In the name of full disclosure, I am not an expert on Hindi, India, or literature. The explanations you find here are the compilation of what I can find on a given term or a phrase. If you see a mistake or if you would like to contribute, please let me know by posting a comment. Thank you.

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Salwaar-Kameez

"... and back-to-back with them sat Lata and Malati--both dressed in salwaar-kameez..." (p. 25)


Salwaar-kameez is traditional clothing that has been worn by both men and women in South Asia for at least 2000 years. In India the garment is only worn by women.

Salwaars (or salwars, or shalwars) are pajama-like pants that are wider at the top and narrow near the bottom of the leg.


Kameez is a long shirt with side seems often left open below the waste for ease of movement.

The garment was originally only worn in the North of India, but it has become popular across the country as it provides a convenient alternative to a sari and flatters most body types.

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Monday, June 8, 2009

Bulbul

"... 'You have a nice voice. Like a bulbul.' ..." (p. 25)

The word “bulbul” may come from Persian or Turkish word for "nightingale". Bulbuls are a family of songbirds that includes approximately 130 species. Most of bulbuls live in Africa and tropical Asia. These birds are short-necked and slender, with long tails and short rounded wings. Their plumage colors vary widely between the species. Bulbuls are highly vocal, but their calls may be deemed unattractive, sometimes described as “nasal” or “gravelly.” Some species, such as Red-whiskered Bulbul and Red-vented Bulbul, were once popular cage birds in parts of India.

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