Mostly in India people are vegetarian. Actually the form of vegetarianism practiced by most of them is partial. Only a small percentage follow true vegetarianism.
The word vegetarianism is defined by Wikipedia in the following manner : it is the practice of a diet that excludes all animal, including poultry, game, fish, shellfish or crustacea, and slaughter by-products.
Mostly the Indians follow lacto vegetarian: where along with vegetable one can also take milk, honey and other dairy products. This is because Cow is considered scared in Hindu religion, thus the milk is consumed assuming cow to be sacred mother.
Beside this many Indians also prefer to take flesh occasionally. This type of vegetarianism is actually semi-vegetarian. There are many other varieties of semi-vegetarianism.
However certain class of Hindu follow Su vegetarianism : in this apart from being Lacto veg one does not eat onions, garlic, scallions, leeks and shallots. Mostly the people who follow Yoga philosophy, they follow this. Why ?? Because the aim of Yoga is to attain a stable, desire-less and focused mind, and ultimately join the soul with God. Eating these things make the focusing of mind difficult and also makes the controlling of desires difficult. Thus this is practiced by them.
There is another related term Fruitarianism : It is a diet of only fruit, nuts, seeds, and other plant matter that can be gathered without harming the plant. This is mostly practiced by people following Jainism. Some times Hindus also follow this occasionally. They follow it during the times of fast.
Whatever the kind of vegetarianism one follows, the reason for following them can be related to morality, religion, culture, ethics, aesthetics, environment, society, economy, politics, taste, or health.
Now you must wondering why I’m talking about all this ? The reason is that I’m a Hindu and practice Yoga philosophy. Thus I’m a Su Veg but sometimes on days of fast I also follow Fruitarianism. Presently I’m living in Italy. Practicing these are really difficult in places where majority of people are non-veg. Its difficult not because I don’t find lot of vegetables in supermarkets, but because the way I’m being treated by society.
Common remarks and words that I hear from public are : ” are you joking that you are veg ” , ” really ” , ” I will not be happy if I practice that ” etc. and the most extreme one : ” are you crazy ” .
Sometimes the criticism comes in an indirect way. Like many times it happen that I’m called for party by my friends, almost all the people going for party are non-veg with me the only exception who neither drinks alcohol nor eats meat. Thus it becomes quite difficult. Either I have to ask them to arrange for something veg for me which appears like asking for favor or I just make any reason that I would not be able to come but then this gives an impression that I’m not a very social person. This type of unspoken criticism hurts more.
Even when people do make something veg for me, they forget to exclude onions, garlic etc. Once I was called for small dinner party, where they made some veg stuff. The host were happy that I would be also coming for party while mostly I say no. I was also happy that I’m going to meet friends. However only when I reached there that I realized that the food contain onions and garlic, while the sweet dish contains eggs. I didn’t want to trouble them nor I wanted to make a joke of myself. Thus I decided to eat the food leaving the sweet dish. I felt bad that I had to violate the rules. But then I also felt happy that I made them feel good by joining them for dinner. 
Recently I had to go for a conference related to my research work. There they asked me while registering me for the conference, whether I’m vegetarian or vegan or follow some other. It was quite difficult to explain them the kind of diet I practice. And unfortunately at that time I didn’t have the knowledge of the different terms assigned to various categories of vegetarianism. Somehow I managed to explain them the restricted diet I follow. But after the conversation was finished I realized that almost everyone in the room was staring at me with wide open eyes.
There are many encounters like this through which I have to go. Just because that I’m veg and follow a restricted diet that I have to undergo an unspoken criticism. Practicing vegetarianism in a region where majority is non-veg, is considered abnormal.
