Current Time in Dwarka
Indian culture regarding time
Indian culture regarding time
The concept of "Indian time"
In India, the flow of time is perceived as flexible, so much so that there is a term "Indian Stretchable Time (IST)". It is not uncommon for people to be 30 minutes to an hour late for an appointment.
Religious events are not bound by time
While Hindu ceremonies and weddings place importance on astrologically "auspicious times", it is common for the start time to be delayed by several hours.
Railway delays are commonplace
Indian railways boast the world's largest network, but delays of several hours are common. People have a culture of accepting this uncertainty and responding flexibly.
Indian values regarding time
Relationships > Punctuality
In India, it is considered virtuous to prioritize relationships with the person in front of you rather than cutting off a conversation in the middle to be punctual.
Time is cyclical
Due to the influence of Hinduism, people tend to see time as cyclical rather than linear, which is fundamentally different from the Western concept of "punctuality".
Flexibility is valued
Even if plans change, people tend to accept it as "God's will", and the ability to adapt to sudden schedule changes is valued.
Things foreigners should know about time when traveling or relocating to India
Business meetings start late
Even in official situations, delays of 30 minutes to an hour are to be expected. On the other hand, people may be surprised if meetings start on time.
Government agencies are loose with time management
In government offices and banks, there is often a large discrepancy between the displayed working hours and the actual response times.
The holiday calendar is complicated
Holidays vary from state to state, and religious calendars must also be taken into consideration, so it is essential to check in advance.
Fun facts about time in India
Official clocks are 6.5 hours ahead
Indian Standard Time (IST) is UTC+5:30, a compromise between Calcutta and Bombay times during the British colonial period.
The only "half-hour" time zone in the world
All of India is in the same time zone, so there is a difference of about 2 hours between actual solar time at the eastern and western ends.
"Fixed start time" on wedding invitations
The start time of the ceremony is often written on invitations earlier than the actual time, as a tradition to accommodate guests who may arrive late.