Why Is The West Saying Namaste? How An Ancient Indian Greeting Found Its Way To The World Stage

Why Is Every Global Leader Greeting With A Namaste? (Credits: AI)

There was a time when a firm handshake was almost a prerequisite for being taken seriously on the world stage. But increasingly, another gesture has begun making its way into these very Western settings: two palms pressed together, a slight bow, and a Namaste.

Take Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who was seen using the folded-hand greeting at a rally in Bari, Italy, in September 2026. This was not the first time she had caught attention with the gesture. In August 2025, she greeted US Chief of Protocol Monica Crowley with Namaste at the White House. Two months later, she greeted US President Donald Trump with the same gesture at the Gaza Peace Summit in Egypt. The moments sparked online conversations about the growing visibility of Indian cultural traditions, with some social media users even calling it the “Modi effect”.

But Namaste's Western journey goes well beyond political diplomacy. It has found its way into yoga studios, wellness culture, fashion merchandise and internet slang. There is even “Namaslay”, a playful mash-up of Namaste and “slay” that has been circulating in American popular culture for years.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia…

Original source: https://www.timesnownews.com/lifestyle