This collectivism extends to the concept of Jati (caste). Though officially outlawed in modern governance and urban practice, the ghost of the caste system—a hereditary, hierarchical social stratification—still influences marriage and social circles. More positively, the Indian ethos of Atithi Devo Bhava (The guest is God) is a universal lifestyle principle. An unannounced guest is not an intruder but a blessing; offering water, food, and hospitality is a sacred duty, not a chore.