month in the rainy season corresponding to June–JulyAshtamieighth day of the lunar fortnightAshwinautumn month corresponding to September–Octoberataiself-taught singer; tutoratalinflexible; unchangeableauliyaprotector, a person who has achieved sainthoodbaarimaker of leaf platesbahlitwo-wheeled covered cart pulled by oxenbahudaughter-in-lawBaisakhfirst Indian month, corresponding to April–Maybal kaandpart of the Ramayana dealing with the boyhood of Lord Ramabalushahisweetmeatbanjaranomadbaraatmarriage party of the bridegroom, comprising family and friendsbaradaria structure with twelve gatewaysbara maasapoetic form describing the feelings of a beloved separated from her lover through all twelve months of the yearBargadadeitybhabhiolder brother’s wifebhabhootsacred ashBhadonrainy month corresponding to August–SeptemberBhagatperson who abstains from meat and alcoholbiwiwifeBrahmaniwife of a brahminbrahmbhojritualistic feeding of Brahmins to get their blessingsbratareligious practice to carry out certain obligations so one can achieve divine blessings for the fulfilment of one or several desireschabutararaised platformChaithot and dry month corresponding to March–AprilChamartanner, cobblerchamarintanner womancharnamritaliterally, foot nectar; a mixture of milk, curd, ghee, sugar and honey, considered sacred, and used in the tending of idols and sacred objectschattycontainerChaudhurihigh-caste personchaudhurainwife of a chaudhurichauganpolochaukiwooden stool or plank; benchchaupaiquatrainchaupalvillage square; meeting placechautal‘four claps’, a particular style of singingcheladisciplechhakdaramshackle cartchopada gamechulhaearthen ovenchunridupatta; stolechurandigestivedadraform of musical compositionDarbar-e Aamcourt of public audienceDarbar-e Khaascourt of private audiencedarogapolice inspector or superintendent of tolls or of municipal or government departmentsdastarkhwancloth spread on the ground or a raised structure for laying out fooddhaampilgrimage siteDhanvantariphysician of the godsdharmatmaman of religion; spiritual gurudharmayudhholy war; crusadedholibundle of about two hundred paan leavesDiwan-e Aamhall of public audienceDiwan-e Khaashall of private audiencedolipalanquin, litterdomcremation worker; scavengerdomniwoman singer or dancer belonging to a caste that converted to Islam from the Hindu dom castedonacup made of dried leavesDrupadalso known as Yajnasena, the king of southern PanchalDurga Pathrecitation of the holy book of Durga. Chanting her name is known to ward off evil spirits and ghostsEkadashieleventh day of the lunar fortnight; some pious Hindus observe a fast on that daygajraflower garland worn by women on festive occasionsgarachmedicinal herbgaribpoorgathbornamedicinal herbgaunathe ceremony of a wife being taken to her husband’s homeGayatri MantraA hymn of twenty-four syllables chanted in the name of Goddess Savitri or Durgaghunghatveilgilli-dandaIndian tip-catgodaanthe Hindu practice of offering a cow to a Brahmin after the death of a family member. It was believed that by doing that the soul of the departed would find peace and go to heavengopismaidens of Vrindavan in love with Krishnagriha praveshhouse-warminggurumatawife of a teacher, treated like a motherhalvaisweet vendor; confectionerHanuman Chalisaforty verses in praise of Lord Hanumanhariraconcoction made from several ingredients such as ghee, jaggery, cumin, nuts, turmeric powder and dry ginger powder. It is part of the postnatal diet of a woman which provides her wholesome nutritionhavan kundsacred pit where sacrificial fires are litIbn-e-SinaAvicenna, a Persian polymathidgahprayer ground where Muslims gather for the Eid congregationilakaregion; estateimartisweetmeatIsm-e AazamMuslim prayer to ward off eviljagirfeudal land grant under the jagirdari system to officials during the Mughal period. Tenants were supposed to be under the servitude of the jagirdarjagirdarholder of a jagirjanaabsirjaneyusacred thread worn from adolescence by Hindu males of the upper three community groupsJanmashtamifestival that celebrates the birth of Krishnajanwasatemporary dwelling for a marriage partyJauharcustom of collective self-immolation by Rajput women to save themselves from dishonourJeth, Jaishtasecond month of the Hindu calendar corresponding to May–JuneKaachhicommunity of market gardeners, a member of the Kaachhi communitykaansSaccharum spontaneum, a perennial grass growing up to three metres in height with spreading rhizomatous rootskachcharawkachnara tree, also known as orchid tree, camel’s foot tree and mountain ebonyKaharmember of Hindu sub-caste whose duties include carrying palanquins and drawing waterkaharinwoman Kaharkakauncle; near-and-dear acquaintanceKaala Paanilit. black water; Cellular Jailkamandalan oblong water pot made of a dry gourd, metal, wood or clay, usually with a handle and sometimes with a spout. Hindu ascetics often use it for storing drinking waterkanthiornament like chokerkanyadaanritual of giving away a daughter in marriagekarhabanglekarhaipanKayasthamembers of the scribe caste, traditionally known as keepers of public records and accounts, writers, and administrators of the statekesarsaffron plantkhaddarhomespun cloth, popularized by Mahatma Gandhikhangarmember of a semi-tribal community who earned livelihood by carpentrykharauclogs; wooden footwearkhasdaanportmanteau, betel dish or box with coverkhudkashtland cultivated by ownerkhusfragrant grass; khus coolers made of sweet-smelling herbs and hung like a screen or mat over windows and doors for the natural cooling of air used in Indiakolhuoil press drawn by bullockskoslength of approximately three milesKshatriyawarrior castekulvadhuhousewifekundanfine goldKunwarhonorary title traditionally associated with feudal Rajputs, such as the son of a rana or thakurKunwarmonth of Kartik in the Hindu calendar roughly corresponding to October–NovemberKurmiHindu agricultural caste in Indialagaanrent payable or accruing on landlaganauspicious moment for performing a sacred task; horoscopelambardarvillage headman who collects revenue and acts as a link between the government and the peopleleelainscrutable ways of Godlotasmall round metal potMaaghtenth month of the Hindu calendar roughly corresponding to January–Februarymaatamother; goddessmahtabspecial kind of firecrackersmakohSolanum nigrrummaktabschoolmalidasweetsmalingardener’s wifemalkinmistressmamumaternal uncle (mother’s brother)mandaptemporary pavilion erected to conduct the marriage ceremonymansabdarmember of the imperial bureaucracy of the Mughal empire in India. The mansabdars governed the empire and commanded its armies in the emperor’s namemarsiyaan elegymaryadahonourmauzasite, place or villageMeghdootvariation of Meghadutam, a play by Kalidasamehfillively assembly of people, get-together; musical soiréemirzaijacket of coarse clothmemwhite womanmistriworker, generally a fittermohalonging for worldly attachmentsmujranautch performancemukhtarpleadermukhtar-e aamrepresentative who holds a general power of attorney of the zamindarmundantonsuremunimaccountantmunnalittle darling, children are commonly addressed as ‘munna’ (for a boy) or ‘munni’ (for a girl)munnprecious gem found inside a snake. According to popular belief, a snake possessing the gem takes it out and goes sniffing around for food. On returning, it swallows the gem. Picking up the gem, which is a risky endeavour that might cost a person his life, will lead to being blessed with untold wealthnaginfemale cobranainsukhfine muslinna-mehrama stranger before whom a Muslim woman is forbidden to appear unveilednazranaofferingneochchawarward off evilojhasorcereroodaloe wood; emits fragrance when it burnspaanigrahanmarriagepakwaanspecial kind of fried sweets prepared on festivalsPanch Parameshwar ki jailong live the panchayatpanditayinfemale counterpart of a pandit; wife of a panditpapihabrain fever birdpativratawife who attains spiritual status through devotion to her husbandpattalleaf plateParvezemperor of Persiapasitoddy extractorspatwarivillage recorderpayismeasure of landpeshkaarofficer in the courtPhaguneleventh month in the Hindu calendar roughly corresponding to February–Marchphulkaplain rotipind daanreligious ritual performed to bring salvation to the departed soul. Offering the ashes of the deceased into the
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