I watched CBB and noticed that both Jermaine & Shilpa, when they left, put their hands in the 'praying' position. I think that Jermaine is Islamic/Muslim & think Shilpa may be Hindu? What is the meaning of the symbolisim - please excuse my ignorance over this!!!!!!! Is it some sort of 'thank you'?
It is originally a Hindu gesture, as kempie has explained, but it has also been adopted by non-Hindus as a general all-purpose gesture suggesting gratitude and humility - and that is probably the context in which Jermaine used it.
Yes, a general-purpose greeting and sign of respect. A relaxed form of this gesture is raising one hand briefly to the chest with your fingers sort of curled over a bit, the equivalent, perhaps of tapping the brim of your Trilby instead of doffing it completely to a lady or gentleman.