why do indians shake their head

Indians shake or wobble their head as a common and cultural form of nonverbal communication known as the "Indian head bobble" or "head wobble." This gesture usually consists of a side-to-side tilting of the head and can have various meanings depending on the context, such as "yes," "okay," "I understand," "thank you," or simply acknowledging someone's presence. It is often used to indicate agreement, understanding, respect, or acknowledgement without the need for words. Sometimes it can also serve as a polite way to decline or show ambiguity without a direct "no." This head wobble is very common in Indian culture, especially in South India, and is deeply integrated into communication styles which rely heavily on body language and context cues rather than just verbal expressions.