Indians are known to greet people with their hands pressed together indicating "Namaste", which has now found favour with with several world leaders, including US President Donald Trump, who recently visited New Delhi, as handshakes are not preferred amid concerns over the novel coronavirus.
A brief video of President Trump addressing the media has been making the rounds on social media.
“We did not shake hands today. We looked at each other, we said what we are going to do. It was sort of a weird feeling and at the same time we did this [joins hand in Namaste]. You know, I just got back from India and I did not shake any hands there. And there, it was very easy because they go like this (again joins hand in Namaste). They are ahead of the curve", the clip shows America’s president as saying.
Pictures and videos of international leaders including the UK’s Prince Charles, French President Emmanuel Macron, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu joining their hands in the traditional Indian greeting have surfaced on social media platforms.
The coronavirus, which has been declared a pandemic by the World Health Organisation (WHO), has taken the lives of over 4,600 people. Globally, over 125,000 people have been infected.
India reported its first death due to COVID-19 or coronavirus on Thursday evening. Some 75 people have tested positive for the viral infection, according to the federal Health and Family Welfare Ministry.