avatar
an incarnation of a deity on earth; usually mentioned in reference to Hinduism
ayah
a female servant or governess
beedi
a type of flavored cigarette, popular in India
Black Maria
the traditional English police van
dajjal
a false prophet in Islam
dhaba
an inexpensive highway diner
estancia
a large estate in Argentina
gazal
a type of elegiac poetry with a set structure
Hajj
the pilgrimage to Mecca, which all Muslims are required to make once during their lifetime (unless they are too ill or poor to do so)
kurta
a long, loose-fitting shirt worn in South Asia
manticore
a mythical creature with a human head, the body of a lion or tiger, and the tail of a serpent
panchayat
a council that governs a village or small town in India
pir
a Sufi mystic or religious leader
purdah
the system of concealing women from men, which includes modest clothing as well as physical separation in the home and the community
Satanic verses
a series of verses in the Qur'an that refer to Allah's daughters; they are a source of great controversy among Muslim scholars - some argue that they never existed at all, while others argue that they came from Satan, and that Mohammed quickly repudiated them
tiffin
lunch, or another light afternoon meal
turbot
a species of flatfish
untouchable
a reference to the lowest Indian caste; members of this caste were considered literally untouchable by members of higher castes, and were considered dirty and forced to live separately from others (Since 1950, India has made an effort to eradicate the caste system, although members of low castes still face discrimination in certain circles.)
zamindar
a landlord
zenana
an area - usually part of a house - reserved for women
