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want to meet at fmd_good Local House
want to meet at fmd_good Funland
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Cultural Etiquette in Mumbai: What Not to Do (2026)
When meeting someone, a simple 'Namaste' with palms pressed together is always respectful, especially for elders. Handshakes are common in business settings, but avoid a… 🙏 Greetings and Gestures
When meeting someone, a simple 'Namaste' with palms pressed together is always respectful, especially for elders. Handshakes are common in business settings, but avoid a left-hand handshake or touching someone with your left hand, as it's considered unclean. Always use your right hand for giving or receiving money, cards, or gifts.
🛕 Temple and Religious Sites
Before entering any temple, mosque, or church, remove your shoes and cover your head if required. Dress modestly, covering shoulders and knees; for women, carrying a scarf is handy. Photography is often prohibited inside sanctums, so look for signs or ask a priest. At the Siddhivinayak Temple in Prabhadevi, expect long queues and a strict no-phone policy inside.
🍽️ Dining Etiquette
Always wash your hands before and after eating, as many traditional meals are eaten with the right hand. Use only your right hand for eating; the left is reserved for other tasks. When dining at a restaurant, a 10% service charge is often added, but leaving an extra 5-10% in cash is appreciated. If invited to someone's home, it's polite to bring sweets or fruit, and always wait for the host to start eating.
👗 Dress Code
Mumbai is relatively liberal, but modest dressing is appreciated, especially in religious areas and local markets. For women, avoid very short shorts or revealing tops; a kurta or jeans with a t-shirt works well. Men should avoid sleeveless vests in public. In upscale clubs or restaurants like the Taj Mahal Palace, smart casual or formal wear is expected.
📵 Public Behavior
Keep your voice low in public spaces; Indians often speak softly, and loud conversations can draw stares. Avoid public displays of affection, as they are considered inappropriate in many areas. When using your phone, use earphones for music or videos, and never play audio out loud on local trains or buses.
📸 Photography Rules
Always ask permission before photographing locals, especially in rural areas or street markets like Colaba Causeway. Many people may expect a small tip for posing, so be prepared. Avoid taking photos of government buildings, military installations, or slum areas without explicit consent, as it can be sensitive.
🚶 Queueing and Crowds
Queues are not always orderly in Mumbai; be assertive but polite when boarding trains or buses. In ticket counters, it's common for people to cluster, so hold your ground firmly. On local trains, let passengers alight before you board, and offer your seat to the elderly, pregnant women, or disabled passengers.
💵 Tipping and Money
Tipping is customary in restaurants, hotels, and for porters or drivers; 10% is standard in restaurants, while a few rupees for helpers is fine. Always carry small change for tips and for street vendors, as they often can't break large notes. When paying, use your right hand and avoid handing money directly to a person if they are seated on the ground; place it on a table or surface instead.
honestly the namaste thing is the easiest way to win people over, especially with older folks or shopkeepers. even a quick "namaste" with a slight head tilt gets you way better service than a "hello" ever will. one thing the guide missed: if you're a woman, don't be surprised if you get stared at, it's not aggressive, just how it is, especially in crowded markets or on the local. just ignore it and keep moving, eye contact back usually makes it worse.
also, for the Siddhivinayak queue, they have a fast track if you're willing to pay a bit more, but honestly the regular queue moves faster than the line outside looks, people just push a lot. and if you're going on a Tuesday, go super early, like before 6am, or you'll be there for two hours minimum. the prasad they give you is a small box of peda, eat it fresh, it goes stale weirdly fast in the humidity.
good point about the feet thing, that's real. one thing the guide doesn't mention is the auto rickshaw meter game. always insist on the meter, drivers will quote you double or triple if they think ur new. if they refuse, just walk away, the next one will take u. also, for eating on the street, the vada pav stalls are fine but check how they handle the chutney, if they're using the same spoon for everything, skip it. stick to places where they use a fresh piece of paper or a proper ladle. and for the local trains, the ladies compartment on the first class is way less chaotic if you're a woman, worth the slightly higher fare on long rides.
the left hand thing is real but honestly the bigger one is feet. don't point ur feet at anyone or at a deity, and if u accidentally touch someone with ur foot, u gotta tap ur fist to ur forehead as an apology. it sounds dramatic but mumbaikars will clock it immediately. also, on the bus or local, if someone's standing and u have a bag on the seat next to u, move it fast. they won't ask, they'll just stare until u get it. that silent stare is the real etiquette test here lol
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I want to sell my old clothes
have u tried the chor bazaar route? not for selling to shops but the friday morning flea guys near mumbadevi, some of them buy vintage/retro pieces outright and pay better than the bale walas if ur stuff has any character. got 800 for a bunch of old levi's and band tees there. thing is u gotta go early like 6am and know how to hold ur ground, they smell desperation instantly
one thing nobody mentioned, watch out for the weight vs piece thing. kabadiwalas and bale buyers pay by kilo so heavy stuff like denim and woolens actually earn more than fancy light stuff. i cleared a whole bag of old jeans to a guy in Malad for way better than what my branded shirts fetched. also wash everything before u show it, sounds obvious but dusty clothes get lowballed on sight.
honestly the timing matters more than the platform. end of month is when people get salary and actually buy, so list ur stuff around the 1st or 2nd. also post pics in natural light near a window, not on ur bed with flash, makes a huge difference on OLX and insta thrift pages. i've flipped a lot of my old stuff this way and the same kurta that got ignored at 300 sold for 500 when i relisted it properly.