Thali is the Indian name for a round platter used to serve food. Thali is also used to refer to an Indian-style meal made up of a selection of various dishes which are served on a platter. A thali is traditionally eaten with fingers, and only with the finger of the right hand, specifically. Use your left hand only for pouring the curries onto the rice and to grasp the drinking glass.The rice sits in the center of the plate; you divide off a portion of the rice and place the different curries or vegetables on top of that portion .