CFW

I was interested in the recommendation not to wear black when visiting temples. I have to tell you that at least half my wardrobe is black - black pants, black sweaters, black tee shirts. What is the negative significance of black? Will it be inappropriate to wear black in the evenings to dinner or to visit forts & other sights in Rajasthan, such as the Taj. I was planning on bringing a goes-with everything black cardigan, and a black jacket to wear if it gets cool in the mornings & evenings. (We're going in February).

Cicerone

I had not heard of any issue with wearing black in India generally or in Hindu temples specifically. I also don't recall seeing anything in guidebooks regarding not wearing certain colours in Hindu temples or on festive occasions, other than red generally being worn by Rajasthani brides. (Like you do in guidebooks for China and Chinese cultures where white is the colour of mourning and is to be avoided when attending a wedding or when sending flowers to people.) The poster refers to not wearing black if you are with a &quot;devout Hindu guide&quot; (which may of course be hard to know). You don't see many women wearing black saris or even navy blue (as Diana Vreeland says, <i> pink </i> is the navy blue of India), but I believe that has more to do with climate where dark clothes would attract and trap heat. I myself wear a lot of black in India and throw a black shawl over whatever I'm wearing in the winter, so let's hope I haven't been offending everyone for the last 10 years. One of my closest friends, who is Indian and Hindu, got married in a very very dark blue sari, so again, who knows.

I did ask my Indian colleague in New Delhi after a conference call this afternoon about the black thing. He seemed to recall a legend about black representing unrepented or unforgiven sins. That may be what the poster was referring to. But then he said that for some festivals, attendees ONLY wear black to show devotion, so there you go. The poster may also have heard something from a tour guide that is wrong. I remember speaking with a woman at the JW Marriott Mumbai about a year ago who had done a two- day tour with a local guide in Mumbai who just filled her with completely wrong information, including things like the Towers of Silence being built by Jains, so sometimes the tour guides don't know whereof they speak.

In my experience with Indians, no one is going to react if you wear black, any more than they are going to be react if you eat chicken in front of them and they are vegetarians. I find that Indians are extremely tolerant of others' beliefs (with some exceptions, but generally we could learn a lot from them) and don't try to convince others of the superiority of their position. Most importantly, I can't imagine that anyone would dream of saying a WORD to you, as a guest in their country, if you were wearing black, even if personally they found it a little unsettling due to their own religious beliefs. I certainly would not have any concerns about wearing black to a restaurant or shopping, or if you have any worries at all, to any tourist site that does NOT involve a Hindu temple (the Taj Mahal of course involves a Muslim mosque, so no worries there, and much of Rajasthan is of course Mughal history and therefore Muslim relics and not Hindu).

CFW

Thanks, Cicerone. I was hoping you would reply with your usual good in-depth info. Very reassuring. I'm not a pink person, but I do have a fushia top I can throw in to wear with --- you guessed it -- black pants or a black skirt.

jjkbrook

Some Jain temples prohibit the wearing of black (dont know the reason) as well as entry with leather items - the enforcement of these rules varied from temple to temple, but since we were aware of the the issue, we never tested whether the prohibition of black was enforced. My leather trimmed purse went in sometimes, was required to stay in an anteroom another time. You might have to leave your water bottle outside, too with your shoes to get warm in the sun.

http://www.eternalglories.com/traveltips.htm

We didnt experience anything of the sort at Hindu temples.

CFW

ok, so now I'm worried about bringing a leather purse. In fact, just bought a new one with lots of compartments for travel. Should I run out and buy a fabric one? Wish I had known all ofthese things earlier...we're leaving in a week.

Cicerone

I really would not do that. Theoretically, when you visit a Jain temple you should not be wearing leather or <i> anything </i> that comes from killing a creature, and that includes silk (because of the silk worms). Fur of course would be out. But I don't think they would stop you for anything but the leather shoes. (Really devout Jains wear mouth masks to avoid unnecessarily killing insects, and they don't use transportation at all, they walk.) But no one expects you to come on foot.

If a temple is very conservative, they will have a place for you to leave any articles that they do not want you to bring into the temple. Indians understand that others have different beliefs and are very tolerant of them, they only ask that you respect their customs when in houses of worship. I think you are stressing over nothing, this is not at all unlike going into a Christian church in Europe where in many places you would be expected to have covered head and shoulders. But no one would keep you out if you weren't Christian, were living with someone without benefit of marriage, practiced birth control, etc, all of which are taboo in certain Christian theologies.

If you know that you are going to a Hindu temple on a particular day, or if you are going to Rankpur which is a major Jain sight in Rajasthan, and if you are worred about it, leave the big leather purse in the hotel. Otherwise, don't stress over it.

stephenmat

just came back from some of those places. i have been sick in india the last two trips so i was gonna be extra safe this time. a place if you would like great italian is in udaipur go to savage garden. i just went to my lonely planet book and looked it up.great vibe and outstanding ravioli need i say more...also they use bottled to cook with...

Cilla_Tey

I've been to India 3 times but was not sick despite brushing my teeth using the water from the tap and buying Indian desserts where the locals frequent. I was sick when I visited Vietnam, Korea, Bali and Bhutan.

waynehazle

gilawi01,

Please send me email again off list. I can't find the original email you sent me!