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Responsible Tourism - The art of hospitality: India - Atithi Devo Bhava

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One should worship the Mother, the Father, the Teacher and one's Guests as God. In ancient India, when communication was limited, guests were considered as Gods since they could arrive at any time without notice. The concept of "Atithi Devo Bhava" in Hinduism means that "the guest is God" and should be treated as such through a five step worship ritual involving offerings of fragrance, light, food, rice and flowers to welcome and honor all guests.

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One should worship the Mother, the Father, the Teacher and one's Guests as God In dia : At it hi De vo Bha va
In ancient times, when means of communication were limited
and it was not possible for guests to anticipate their date of arrival,
A T I T H I was coined to depict a visiting person who had no fixed date of arrival or departure.
D E V O means God and B H A V means Be/Is,
literally meaning ?Guest is God.
In Hinduism G O D is worshipped in 5 Step worship
These five steps are Dhoop : fragrance Deep : lamp Naivaidya : edibles Akshat : rice Pushp : flower
?Shodashopchar Poojan is an elaboration and formalisation of this ritual.
FRA G RA N CE While receiving guests we must see that rooms have a pleasant fragrance, because this is the first thing that attracts guests or detracts from their visit. A pleasant fragrance will put your guest in good humour.
LAM P Prior to the electrification of India, a lamp was put between host and guest so that expression and body language remain clearly visible and there is no gap between host and guest.
EDIBLES Fruits and sweets made of milk are offered to guests.
RICE It is a symbol of being undivided. A tilak made of a vermilion past is put on forehead and rice grains are placed on it. This is the highest form of welcome in Hindu Indian families.
FLOWER Offering a flower has always remained a gesture of goodwill since the dawn of civilization. When the guest departs, the flower symbolizes the sweet memories of his visit that haunt him for several days.
In India this art of hospitality is called Atithi Devo Bhava respontour - responsible tourism - communication - PR - representation www.respontour.net contact@respontour.net

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Responsible Tourism - The art of hospitality: India - Atithi Devo Bhava

  • 1. One should worship the Mother, the Father, the Teacher and one's Guests as God In dia : At it hi De vo Bha va
  • 2. In ancient times, when means of communication were limited
  • 3. and it was not possible for guests to anticipate their date of arrival,
  • 4. A T I T H I was coined to depict a visiting person who had no fixed date of arrival or departure.
  • 5. D E V O means God and B H A V means Be/Is,
  • 6. literally meaning ?Guest is God.
  • 7. In Hinduism G O D is worshipped in 5 Step worship
  • 8. These five steps are Dhoop : fragrance Deep : lamp Naivaidya : edibles Akshat : rice Pushp : flower
  • 9. ?Shodashopchar Poojan is an elaboration and formalisation of this ritual.
  • 10. FRA G RA N CE While receiving guests we must see that rooms have a pleasant fragrance, because this is the first thing that attracts guests or detracts from their visit. A pleasant fragrance will put your guest in good humour.
  • 11. LAM P Prior to the electrification of India, a lamp was put between host and guest so that expression and body language remain clearly visible and there is no gap between host and guest.
  • 12. EDIBLES Fruits and sweets made of milk are offered to guests.
  • 13. RICE It is a symbol of being undivided. A tilak made of a vermilion past is put on forehead and rice grains are placed on it. This is the highest form of welcome in Hindu Indian families.
  • 14. FLOWER Offering a flower has always remained a gesture of goodwill since the dawn of civilization. When the guest departs, the flower symbolizes the sweet memories of his visit that haunt him for several days.
  • 15. In India this art of hospitality is called Atithi Devo Bhava respontour - responsible tourism - communication - PR - representation www.respontour.net contact@respontour.net