Touching Your Elder’s Feet
In Indian culture touching feet of parents, elders, and teachers is a mark of respect. In a family, family members take the blessing of elders on festivals, religious functions, birthdays, etc. These days it is taking a new form. Now we see people touch the knees, thigh or sometimes even waist to take the blessings of their elders. It sometimes appears very funny when youngsters touch the knees of their elders to show respect.
Once Former Prime Minister of India, Sri Lal Bhahdur Shastri noticed that one of his sons was not touching the feet of elders properly. Shastri ji explained that his son’s hands went only up to knees and not up to the feet. His son did not accept this.
Any other father would have scolded his son but what Shastri ji did was a lesson to anyone.
With all humility and respect he demonstrated the way the feet should be touched. He demonstrated it by properly touching the feet of his son. It was a big punishment to that boy. He started crying and asked his father to please pardon him for his behavior. So this non-egoistic behavior of Shastri ji etched a valuable lesson.
So we should follow a tradition, if we follow it, with regard and respect.
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