namaskaar

Namaskaar is a traditional Indian greeting and gesture of respect. It is performed by bringing the palms together in front of the chest, with fingers pointing upward, often accompanied by a slight bow or nod of the head. The term namaskaar comes from Sanskrit namaskāra, meaning an act of obeisance or salutation. In many contexts it is synonymous with namaste and serves as a polite social greeting.

The gesture is widely used across religious, cultural, and social settings in the Indian subcontinent and in communities abroad. It is common in Hindu, Buddhist, Jain, and Sikh practices as a sign of reverence to others, elders, teachers, or guests. In everyday use, it can be spoken aloud as a greeting or response, with the physical gesture reinforcing the expression of respect.

Namaskaar is one transliteration variant of the same concept, with other spellings such as namaste and namaskar found in different languages and regions. In languages such as Kannada, Marathi, Gujarati, and Telugu, similar salutations are used—often rendered as namaskāra or namaskāri. In yoga and spiritual traditions, the gesture is commonly known as Anjali Mudra and is used to begin or end sessions as a form of respectful salutation.

Contemporary use of Namaskaar extends beyond religious contexts to formal and casual interactions in India and among the Indian diaspora. While it remains a culturally rooted greeting, it is also understood internationally as a courteous, nonverbal expression of respect.