A recent video of New York mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani eating biryani with his hands sparked a storm of both criticism and celebration online.
While some saw it as a rejection of Western etiquette, many South Asians around the world recognised it as a powerful reclaiming of cultural identity. And as it turns out, it is a habit with strong health benefits.
Across the diaspora, particularly among Indian and South Asian communities, eating with hands is a practice that often gets left behind out of social pressure or fear of judgment. For many, especially those growing up or living abroad, the switch to forks and spoons is often about fitting in rather than personal choice. A simple act like mixing rice with yogurt by hand can invite stares and snide comments - making people feel like outsiders in spaces where they’ve tried hard to belong.
Mamdani’s viral moment resonated deeply with many South Asians for this very reason. It wasn’t just about biryani. It was about showing the world that cultural authenticity isn’t something to be hidden or sanitised for public consumption.
Yet, not everyone appreciated the gesture.
Some right-wing commentators in the US criticised Mamdani’s use of hands as unrefined or un-American, with one politician going so far as to link the act to his immigrant identity. The comments, widely seen as racially charged, stirred a broader conversation around how non-Western traditions are policed and perceived.
Despite such backlash, experts and food historians argue that eating with hands isn’t just culturally rich but also biologically beneficial.
The practice, deeply rooted in Indian, Middle Eastern, and Southeast Asian traditions, engages the senses fully and promotes mindful eating. From better digestion to improved portion control, the act of eating with fingers is far from primitive. It’s purposeful.
According to nutritional experts, the simple act of touching food before eating helps activate the digestive system. This tactile engagement starts the release of saliva and digestive enzymes, essentially prepping your body for the food. It also slows down the pace of eating, allowing for greater awareness of texture, temperature, and quantity - key aspects of mindful eating.
Additionally, exposure to beneficial microbes on the skin may contribute to gut health, especially for children still developing their immune systems. While Western dining habits often equate cutlery with hygiene and civility, the growing recognition of beneficial bacteria tells a more nuanced story.
This judgment, many argue, is part of a larger pattern - where non-Western practices are dismissed as unsophisticated despite their deep historical roots. In fact, until relatively recently, many parts of Europe also ate primarily with hands. The rise of cutlery as the norm is a colonial and class-based development, not a universal standard.
Such double standards become more visible when we consider the cultural acceptance of eating burgers or pizza with bare hands in the West, while similar acts in non-Western contexts are seen as improper. It’s not about cleanliness; it’s about who gets to define what’s considered “civilised.”
In the end, Mamdani’s biryani moment was not merely a personal choice—it was an act of quiet resistance. For many in the diaspora, it offered affirmation and visibility. It reminded them that embracing tradition need not be at odds with modernity, and that dignity lies in honoring one’s roots, not hiding them.