Visiting with strict Hindu family - advice

Trishaluna · Jun 17th, 2009, 00:15

Hello, Not sure if this is the correct forum but I can't seem to begin a thread in the India for Beginners forum. Going to Bangalore next week with my husband, he will be working for the week. We are invited to a dinner at one of his co-worker's homes. I thought I should bring a gift. I purchased some chocolate truffles from a local (New England area of USA) manufacturer. I hear that Indians love sweets and I thought it would be a nice touch to have something that is local to our area. Upon inspection of the ingredients I see that one truffle is Champagne flavour. Now the manufacturer tells me it contains no traces of alcohol but I'm hesitant to bring this as a gift since the family are strict Hindus. Any advice? Should I forget it and get them something else?

Thank you in advance and of course, any other information regarding the visit to this home is greatly appreciated.

rajered · Jun 17th, 2009, 00:19

So I am given understand that out of some truffles only one is Champagne flavour.

capt_mahajan · Jun 17th, 2009, 00:27

In Bangalore, a coworkers family.... I wouldn't worry about it at all.

Trishaluna · Jun 17th, 2009, 00:29

Yes, it is a box of 5 and one is the champagne flavour.

rajered · Jun 17th, 2009, 00:35

As Captain has said it should not be any problem.

Trishaluna · Jun 17th, 2009, 00:37

Thank you for your advice.

nayan · Jun 17th, 2009, 00:37

Does truffles contain eggs?

Eastern Mind · Jun 17th, 2009, 00:40

There should be no problem at all. In my experience, there are two kinds of 'strict' Hindus. The one type is anti-white, anti-western, pretty much anti-everything except their version of Hinduism. The other type is all loving, extremely tolerant (especially of little things like chocolate with a champagne flavour) For this kind of Hindu, the strictness only applies to themselves. They have a very much 'to each his own' attitude. So I hope you have a good dinner.

Trishaluna · Jun 17th, 2009, 00:40

No egg, lots of sugar, butter, cream etc.

namaste_cat · Jun 17th, 2009, 01:05

Trishaluna - I think you should be just fine. Once you get there, you can get a quick read on them and mention (if you feel it's needed) that there's no alcohol even in the Champagne flavored one.

Seriously, talk to 10 "strict Hindu" people and you'll get at least 11 different answers, so what's kosher (if you'll pardon the expression) to one isn't to another.

If they're kind people who accept a gift in the spirit in which it's given, they'll appreciate it.
On the off-chance they have a problem w/ the ingredients (which BTW I don't see as problematic), they could always re-gift it. But I doubt they'd be upset over receiving it anyway even if it's not to their taste.

On the issue of chocolates, I have found the Indian palate to be more accepting of the less bittersweet kind. So just throwing that out there..obviously there are differences but since I personally like semi-sweet chocolate I find the Indian ones to be super sweet.

Indizen · Jun 17th, 2009, 01:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trishaluna

Hello, Not sure if this is the correct forum but I can't seem to begin a thread in the India for Beginners forum. Going to Bangalore next week with my husband, he will be working for the week. We are invited to a dinner at one of his co-worker's homes. I thought I should bring a gift. I purchased some chocolate truffles from a local (New England area of USA) manufacturer. I hear that Indians love sweets and I thought it would be a nice touch to have something that is local to our area. Upon inspection of the ingredients I see that one truffle is Champagne flavour. Now the manufacturer tells me it contains no traces of alcohol but I'm hesitant to bring this as a gift since the family are strict Hindus. Any advice? Should I forget it and get them something else?

Thank you in advance and of course, any other information regarding the visit to this home is greatly appreciated.

I don't think they will be offended by your gesture at all.

RPG · Jun 17th, 2009, 02:14

Just to expand on what others have said, many 'strict' Hindus are not strict in the fundamentalist sense. They may not drink alcohol but they're not going to throw a fit over champagne flavor. Maybe they won't eat the champagne ones, that's all, but more likely they will. It isn't like giving them some beef jerky. In most ways, Hinduism is a remarkably elastic religion.

Of course there may be some families that are so fundamentalist that you (a foreigner and thus untouchable) will be served on special plates that are then thrown away. Such people used to exist but I am not sure they exist any more. If they do, you won't find them in Bangalore.

Eastern Mind · Jun 17th, 2009, 04:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by RPG

Just to expand on what others have said, many 'strict' Hindus are not strict in the fundamentalist sense. They may not drink alcohol but they're not going to throw a fit over champagne flavor. Maybe they won't eat the champagne ones, that's all, but more likely they will. It isn't like giving them some beef jerky. In most ways, Hinduism is a remarkably elastic religion.

Of course there may be some families that are so fundamentalist that you (a foreigner and thus untouchable) will be served on special plates that are then thrown away. Such people used to exist but I am not sure they exist any more. If they do, you won't find them in Bangalore.

Haha. I laughed. There's one of these I know here in Edmonton, Canada. Just an angry person. I'm sure there's one in Bangalore but it won't be the person who invited the OP, because I realised this type wouldn't invite a westerner. And another thing Trishulana, do go with an empty stomach. Expect to be overfed as Guest is God. This is almost overdone. ("Hey if you REALLY want to treat me right, PLEASE stop insisting I eat more.") I once went through 7 large meals this way in a single day. The last 4 were increasingly tortuous.

Nick-H · Jun 17th, 2009, 05:57

To echo a previous post, when taking some chocolates to some Hindu (brahmin) friends a few months ago, they were concerned that they did not contain egg.

Trishaluna · Jun 17th, 2009, 08:36

Thanks everyone! You've all put my mind at ease. I'm really looking forward to a visit and meal in someone's home. Its icing on the cake as far as this trip goes. I will go with an empty stomache!

Jun 17th, 2009, 00:15	#1
Trishaluna Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Boston, USA Posts: 21	Visiting with strict Hindu family - advice Hello, Not sure if this is the correct forum but I can't seem to begin a thread in the India for Beginners forum. Going to Bangalore next week with my husband, he will be working for the week. We are invited to a dinner at one of his co-worker's homes. I thought I should bring a gift. I purchased some chocolate truffles from a local (New England area of USA) manufacturer. I hear that Indians love sweets and I thought it would be a nice touch to have something that is local to our area. Upon inspection of the ingredients I see that one truffle is Champagne flavour. Now the manufacturer tells me it contains no traces of alcohol but I'm hesitant to bring this as a gift since the family are strict Hindus. Any advice? Should I forget it and get them something else? Thank you in advance and of course, any other information regarding the visit to this home is greatly appreciated.

Jun 17th, 2009, 00:27	#3
capt_mahajan Infidel Sufi Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: styx Posts: 13,606	In Bangalore, a coworkers family.... I wouldn't worry about it at all. __________________ . Outside the machine

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Jun 17th, 2009, 00:19	#2
rajered Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Navi Mumbai Posts: 1,184	So I am given understand that out of some truffles only one is Champagne flavour.

Jun 17th, 2009, 00:29	#4
Trishaluna Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Boston, USA Posts: 21	Yes, it is a box of 5 and one is the champagne flavour.

Jun 17th, 2009, 00:35	#5
rajered Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Navi Mumbai Posts: 1,184	As Captain has said it should not be any problem.

Jun 17th, 2009, 00:37	#6
Trishaluna Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Boston, USA Posts: 21	Thank you for your advice.

Jun 17th, 2009, 00:37	#7
nayan Forum Leader Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: hyderabad/tokyo Posts: 1,930	Does truffles contain eggs?

Jun 17th, 2009, 00:40	#8
Eastern Mind Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Canada Posts: 431	There should be no problem at all. In my experience, there are two kinds of 'strict' Hindus. The one type is anti-white, anti-western, pretty much anti-everything except their version of Hinduism. The other type is all loving, extremely tolerant (especially of little things like chocolate with a champagne flavour) For this kind of Hindu, the strictness only applies to themselves. They have a very much 'to each his own' attitude. So I hope you have a good dinner.

Jun 17th, 2009, 01:05	#10
namaste_cat Kashmiri-Punjabi Sherni Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Amreeka Posts: 941	Trishaluna - I think you should be just fine. Once you get there, you can get a quick read on them and mention (if you feel it's needed) that there's no alcohol even in the Champagne flavored one. Seriously, talk to 10 "strict Hindu" people and you'll get at least 11 different answers, so what's kosher (if you'll pardon the expression) to one isn't to another. If they're kind people who accept a gift in the spirit in which it's given, they'll appreciate it. On the off-chance they have a problem w/ the ingredients (which BTW I don't see as problematic), they could always re-gift it. But I doubt they'd be upset over receiving it anyway even if it's not to their taste. On the issue of chocolates, I have found the Indian palate to be more accepting of the less bittersweet kind. So just throwing that out there..obviously there are differences but since I personally like semi-sweet chocolate I find the Indian ones to be super sweet.

Jun 17th, 2009, 02:14	#12
RPG Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Timbuktu Posts: 382	Just to expand on what others have said, many 'strict' Hindus are not strict in the fundamentalist sense. They may not drink alcohol but they're not going to throw a fit over champagne flavor. Maybe they won't eat the champagne ones, that's all, but more likely they will. It isn't like giving them some beef jerky. In most ways, Hinduism is a remarkably elastic religion. Of course there may be some families that are so fundamentalist that you (a foreigner and thus untouchable) will be served on special plates that are then thrown away. Such people used to exist but I am not sure they exist any more. If they do, you won't find them in Bangalore.

Jun 17th, 2009, 05:57	#14
Nick-H This is just a cameo appearance Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 36,213	To echo a previous post, when taking some chocolates to some Hindu (brahmin) friends a few months ago, they were concerned that they did not contain egg.

Jun 17th, 2009, 08:36	#15
Trishaluna Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Boston, USA Posts: 21	Thanks everyone! You've all put my mind at ease. I'm really looking forward to a visit and meal in someone's home. Its icing on the cake as far as this trip goes. I will go with an empty stomache!