Why go
A dal bhat meal may arrive with rice or flatbread, vegetables, lentils and pickles arranged together. Knowing that eating with the right hand is customary in many settings helps you feel at ease, while watching the people serving the meal avoids assuming that every household follows the same rules.
The full story
A traditional thali brings the meal together on one plate: a grain such as rice or roti, small portions of vegetables and pickle, and sometimes yogurt, fish or meat. Dal and sauced vegetables may come in separate bowls to pour over the grain. Many people eat with the fingers of the right hand, washing before and after; utensils are also common in restaurants and homes. These observations are useful because the meal is often served as a set of parts for the diner to combine, rather than as a finished dish with one prescribed flavour. Older descriptions attach food handling to caste restrictions and make sweeping claims about what visitors should do. They do not describe every present-day table. Follow the host's lead, accept a utensil when offered, and ask politely if you are unsure how a shared dish is served.
Useful to know
- Wash your hands before eating; if eating by hand, use the right hand for food.
- Let the host show how to combine dal, vegetables and pickles, and ask before serving yourself from shared dishes.