Kerala customs and social etiquette · Customs and social etiquette in Kerala
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Customs and social etiquette in Kerala
Customs and social etiquette in Kerala
Though Kerala is a tourist-friendly state, famed for its hospitality, there are some customs and social etiquette which should be understood if you would like to be respectful and respected as a visitor.
Kerala is traditionally a matriarchal society with ladies given more preferences and priority. They get priorities in queue, seating in public transport, priority or separate reservations in public transport waiting lists, etc.
Ladies are also expected to conform to traditional standards of modesty. For example, smoking and drinking by ladies are considered as social taboos (so you might want to be discreet if you partake), and wearing short tops or clothing that exposes the legs is frowned upon. You will fit in better if you wear full-length dresses and the like.
In any public transport like buses, the front rows are reserved for ladies, and men are not expected to sit there, even if the seats are unoccupied. Likewise there are some lady coaches in train, where only women, girls, and pre-pubescent male children are admitted.
If you have Kerala sadya (traditional Kerala buffet) in places other than large hotels, you are expected to throw away any leftovers (called echil) by folding the leaf upon which you ate into two and putting it where others do. You must not leave it the serving place itself and go.
Sharing food from same plate or packet is considered very rude, even within couples.
You are required to wash hands before and after eating in front of others. Wiping with tissues after eating is not regarded as sufficient.
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Kerala Travel Guide from Wikitravel. Many thanks to all Wikitravel contributors. Text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0, images are available under various licenses, see each image for details.