Except that a long term resident like Col. Bloombertt, and an archaeologist with extensive anthropological knowledge like Indy, don't seem to find anything wrong with the dinner. Mind you, in the original script, these two do share concerns at how this is not what Hindus are like at all, but this never made it into the movie. Consequently, the scene exists only for the ick-value, and because it is never gainsaid, it is racist. Not very racist - it's a far cry from "The Eternal Jew" or similar propaganda movies - but it does echo stereotypes of the past, of the type "non-white natives = savages".
Like I said, it's not huguely problematic - I have an Indian friend who loves the movie for all its ridiculousness. But it is understandable if Indians might find it offensive.
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[deleted]
2 years ago
Other cultures on the planet tend to be and can be completely different from the cultures we know of in our local region of the world, so they could come across as unusual, repulsive or even downright abhorrent. It's actually part of the charm of a worldwide community that evolved over centuries with regions of the world not know what others did or what their way of life was. I think that's why tourists travel the world, to see these new (to them), interesting and "exotic" cultures first-hand.
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