Namasté ( ; ), sometimes expressed as Namaskar or Namaskaram, is a customary greeting when people meet or depart. It is a form of greeting commonly found among Hindus of the Indian Subcontinent, in some Southeast Asian countries, and diaspora from these regions. Namasté is spoken with a slight bow and hands pressed together, palms touching and fingers pointing upwards, thumbs close to the chest. This gesture is called Añjali Mudrā or Pranamasana. In Hinduism it means “I bow to the divine in you.” Namasté or namaskar is used as a respectful form of greeting, acknowledging and welcoming a relative, guest or stranger. It is used with goodbyes as well. It is typically spoken and simultaneously performed with palms touching gesture, but it may also be spoken without acting it out or performed wordlessly; all three carry the same meaning. This cultural practice of salutation and valediction originated in the Indian subcontinent.
