Gestures

I’ve wondered if gestures are universal. I’ve wondered if hands movements or face expressions mean the same in different cultures or in far away countries. I think the answer is as easy as ambiguous: some gestures or grimaces mean the same and some of them not. Indians, usually, are very expressive people but I realize not all the gestures are common with ours. You can perfectly understand baggers asking you for money, when they outstretch their hands or point out their mouths and stomachs. But, on the other hand, for example, the shopkeeper in the photograph is not asking the man if he wants three kilos of fruits but he’s doing an Indian popular gesture which means something similar to “what do you want?” or “what’s the matter?” The man is answering with the same hands movement. You can read in it whatever you want.