Hindus have a wide range of dietary practices. Because their dietary preferences and practices can vary so much, others may not understand that many Hindus observe dietary restrictions with a religious basis. That is why Hindus may need to request religious accommodation of their dietary restrictions.
As stated in the religious epic, Mahabharata: “Humans should take from this planet only that which is necessary for our survival.” Observing dietary restrictions is consistent with religious teachings, which state that although humans must consume organic matter to live, the consumption of certain foods requires harming other living beings (whether animal or plant life) or the environment, and is therefore unethical. In other words, Hindu dietary choices often reflect a commitment to ahimsa (non-harm), an important Hindu principle.
Below, we discuss an example where religious accommodation could be requested and provide a template letter that can be used to request accommodation of dietary restrictions. Our template covers some common dietary restrictions observed by Hindus, but you should edit the final letter to accurately reflect your needs and religious practices. We also have resources that provide an overview of religious accommodations and include detailed guidance on how to request them at work.
Example
A new employee who does not consume meat due to her Hindu religious beliefs attends a mandatory company event and realizes that there are no vegetarian options provided for lunch. Because she is new, she did not know what would be provided for lunch or how to ensure that there would be a vegetarian option.
This employee can request religious accommodation of her dietary restrictions. One potential accommodation is for the company to discuss the employee’s specific dietary restrictions and ensure that a meal is ordered separately for her at future events. Another potential accommodation would be to simply include vegetarian items as part of future meal offerings, providing access for both this employee and others who might choose that meal. The key here is ensuring this employee is not excluded from this work-related benefit due to her religious beliefs, particularly because either accommodation option incurs minimal additional cost and creates minimal additional work for the employer.
Sample Letter
Please make sure to fill out the form on the side so that the letter is automatically populated with your information.
