I’ll be doing some photography at a Hindu temple. Would it be considerate to avoid wearing cow leather shoes, belt, etc? Is it a small issue? No issue at all?
Well. It’d be kinda gaudy/gauche.
If you could do without it, it’d be nice and appreciated.
If you’re actually INSIDE the temple while taking pictures- then yes, I’d (as a patron) prefer you not wear the leather. People tend to have to take off their shoes and such when inside the temple, so also keep that in mind- so the whole wearing Cow Leather thing- yeah, it’s going to get you some looks for sure from patrons and possible a polite invitation to not step inside the temple’s main rooms itself.
It’d be the considerate thing to do (which I think by you asking the Question) is what you’re trying to go for here. So yeah- it’d be really nice if you didn’t.
-Hindu.
OK. Different question:
When visiting the home of a Hindu friend, should a non-Hindu acknowledge the shrine in the home? What is the polite gesture of respect?
You have to take off your shoes when you go in anyway; there’s usually a place outside to leave them, and I think you’ll see that many of them are leather. So don’t worry about it unless you want to. I have no idea about the belt; I’m not observant enough to see whether men at the local temple leave them on or not.
As regards the shrine, no gesture of respect is necessary unless your friend does so him- (or her-)self. If so, folded hands and a bowed head is more than sufficient.
This one depends more on the friend I suppose. If my friends come to visit me, I don’t expect them to do anything about the shrine I have. Same with the one at my parents house. Religion tends to be a private thing, and we’re just hanging out, there’s no need for you to do anything. Most Indian houses/families I know will do the shoe removing thing usually by the doorway or such, but even that varies from place to place.
But yeah- just don’t mock the shrine or be bigoted about it (you’d be suprised at how many random “wait, isn’t that idolatry?” comments pop up). But otherwise, nah, it’s not really a biggie.
Now if you’re visiting a friend’s house during a certain religious observance they’re doing (such as a puja), then it might be different, and in that case- just ask the friend. Usually, it’s common to just be polite and observant, and that’s all that’s really needed for a puja. But for a common, run of the mill house visit? Don’t worry about it. The shoes removed thing should be as far as that goes.
Fortunately, I’m not that big of a dunderhead.
Cool. I was just over to help my friend with his computer. No mention was made of the irony inherent in an Indian in America calling a white guy for computer tech support.