The Age of Shiva (II)

An Indian wedding in Kuala Lumpur. Photo taken while Adrian was playing in the Causeway tournament (Johor Bahru, 2008)

Hanuman+s = proper name of a monkey-chief; a semi-divine monkey-like creature, to whom extraordinary powers were attributed in legend; an East Indian monkey

Hooka+h,s = a pipe for smoking, of Eastern origin, having a long flexible tube, the smoke being drawn through water contained in a vase, to which the tube and the bowl are attached; the narghile of India.

Kameez+es = a long tunic that men and women wear in South Asian countries over churidars and salwar

Kabaddi+s = a game popular in northern India and Pakistan played between two teams of nine boys or young men.

Kohl+s = a powder which is used to darken the eyelids (eyebrows, etc.)

Kulfi+s = a popular South Asian dessert made with boiled milk. It comes in many flavours, including pistachio, malai, mango, cardamom, saffron, the more traditional flavors, as well as newer variations like apple, orange, peanut, and avocado. Where western ice creams are whipped with air or overrun, kulfi contains no air; it is solid dense frozen milk. Therefore kulfi is not ice cream. It is a related, but distinct, category of frozen dairy based dessert.

Lakh = one hundred thousand: a. of things in general; occas. used for an indefinite number; b. spec. of coins, esp. in a lac of rupees.

Mangalsutra = an Indian and Nepali symbol of Hindu marriage, consisting of a gold ornament strung from a yellow thread, a string of black beads or a gold chain. It is comparable to a Western wedding ring, and is worn by a married woman until her husband's death.

Masjid+s = a Muslim place of worship (mosque)

Mehndi+s = the henna plant; the art, skill, or practice of applying temporary henna tattoos, spec. as part of a bride or groom's preparations for a wedding; such a tattoo.

Memsahib+s = a European woman living in colonial India

Mughal+s = each of the successive heads of the Muslim dynasty founded by Zah r-ud-D n Mu ammad B bur (1483-1530), which ruled an empire covering a large part of South Asia from the 16th to the 19th centuries. Mongolian; spec. of or relating to the Moguls and their empire in India; designating an artefact produced during the time of the Moguls.

Mullah+s = chiefly in Turkish-, Persian-, and Urdu-speaking regions: a person who is learned in Islamic theology and law; a Muslim cleric.

Nawab+s = a Muslim official who acted as a deputy ruler or viceroy of a province or district under the Mughal empire; any governor of a town or district, or person of high status. A wealthy retired employee of the former colonial service in India.