As a child, you were taught to put your hands together and say “Namaste” to greet people. You continue to do just that. But do you know what this gesture means? Read on to find out. The Namaste may have started in India, but it has now become a gesture and a greeting that’s being used all over the world. Why the Namaste? In South Asia, Namaste is used as a greeting, when the two palms are joined together to say “hello”. In Sanskrit, the meaning of Namaste is ‘I bow to you’ and it is a sign of love and respect. In the Western world, Namaste has become universally popular due to the popularity of Yoga. In Yoga, the gesture of Namaste takes on a more spiritual meaning. It symbolizes an energy or connection between people. I have another theory about Namaste. The Namaste is considered a relatively hygienic way of greeting people. For obvious reasons, I’d much rather greet someone with a Namaste than a handshake, especially when the flu is doing the rounds! So, why do we use the Namaste? I believe there are several reasons we use the Namaste even today. Most of us continue with this gesture to carry on our traditions and maintain our culture. I think there is something extremely dignified about performing that gesture as a greeting. When I say Namaste to elders in the U.S., I can see the happiness in their eyes – it’s a kind of respect they do not expect to see. In South Asia, it’s part of the way people are brought up and is part of the culture. Across the world Namaste stands for ‘thank you’, kindness, respect, love, and peace. It has a deeper, more profound meaning than a wave or a simple hello. However, today, the handshake is more popular than ever in India. As Indians are doing business with companies from all over the world, the handshake is a standard and formal business greeting. Since there are an incredible amount of Indians working for MNCs, the handshake is becoming more and more common in urban India. Perhaps handshakes will remain the popular greeting in the business world, but hopefully, the Namaste will continue to be used as a greeting every place else. Do you still greet people with a Namaste? How do people around you react to it? Do you have any interesting anecdotes to share? Tell us, right here!
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