The Age of Shiva (III)

Paisa+n,s Paise (no-s) = in India, Pakistan, and Nepal: a monetary unit equal to one-hundredth of a rupee. In Bangladesh: a monetary unit equal to one-hundredth of a taka.

Paratha+s = a type of unleavened bread fried on a griddle in butter or ghee, and sometimes served with a filling.

Pipal+s = a fig tree from India

Pooja+h,s Puja+h,s = a religious ceremony, a ceremonial offering to a god; an act of private or public worship.

Purana+s = any of a class of works in Sanskrit verse (with occasional prose passages), comprising (mainly Hindu) myths, legends, history, and ritual.

Qawwali+s = a style of Muslim devotional music, now associated particularly with Sufis in Pakistan, characterized by a fervent, often improvisatory vocal delivery, accompanied on drums and harmonium. Also: a song in this style.

Sadhu+s = a holy man; a sage

Salwar(no s) Shalwar+s = loose trousers worn by both sexes in some South Asian countries, esp. those worn by women together with a kameez.

Sahib+a,s = a respectful title used by the natives of India in addressing an Englishman or other European (= ‘Sir’); in native use, an Englishman, a European.

Samosa+s = a triangular pastry fried in ghee or oil, containing spiced vegetables or meat.

Sanyasi+s = a Brahman in the fourth stage of his life; a wandering fakir or religious mendicant.

Sherwani+s = in the Indian sub-continent, a knee-length coat, buttoning to the neck, worn by men.

Talaq+s = in Muslim law: (a method of) divorce by the husband's mere verbal repudiation of his wife in a set form of words

Thali+s= (1) a gold pendant that is hung round the bride's neck as part of a South Indian wedding ceremony. (2) In India, a metal platter or flat dish on which food is served; a meal served on it.

Tilak+s = among Hindus, a mark on the forehead indicating caste, status, sectarian affiliation, etc., or worn simply as an ornament.

Zamindar+i,s,y Zemindar+i,s,y = formerly, a collector of the revenue from land held by a number of cultivators; subsequently, an Indian who held land for which he paid revenue direct to the British government.