Transcript Nectar in a Sieve: Digital Indian Vocabulary Dictionary

Nectar in a Sieve Indian
Vocabulary
|©
Plants & Foods
Beautification
Miscellaneous Culture
Nectar in a Sieve Indian
Vocabulary
Plants & Foods:
• Brinjals
• Chakli
• Dhal
• Ghee
• Jaggery
Nectar in a Sieve Indian
Vocabulary
Beautification:
• Dhoti
• Golsu
• Kohl
• Kum-Kum
Nectar in a Sieve Indian
Vocabulary
Miscellaneous Culture:
• Beedi
• Maidan
• Peons
• Bulbul Tara
• Namaskar
• Zemindar
• Chowkidar
• Ollock
• Godown
• Pandal
• Jutka
Brinjal
The eggplant, aubergine, melongene or
brinjal is a plant of the Nightshades family. It
bears a fruit of the same name, commonly
used as a vegetable in cooking. As a
nightshade, it is closely related to the tomato
and potato and is native to Nepal, India,
Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. It
grows 16 to 57 in tall, with large coarsely
lobed leaves that are 4–8 in long and 2–4 in
broad. Semi-wild types can grow much
larger, to 7 ft with large leaves over 12 in long
and 6 in broad. The stem is often spiny. The
flowers are white to purple, with a five-lobed
corolla and yellow stamens. The fruit is
fleshy, less than 3 cm in diameter on wild
plants, but much larger in cultivated forms.
The fruit is botanically classified as a berry,
and contains numerous small, soft seeds,
which are edible, but are bitter.
Chakli
Murukku (Tamil: முறுக்கு, or Muruku
in Telugu or Murkoo), known as Chakli in
Marathi and Kannada and Chakri in
Gujarati, is a savory snack popular in India,
Sri Lanka, Fiji, and elsewhere among
ethnic Indian populations. Murukku is
believed to have originated in Tamil Nadu,
with the town of Manapparai best known
for it. Murukku is typically made from a
mixture of urad and rice flour, salt, and
flavourings such as chili, asafoetida,
ajawain, or cumin. The mixture is made
into a batter, mechanically extruded,
formed into a spiral or coil, and fried to a
crisp. Murukku can also be rolled into a flat
ribbon (ribbon murukku) or shaped by hand
(kai murukku).
Dhal
Dhal (also spelled Dahl, Dal, or Daal) (
Hindi: दाल Dāl, Nepali: दाल Daal, Bengali:
ডাল Dāl, Kannada: ಬೆೇಳೆ Bēḷe, Malayalam:
Parippu, Marathi: डाळ Ḍāḷ, Tamil: பருப்பு
Paruppu, Telugu: పపపు Pappu, Dāl, Urdu:
,‫دال‬Gujarati:દાળ) "Daal" is a preparation of
pulses (dried beans, lentils etc.) which
have been stripped of their outer hulls and
split. It also refers to the thick, generally
bland stew prepared from, a mainstay of
Indian, Nepali, Pakistani, and Bangladeshi
cuisine. It is regularly eaten with rice and
vegetables in Southern India, and with both
rice and roti (wheat-based flat bread)
throughout Northern India & Pakistan. Dal
is a mainstay in South Asian vegetarian
cooking, since it provides the requisite
proteins for a balanced diet.
Ghee
Ghee is a class of clarified butter that
originated in South Asia, and is commonly
used in South Asian (Indian, Bangladeshi
and Pakistani), Middle Eastern (Levantine
and Egyptian) and Somali cuisine. Ghee,
also known as Clarified Butter in Anglo
countries, is made by simmering unsalted
butter in a cooking vessel until all water
has boiled off and the milk solids, or
protein has settled to the bottom. The
cooked and clarified butter is then spooned
off to avoid disturbing the milk solids on the
bottom of the pan. Unlike butter, ghee can
be stored for extended periods without
refrigeration, provided it is kept in an
airtight container to prevent oxidation and
remains moisture-free. Texture, color, or
taste of ghee depends on the source of the
milk from which the butter was made and
the extent of boiling.
Jaggery
Jaggery (also transliterated as jaggeree)
is a traditional unrefined non-centrifugal
sugar consumed in Asia, Africa, Latin
America, and the Caribbean. It is a
concentrated product of cane juice without
separation of the molasses and crystals,
and can vary from golden brown to dark
brown in color. It contains up to 50%
sucrose, up to 20% invert sugars, moisture
content of up to 20%, and the remainder
made up of other insoluble matter such as
ash, proteins and bagasse fibers. Jaggery
is comprised of the products of both
sugarcane and the palm tree. All types of
the sugar come in blocks or pastes of
solidified concentrated sugar syrup heated
to 200°C. Traditionally, the syrup is made
by boiling raw sugarcane juice or palm sap
in a large shallow round-bottom vessel.
Dhoti
The ढॊति Dhotī or डॊति Doti in Hindi, is
the traditional men's garment in the Indian
subcontinent. It is a rectangular piece of
unstitched cloth, usually around 7 yards
long, wrapped around the waist and the
legs, and knotted at the waist. The dhoti is
considered formal wear all over the
country. Apart from all government and
traditional family functions, the dhoti is also
considered acceptable at country clubs
and at other establishments that enforce
strict formal dress codes. The same is true
across the Indian subcontinent, particularly
in Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and the
Maldives. In many of these countries, the
garment has become something of a
mascot of cultural assertion, being greatly
favored by politicians and cultural figures.
Golsu
Golsu, or Payal pronounced (pie 'al) is a
popular Indian name that means anklets in
Hindi. A payal is an Indian accessory,
traditionally worn by women, on their feet.
It's intricacies differ from region to region
across the country. Originally made of gold
or silver, they have changed over time to
accommodate the trends and are also
found made of threads of different fibers,
plastic and leather. While originally they
were made of only pure metals, with
intricate designs carved in them, or 'filigri'
work, they are also found with semiprecious and precious stones embedded in
them. They would also have tiny bells
hanging from them, that made a sound as
the wearer moved. Used in different forms
of dance, they are similar to 'ghungroos'
but quieter, and perhaps more "delicate".
Kohl
Kohl is a cosmetic similar to mascara. It
is typically made by grinding galena (lead
sulfide) and other ingredients. It is used
predominantly by women (but also some
men and children) in the Middle East,
North Africa, the Horn of Africa and South
Asia to darken the eyelids and as mascara
for the eyelashes. It was originally used as
protection against eye ailments. There was
also a belief that darkening around the
eyes would protect one from the harsh rays
of the sun. India's oldest caste, the koli,
used kohl as a cosmetic. In addition,
mothers would apply kohl to their infants'
eyes soon after birth. Some did this to
"strengthen the child's eyes", and others
believed it could prevent the child from
being cursed by the evil eye.
Kum-Kum
KumKum is a powder used for social
and religious markings in Hinduism. It is
either made from turmeric or saffron. The
turmeric is dried and powdered with a bit of
slaked lime, which turns the rich yellow
powder into a red color. The kumkum is an
auspicious symbol. When a girl or a
married woman visits a house, it is a sign
of respect to offer them kumkum when they
leave. However, it is not offered to widows.
When visiting a Hindu temple, married
women from southern India usually dip
their ring finger in yellow turmeric powder,
and apply a dot on their neck. Men,
women, girls, and boys apply a dot on their
forehead of red turmeric powder, also
when visiting a temple or during a pooja. In
most of India, everyday, married women
apply red kumkum in front of their parting
on their forehead as a symbol of marriage.
Beedi
A beedi (pronounced /ˈbiːdiː/, from Hindi बीडी,
also spelled bidi) is a thin, South Asian
cigarette made of 0.2-0.3 grams of tobacco
flake wrapped in a tendu (temburini) leaf and
secured with colored thread at both ends.
Circa 2000, the beedi accounted for over 30%
of Indian tobacco consumption and were more
popular than cigarettes, although they deliver
more nicotine, carbon monoxide and tar as
well as carrying a greater risk of oral cancers.
Beedi-rolling is a cottage industry, and is
typically done by women in their homes. Due
to their relatively low cost, the beedi has long
been popular among the poor in South Asia
and are called the "poor man's cigarette".
Bulbul Tara
The Bulbul Tara (Bulbul Tarang) or
Indian Banjo is a string instrument from
India and Pakistan. Its name literally
means "waves of nightingales". The
instrument employs two sets of strings, one
set for drone, and one for melody. The
melody strings run under a key plate with
keys similar to those of a piano or more
often, typewriter. Depressing the keys as
the strings are plucked or strummed
activates stops on the key plate which
shorten the strings and changes their pitch.
The melody strings are commonly tuned to
the same note, or in octaves, while the
drone strings are tuned to the 1st and 5th
of the melody strings. Tuned in this
manner, the instrument is uni-tonic, or
unable to modulate to new keys. The
bulbul tarang is most commonly played as
accompaniment to singing.
Chowkidar
chow·ki·dar (plural chow·ki·dars)
noun
Definition:
somebody who keeps watch: somebody
employed to guard an area or building
Godown
Godown – Noun:
A servant’s quarters. (Living/working space)
Jutka
The Jutka is similar to the eka, is a form
of wheel-less transportation involving a
light carriage with a small canopy serving
the purpose of a cabin. Commonly, men
have been employed as carriers for this
vehicle from the most ancient times. The
camel, the mule, the horse, the bullock, the
buffalo, yak, and the donkey, have also
been employed since prehistoric times for
riding, carriages, heavy burdens, and for
ploughing field soil. The difference between
the female and male yak, and the bull or
cow is that they carry from two to three
maunds. These animals are sure-footed,
hardy, docile, and are used frequently for
riding in the snow.
Maidan
Maidan [mæˈdɑːn] noun
(Social Science / Human Geography)
(In Pakistan, India, etc.) - An open space
used for meetings, sports, etc.
Namaskar
Namaskar, or Namaste [nʌmʌsˈteː], is a
common spoken greeting or salutation
used in Nepal and India. It has multireligious or else common usage where it
may simply mean "I bow to you". The word
is derived from Sanskrit namas, to bow,
obeisance, reverential salutation, and te,
"to you“. When spoken to another person,
it is commonly accompanied by a slight
bow made with hands pressed together,
palms touching and fingers pointed
upwards, in front of the chest. This gesture,
called Añjali Mudrā, can also be performed
wordlessly and carries the same meaning.
Ollock
An Ollock is a measurement of weight.
The Ollock is equivalent to 12J cubic
inches :
8 Ollocks = 1 Measure or Puddy.
8 Puddies = 1 Maroal.
400 Marcals = 1 Garce.
(20 Ollocks are equivalent to 1 English
Gallon.)
1 Gallon = 20 Ollocks
Pandal
A pandal is a structure, either temporary
or permanent, in a religious context.
In Hinduism, it is a temporary structure set
up to venerate the goddess Durga during
Durga Puja. Pandal (mandat in Burmese)
also refers to platforms from which people
splash water during the Buddhist festival
Thingyan. A pandal can also be a
ceremonial gate, built to welcome visitors.
Peons
Peon – Noun
(in India and Sri Lanka)
1. A messenger, attendant, or orderly.
2. A foot soldier or police officer.
Zemindar
A Zemindar or Zamindar was an official
employed by the Mughals to collect taxes
from peasants. The Zamindari System
used the existing structure of the bhuiyan
land tenure system of the pre-Mughal era
by the Mughals as a key economic and
political institution to implement the shariabased Islamic rule over the "zimmis“. The
practice was continued under British rule
with colonial landholders. After
independence, however, the system was
abolished in India and East Pakistan
(present-day Bangladesh); it is still current
in modern Pakistan.
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