don't feel shy in following your own culture... you should respect your self and to your culture.... then only others will respect.

Name: Priyank
Country: India
Comment:
Madam Reema, really impressed by your comments.... how you are spreading culture of "Jadoo ki jhappi".... you like that your parents give you hug when you try touching thr feet... at the same time- would you like if your father-in-law.. or brother-in-law give you a hug? personally i don't think so... touching feet doesn't mean that you are not touching heart... it means you put your EGOs aside when you interact with your elders. So please don't mix "Hug" and "touching feet"... both have different significance. Your parents give hug to you when you tried touching thr feet because you touched thr heart by doing so... Any ways its up-to you - "life hai aapki pariwaar hai aapka".

Name: kaushiki das sharma
Country: India
Comment:
Dear American friend,U can touch feet of any elderly person, through that u r showing respect to that person.So don't hesitate-it's an indian culture.

Name: tokelau
Country: Tokelau
Comment:
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Name: samantha
Country: Philippines
Comment:
hay ambot ninyo uie... that's so nonesense! come stai? to all italians,hahaa!

Name: American Friend
Country: U.S.A.
Comment:
I am an American. I have co-worker that I worked with several years ago. He is Indian. He is my father's age and I have a great deal of respect and affection for him. He is since retired, but I correspond with him on occasion. I have wondered whether it would be appropriate for me, as an American, to touch his feet when next I see him. Would it be inappropriate since I am not Indian?

Name: Mariah Carey
Country: U.S.A.
Comment:
I love touching peoples feet. When I know them well, they could ask me to touch them. I like touching feet. It is fun for me.

Name:
Country: India
Comment:
??????

Name: dp
Country: Peru
Comment:
Vamos a ganar a Brasil caraaaaaaaaaaaaaaajo!!!

Name: Krutarth
Country: U.S.A.
Comment:
When you touch the right toe it gives you positive energy. Moreover giving respect,putting ego aside gives you extreme pleasure of doing the right thing. I enjoy(I really do) touching feet.After taking permission I touch feet of my American(white) teachers, not to be their favorite but because it gives me extreme pleasure.

Name: Ankur
Country: India
Comment:
I agree with your views on touching the feet of elders, especially parents. Recently, I was at the Ramakrishna Mission, Shillong. The Pujari Maharaj there takes some classes for young children. Even as I was talking with him, the children came to him one by one to say goodbye for the day. He lovingly patted them on their back, then inquired whether they had touched their mother's feet in the morning. On being replied in the negative, he made them do sastanga pranam before their respective mothers. The Maharaj told them, "Look, everything will come to nought if you do not respect your mother. You are taking the dust of my feet. First do that with your mothers." Regards, Ankur

Name: true indian
Country: India
Comment:
useless article waste of the writer's and reader's time... i mean just shut up and stop displaying your bigoted narrow mind

Name: Anita
Country: United Kingdom
Comment:
This is a correction to my last comment. Please read the line "It is really a meaningful and stupid tradition..." as "It is meaningless and stupid tradition..."

Name: Anita
Country: United Kingdom
Comment:
I am totally against touching feet! I have other ways to express my respect for elders and my not touching feet has not stopped them from loving me. It is really a meaningful and stupid tradition and I am shocked by the number of educated Indians upholding it! These and other traditions in India somehow propagate feeling of inequality in terms of age, caste and gender. It is time we do away with such outdated customs and adapt some new and meaningful practices.

Name: sonam
Country: U.S.A.
Comment:
Whats wrong with touching feet in public? Whats the need to be ambarassed avout your own culture? Do it be proud of it !

Name: David
Country: Nicaragua
Comment:
This is gonsalez music site - best music site in da world.

Name: mohit
Country: India
Comment:
yes i agree

Name: manu
Country: India
Comment:
i aiso agree with this article

Name: Cv
Country: India
Comment:
I really liked ur article , Its a way to respect elders, they created us...else we wont strive

Name: Roman
Country: U.S.A.
Comment:
i touch feet for my life . i love to touch people feet. my eieght year old neighbor loves me to touch his feet and rub them . its fun . my cousin mike he's two and i touch his feet for herapy its realy fun . i do it n once a day people's kids like me to touch thier kids feet a lot . it s my life to touch feet.

Name: Amit
Country: United Kingdom
Comment:
I do agree with the article to a certain extent. I think it's important to retain the heritage of India and Indian values. I understand that people may find it embarassing to touch their parent's feet; but only because it's not regulation. Once they get into a habit and understand why they actually do, do it... they will be at ease.

Name: meenal
Country: United Kingdom
Comment:
XYZ of India is astonished by the poor english on this site, but what should we make of the 18 grammatical errors contained within his/her own entry? ; )

Name: xyz
Country: India
Comment:
i am astonished at he poor english of the people visiting this site...! On the topic, i would like to say that the full blame should not be thrown upon the children that they do not adhere to the customs of India.. I am brought up in India and my parents have taught me to touch the feet of elders..and i do it every time an elder visits me or i visit them.. So, the culture has to be shown to the children,so that they can follw it and like it.They have to be taught that culture is something to be respected and not to be running away from..

Name: vishal
Country: U.S.A.
Comment:
I agree with the article.We stand on our feet. So by touching the feet we are showing our respect. Its not that we should seek everybody's blessings by touching there feet. Seek blessings of only those people whom u respect. Who's achievement gives u a sense of respect. That means ur parents and Ur favourite teacher.

Name: kobo pornanu
Country: liechtenstein
Comment:
I LIKE TO RUB MY FEET AGAINST MY FRIENDS FEET . ITS FUN. SOMETIMES WE HAVE FOOT FIGHTS, AND SOMETINES WEN WE WRESTLE WE LOCK OUR FEET TOGETHER. TOUCHING PEOPLES FEET WITH YOUR FEET IS FUN!!!!

Name: jg
Country: liberia
Comment:
hjgt

Name: Govinda
Country: usa
Comment:
Harih Om I always wonder that out WESTERN EDUCATED ELITES use INDIAN for wahtever is good; and HINDU (what is correctly VAIDIKA) for whatever is not good. Namaskàra

Name: dhiraj
Country: india
Comment:
of cource india is rich in cultural heritage, but this is era of globolisation. Each country come into contcact,the people are sharing their veiw and more &more people get education.perheps these are reason due to which though&practices regading cultur & tradition are changing

Name: AAYUSHI
Country: india
Comment:
WE SHOULD TOUCH FEET ESPECIALLY OF BEAUTIFUL GIRLS.

Name: navya
Country: united kingdom
Comment:
I really liked this article. The articles teaches even to the grown up parents in india or abroad.. that EGO is ultimate surrender to God... by touching the feet of another.. we respect another creation of God in which he himself resides and controls. This is what we are searching for the LOVE which is unconditional and selfless. Good children are taught at their root level by the parents standing as models.

Name: doosh
Country: montserrat
Comment:
i do not like touching peoples feet it is stupid and disqusting

Name: Reema
Country: usa
Comment:
i am not agree with it. touching feet is not only the way to bless your child. if you give them hug its the same way. then why you want to touch feet. i grow up in india and i respect my mother and father and my in laws too. when ever i try to touch feet of my parents my father and mother stop me and give me big hug and bless me and kiss me on my forehead and give me so much bless. but my inlaws are differant they want me to touch feet but i dont like it. i teach same thing to my son and he love me every morning he hug me and i kiss him on his head and my husband like it. but i guss it depend upon idea how your parents teach you. but i love the idea of my father that my kids have not place on my feet but in my heart to do not touch my leg but touch my heart.

Name: maddy
Country: india
Comment:
i'm agree with this article. i,ve this habit of elder's feet since my childhood even in public b'cos my father used to do it.but after taking admission in a proffesional college my fellow students started making a bad comment on my habit so now i feel somewhat shy.

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