What cultural etiquette should I know for Mumbai?

The default greeting across Mumbai is 'namaste,' palms pressed together at chest height with a slight nod. A deep bow isn't expected in Maharashtra. In South Mumbai's business districts around Nariman Point and Fort, a handshake between men is common, but wait for a woman to extend her hand first. Many Mumbaikars switch between Hindi, Marathi, and English mid-sentence, so 'hello' works fine in Colaba or Bandra. Use your right hand when passing money at Crawford Market, accepting chai from a street vendor, or paying an auto-rickshaw driver. The left hand is considered unclean in Hindu and Muslim tradition, and while younger Mumbaikars in Andheri West won't blink, an older shopkeeper in Dadar might notice. Worth noting, the Maharashtrian head-wobble (that side-to-side tilt) means 'yes' or 'I understand,' not 'no.' First-timers misread it constantly at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus ticket counters.

Mumbai has roughly 1,000 Hindu temples, over 800 mosques, and dozens of churches and Parsi fire temples within city limits. Shoes come off at every single one without exception. At Siddhivinayak Temple in Prabhadevi, the Tuesday queue can stretch two to three hours along two kilometers of fencing. Haji Ali Dargah, the mosque built on a causeway 500 meters into the Arabian Sea, requires covered shoulders and knees for both men and women. The causeway floods at high tide, so check timing before walking out. At the Global Vipassana Pagoda in Gorai, silence is strictly enforced inside the meditation hall. Non-Hindus may be restricted from inner sanctums at certain temples. During Ramadan, avoid eating or drinking publicly near mosques out of respect. Photography is often prohibited inside religious sites, so look for signs or ask before pulling out a camera.

Tipping ten percent is standard at sit-down restaurants across Mumbai, from Trishna in Fort to newer spots in Lower Parel and BKC. Many upscale places add a service charge automatically, so check the bill before doubling up. Street food vendors at Chowpatty Beach or Juhu expect no tip. Auto-rickshaw drivers in the suburbs run on meters by law, and prepaid taxi counters at the airport eliminate haggling. Public displays of affection remain culturally frowned upon. Section 294 of the Indian Penal Code criminalizes obscene public acts, which police occasionally invoke against couples kissing along Marine Drive or in parks. Dress modestly in conservative neighborhoods like Mohammed Ali Road or Bhendi Bazaar. Always ask before photographing people, particularly at Dhobi Ghat, where washermen have grown weary of unsolicited cameras. During Ganesh Chaturthi in August-September, processions fill the streets and normal rules of personal space temporarily suspend.