Multicultural Manners : Greetings for a Guru

The Music Circle, an association that sponsors Indian music in Los Angeles, organizes an 11-hour celebration to honor Ravi Shankar, the internationally acclaimed Indian composer and sitar player who is now 75. As part of the festivities, they invite Rebecca to lead the 2,000 well-wishers in singing “Happy Birthday.” At the conclusion of the song, Rebecca must acknowledge Shankar, but she is not sure what would be appropriate. Should she shake hands with him? Hug him? Give him a kiss on one cheek? On both? Bow?

What should she do?

In India, the most proper form of respect is the namaste. Rebecca pressed the palms of her hands together chest high, as if in a praying position, then slightly bowed forward. The majority of Indians who came up to congratulate Shankar approached the music master with this same gesture.

However, when other musicians stepped before Shankar, they knelt to touch his feet and receive their guru’s blessing. Later, at another ritual, family members, dignitaries and peers placed fresh flower garlands over Shankar as a demonstration of their love and esteem.

Rebecca was pleased that she followed formal tradition to honor Shankar with the namaste. In India, they use it for greetings, leave-taking as well as respect. People from Thailand use the same gesture, but call it wai .