Hindus accessing public service or in employment have special requirements based on their scriptures, tradition, culture, and belief system. While some requirements are common to all Hindus, others may only be observed by stricter or more orthodox Hindus. There are also requirements unique to a particular denomination. Requirements have been classified as:
- Dietary requirements
- Prayer requirements
- Dress code requirements
- Other requirements
Fasting
Some Hindus may require special consideration at times of ritual fasting on certain days like Janmashtami or Ram Navami. There are different types of fasting, and generally, the following applies:
- Some Hindus may abstain from water and food throughout the entire time of fasting.
- Other Hindus may not eat grains, lentils, and beans, but may have milk, fruits, vegetables (usually underground tubers), or nuts.
- Others may have only milk or fruit through the time of fasting.
- On some fasting days some Hindus abstain from eating grains.
Ingredients
Depending on how orthodox they are, Hindus will avoid either all or some of the ingredients given below in their food:
- Beef and cow products (it is forbidden to eat beef in Hinduism)
- Meat, fish, and eggs, including gelatine
- Onions, garlic and mushrooms
- Alcohol and alcohol products
- Asafoetida
- Red lentils
It is particularly important to check that ready food like bread, biscuits, cheese, jam and other products are checked to ensure that these ingredients are not present. Some ingredients that are numbered (e.g., E471, E472) contain egg or meat products and therefore strict Hindus will avoid them.
Some Hindus avoid eating certain products during some periods or days. During these days or periods, they will avoid these ingredients, but on other days they may consume them. This is listed below:
- Ekadashi (eleventh day or waxing and waning moon) – Grains, beans and lentils
- Fasting days like Janmashtami, Ramanavami etc – either abstain from food or from grains, beans and lentils
- First month of Chaturmasya (July-August) – Spinach
- Second month of Chaturmasya (August-September) – Yoghurt
- Third month of Charturmasya (September-October) – Milk
- Fourth month of Charturmasya (October-November) – Urad Dal or Bengal lentil
Prayer timings and paraphernalia
Many Hindus are required to pray three times a day. They will require a private space where they may bring a plate, a cup of water, and a spoon, with which they may offer oblations. The water used for the prayers will be considered sacred and should not be disposed of in a sink. It can be used for watering plants or just drained in a garden.
Types of prayer and worship
Other Hindus may observe prayers during the day, and may chant on beads, read from books, sing devotional songs, or meditate.
Altar
Many Hindus also create a portable altar with pictures of Hindu Gods and Spiritual Masters. A space for such an altar may be considered essential if the Hindus reside in a place for a longer period of time.
Arati ceremony
Worship on the altar is called an arati ceremony and usually requires flowers, incense, and other paraphernalia including a clean cup of water, a clean spoon, a bell, and a lamp. Arati ceremonies may vary for each tradition within Hinduism.
Offering of food
Some Hindus only eat vegetarian food that is offered on an altar to God. This involves a high degree of cleanliness. Cooks usually don’t taste the food before it is offered. The offering is usually done on a plate reserved for making offerings by ringing a bell and chanting verses and prayers. After the offering is made, the plate is usually washed and kept aside before Hindus eat the food.
