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(NewsNation) — Kash Patel, President Donald Trump’s pick to lead the FBI, faced confrontational questions from Democrats during his confirmation hearing, but a brief gesture by the 44-year-old lawyer beforehand revealed more about his background than anything he said under oath.
Upon entering the hearing room in the Capitol, Patel, whose ancestry is Indian, bent down and touched the feet of his mother and father before embracing them. The act, called charanasparsha in Sanskrit, is an ancient custom in Hindu culture. It is considered a key part of the traditional Indian practice of showing respect and reverence towards parents, grandparents and other elders and asking for their blessing.
“Sitting here today, I carry not only the dreams of my parents but also millions of Americans who stand for justice, fairness and the rule of law,” Patel said. “My commitment to these principles is deeply rooted in my family’s history which has profoundly shaped my worldview.” Patel went on to describe his father’s escape from Uganda, where dictator Idi Amin committed genocide and carried out a mass expulsion of tens of thousands of Indians who had emigrated to the African nation.
Patel, a native of New York, has worked as a public defender, federal prosecutor and defense attorney. He was a Republican staffer on the House Intelligence Committee during Trump’s first term, later serving as a National Security Council official and chief of staff to the acting secretary of defense.
Senator Mike Lee, a Utah Republican, later commented on Patel’s gesture, saying, “Notice the respect he pays to his parents by bowing to them as he enters the arena. Strong.”
Why do Hindus touch the feet of their elders?
According to Hindu tradition, touching the feet of your elders is a sign of respect and humility. It also is a way of asking for blessings and guidance. The gesture provides insight into Patel’s cultural and religious background and close relationship with his parents.
Whose feet do you touch?
Hindus touch the feet of their parents, grandparents and elders in the family. They also perform the custom with teachers and priests. The idea is to show respect and acquire wisdom from those who have lived longer.
How do you do it?
According to Hindu tradition, the proper way is to bend down and use your fingertips to lightly touch the elder’s feet.