Etiquettes to keep up health and hygiene were practiced efficiently during the days of yore. Whenever someone went out and came back, the first thing that they did was to reach the place where a pitcher of water was placed with a mug. Every ancient home had the facility. They would wash their hands and feet completely. The sole of the feet was thoroughly washed and only then anyone entered the household. After entering, they would wipe their hands and legs clean with a sundried cloth. Thereafter, they discuss their purpose of visit and enter the work scenario.  

 This was the way to keep the germs away from entering any campus and therefore, it was an important part of our etiquette. There were certain homes those days, wherein the guests would be asked to wash their hands and legs before they sat for having food. Normally, the ancestral houses had courtyard where all the family members who had assembled after their tiring journey from various places for their annual get-together would be instructed to first go wash their hands and legs in the allocated place. In many houses, this facility was provided right in front so that the guests could treated conveniently.  

A container holding fresh water, drawn from the well, was usually kept with a mug or a pitcher in the wash area. (Now a days, we use sanitizers made from chemicals to keep ourselves clean, but the ways of our forefathers were far more natural, safer, and healthier.) This kept them away from germs and other disease-causing bacterium and viruses. While washing they did not just clean the impurities of the body, but they also cleared the negative thoughts in the mind.  In a way, the negativity which could have entered the system and the stress would have all got purged at the time of this ritual. 

This kind of ritual is even followed these days before one enters any temple, where there are chances of many people from different places and habits visit. Almost everyone who is going to enter a temple would remove their sandals, look for a water-tap, and wash their hands and feet. Even inside the temple, before the priest offers the Prasadam to devotees, they would be given drops of water to cleanse their hands which also formed a part of the sacred rites. Those days this system of hygiene was also practiced in every home, office, and other important places. Apart from numerous ancient health and hygiene practices, this kept people clean, and hearty. It also ensured to give a strong positive vibration along with other benefits.  

Of course, it is spending a little bit of water. But that water purges us completely, both the body and the mind.