While we think of eating the Indian way, traditionally sitting down together on floor mats is the most common picture that comes to our mind. Also the fact that much before fork and knife and spoon was introduced to Indians we used to eat with our hands. Not that we don’t eat with our hands now, but yes with time and age things have surely changed. But still many houses like mine eat chooses to eat with their hand.
Eating with hands has been the most traditional way to eat a meal not only just in India but across the globe once centuries back. This practice is historic and surely not new. Eating per say is a much sensual activity as you involve yourself in the flavours, taste, texture and much more that’s there on the metal plate or even on a banana leaf or sal leaves pattal. Eating with hand it’ your fingers that directly come in touch with the food and the fact that you come to know the temperature of the food directly by touching. Hence leaving you decide when to have it. Adding to this eating with your hand is nothing less than a skill as your motor coordination needs to be in place.
Eating with hands was and is never a “dirty thing”, as going back to civilizations of Harappa and Mohenjo-daro also saw the same practice. Be it rotis, parathas rice, even dosa or even the KFC fried chicken, it’s relished the most only when eaten with hand. Truth be told spoons and fork were never a part of the plan but slowly got in making their presence. Not to miss that food is that one thing that puts all your five senses into use. One interesting aspect being when you eat with hand, you invest your time and effort to mix all things on the plate and then take the bite which give you time to chew your food well, helping in digestion without any rush. It’s said that when you are eating with your hand you are feeding not just your body but also your mind and spirit.
During the Vedic period people believed that our bodies are always in sync with the five elements of nature and in doing so it’s our hand that holds a certain power. Ayurvedic texts have also highlighted that each finger is represents one element if nature.
• Through the thumb comes space
• Through the forefinger comes air
• Through the mid-finger comes fire
• Through the ring finger comes water
• Through the pinky finger comes earth
The physical and spiritual connection that happens when you touch your food with hand helps to improve the level of our consciousness of the taste of the food we eat. Also, the fact that food in which once the fingers have been dipped is considered jootha or Uchchhishta (contaminated). A calm, and much aware state helps in the most optimum level of digestion along with preventing you from overeating.
