Hospitality means general and friendly reception and entertainment of guests, invited or uninvited. It is a great quality of a human being to possess a sense of hospitality. It comes generally from one’s family tradition, or sometimes it is acquired by individuals born or trained with the feeling of compassion and self-sacrifice.
In the ancient society, hospitality used to be considered as a great virtue and refusal a great sin. Travelers from distant lands were offered warm reception with shelter and food for the night, even without knowing the stranger’s whereabouts.
Anyone, known or unknown, asking for shelter and food, was never refused inspire of the host’s natural poverty or any other inconvenience. Thus this noble virtue saves the travelers of long distances from insecurity, inconvenience and distress.
In the Western countries, hospitality is confined only to the known circle and that also in a limited way among close friends and near relatives. And that is held only in a formal way, hardly with hearty welcome or sincere service. The spirit of selfless service is rather wanting there. But in the east, hospitality is not rare today.