The origin of the customs and traditions can be easily traced in the Vedas, where some specific rituals and ceremonies are prescribed in detail. The customs and traditions of India are also based on the Vedic rituals. According to the Vedas, every man and woman has to perform certain ceremonies, known as Sanskaars, from birth to death. There are sixteen Sanskaars and mainly relates to three major events in one's life i.e., birth, marriage and death. The birth, marriage and death are completely woven in the customs and traditions of the people of Rajasthan. Although the birth of a son is considered as the most welcome event, a daughter in the family is also considered essential. The parents who are not blessed with a daughter to offer in marriage feel themselves unfortunate, as Kanyadan, giving of daughter is considered as one of the samskaras, without which one’s life is not considered complete.
Use your right hand for giving, taking, eating or shaking hands as the left is considered to be unclean. Women do not shake hands with men, as this form of contact is not traditionally acceptable between acquaintances. Do not photograph women without permission.
The greeting when meeting or parting used universally among the Hindus across India is the palms joined together as in prayer, sometimes accompanied with the word Namaste (N and W) Namoshkar (E) and Vanakkam (S), translated as' l salute all divine qualities in you.' " Thank you" is often expressed by a smile and occasionally with somewhat formal Dhannyabad or Shukriya in the N and W and Dhonnyobad in the E and Nandri in the S.
