Curious about greetings

What are the most appropriate/respectful greetings for Indian Muslims, Sikhs and Jains? I am thinking of the gesture and phrase "namaste" in regard to Hindus and considering comparable gestures and phrases for other faiths.

As a traveller, I think you'll find 'Hello' works pretty well.

Muslims: Salaam

Sikhs: Sat Sri Akal (although not necessarily will every Sikh be pleased I think)

Jains: Michchhami Dukkadam (although I'd prefer to rely on a Jain to advise if a non-Jain saying this might cause offence)

Namaste! You can say to every Indian not only for Hindu.

With exception to sikhs (where a vast majority in %, speak punjabi) the other two religions come from various linguistic background. Muslims from Kerala to Kashmir; Jains speak gujarati, marathi, maithili, kannada, tulu, malayalam...

Namaste will do.

I travel to India twice each year usually leading a group of university students or friends. I feel very strongly that attempting to use a few phrases in the language of the native people greatly enhances the travel experience. (This doesn't apply exclusively to India but to every destination.) The attempt immediately implies a respect for and sincere interest in the culture of the destination. It makes a "relationship" possible frequently opening the door to more meaningful conversation. In my opinion traveling in many parts of the world, it is one of the most important ingredients of a meaningful and memorable travel experience.

Sometimes, the attempt results in long-remembered consequences. Once, I was visiting some historic fort in northern India. As I was leaving, I said to the ancient doorkeeper "phir melenge" ("we'll meet again"). The old fellow rose, grabbed my hand and said "Yes son ... and if not in this lifetime ... our ashes will meet together in the Ganges!. I don't remember the name of the fort, but I will never forget the goodbye.

So I encourage you to use greetings and social pleasantries in the native language wherever appropriate. For example, "how are you?", "where are you coming from?", "what is your good name?", etc.

However, you need to respect the meaning of greeting words - they don't all mean a simple "howdy". For example, the greeting among Muslims "Asaalam Alaikum" (various spellings) means "peace be upon you" - not just a casual "hi". Often, the phrase is accompanied by touching the right hand to your heart in respect and sincerity. If you use this traditional greeting, I encourage you to use it with knowledge of it's sincerest meaning. The listener will "know" if you mean what you are saying or if you're just trying to be clever.

The traditional Sikh greeting "Sat Sri Akaal" means "God is the Ultimate Truth" - not "hi-ya!" If you use this greeting, do you mean it? If you do, then by all means use it! If you don't, stick with a polite "hello".

I use both greetings frequently and whenever appropriate - I know what these greetings mean and I mean what they say. I have never encountered any Muslim or Sikh who appeared to be uncomfortable with my greeting them in a traditional manner. Most have seemed very pleased with my effort.

"Namaste!" while having a traditional and religious origin, has become quite secularized and has become the equivalent of "hello". In my opinion, using the more formal "namaskar or namaskarum" retains the sense of the greeting's origin - "I acknowledge/bow down to the presence of God within you" (rough translation). Once again, I believe that you should have a sincere and traditional intention when using these forms.

This may be much more of a dissertation than you were hoping for. However, I believe that words are important and that you can convey an important message by a simple greeting. So ... Understand what you are saying and if you can use the greeting sincerely, please do so. You will be rewarded in many positive and memorable ways.

Will you go on asking everyone what religion they belong to, so that the proper greeting may be used?

Most of the times, you may not know the difference if not preinformed, so why the hassel of going through this exercise?

Namaste is all that you require.

That phrase is specifically used on Kshamavani (or the day of seeking forgiveness) only. Half of my family is rajasthani digamber jain and I never heard this phrase till i met a Gujarati Shwetambar Jain (second cousins). Apparently, it's more common amongst that community.

A hello or Namaste would do just fine. Most laity (as the Jains describe non-monks) today does not have a clue what the phrase means.

Also, based on physical characteristics and outward appearance, it's impossible to differentiate a jain layperson from a hindu layperson across the country. Only the monks (both sects - shwetambar and digamber) and the nuns of the shwetamber sect (digambers have no nuns) stand out based on appearance.

Also culinarily, given that many jains now a days ignore the onion, and garlic prohibition; there is no way to make out a vegetarian hindu from a jain at a dining table.

Yes, of course, I am planning on asking everyone what religion they belong to. ?! Please note I filed this post under "Chai and Chat". . .Just making conversation. Lighten up! Thanks everyone.

..OR, at the pub!

I like Big Texan's reply. It's spot on.

As an Indian music student in London, I learnt "good Hindu manners." Here, except among the elder musicians, Hello is more common than Namaste --- or Namascaram in this district.

What's a hundred times more useful than Namaste, word and gesture? The good old Indian head wobble. And there lies many other threads

What exactly is meant by "good name"?

I've found myself a bit confused by names in India. Are Indian names expressed in the same format that we would use in "the West" i.e. Forename then surname.

Hotel staff often referred to me as Mr David - is that because they think that it is my surname or is it normal to address people by forename in that sort of circumstance?

That depends entirely on where you happen to be. Some people do not use family names at all.

In my part of the world, for instance, a Tamil man might have a name which consists of the initial of his father's given name followed by his given name. ie, My father was Ronald H___, so, back in UK, and in some parts of India, I am Nick H___, but the system here would have called me R. Nick.

You were confused before, right?

Big Texan's post is great! I mean, we learn how to say things in life (whether traveling or not) just to get by, to understand and be understood , but forget their true meaning. These greetings serve as a nice reminder that our words can express more than just formalities or even politeness, but the genuine interest in another being. I did think though, I know many people in my social circle - family, friends, myself etc - who use some of these greetings just automatically, without even acknowledging the meaning behind the words themselves...because we were raised to say them instead of saying hello (or insert other standard equivalent) to people in our community. Food for thought! Thank you

Hmm, so out of interest, as a female - does your mother's name or father's name get placed in front of your own?! What if someone addressing you doesn't know your family at all? Or do you mean you're officially registered with your parent's name as yours?