The Silver Anklet (26 page)
| Aloo-puri | Potatoes and fried bread, a popular Indian snack. |
| Ambala | A district in the state of Haryana, India. |
| Bhiwani | District of Haryana. |
| Biryani | A South Asian dish made primarily of rice, spices, meat and/or vegetables. |
| Choli | A fitted blouse with short sleeves. |
| Didi | Elder sister. |
| Dupatta | A long scarf that is part of the Indian outfit and has long been a symbol of modesty. |
| Ghaggar | Main seasonal river of Haryana, an Indian state. |
| Ghaghra | A long, flowing skirt reaching to the calves or ankles. |
| Guava | Fruit that grows in the tropics. |
| Hissar | District of Haryana. |
| Kalesar | Forest Kalesar Forest, 150 kilometres from Chandigarh, is a sal forest in Shivalik Hills, a name given to the foothills of the Himalayas. |
| Kebab | Seasoned, minced meat wrapped around a stick (to maintain its shape) and then cooked. It resembles a hot dog when cooked and slid off the stick. |
| Koel | A bird that is a member of the cuckoo family. |
| Kumbhkaran | One of the brothers of Ravana, the antagonist in the famous epic, Ramayana. Kumbhkaran â through a boon granted by Brahma â slept for six months at a time, waking only to eat vast quantities of food. |
| Kurta-pajama | A loose shirt falling just above or at the knees and normally worn with loose trousers with a drawstring waistband. |
| Laddoos | Indian sweet made of flour and a variety of other ingredients, rolled into a ball and dipped in sugar syrup or has jaggery added to it. |
| Lord | Ganesh Elephant-headed god who is also considered the god of knowledge and the remover of obstacles. |
| Machan | A vantage point/seat built high up in the trees to spot game, namely tigers. |
| Mela | Fair/carnival. |
| Mithai | Indian sweets. |
| Mojri | Also known as pagrakhi, is a traditional ornamental leather footwear originating from Rajasthan. |
| Mushika | Vâhana or a Hindu vehicle, sometimes called a mount, is an animal, mythical entity closely associated with a particular deity in Hindu mythology. Ganesh's mount was a mouse named Mushika. |
| Papads | A wafer-thin flatbread made of lentils, chickpea, black gram, or rice flour. |
| Raat-ki-Raani | A shrub that goes by the botanical name of Cestrum Nocturnum. Its light-green flowers open at night and emit an intoxicating fragrance. |
| Rakhi | Holy thread tied by a sister on the wrist of her brother. The brother in return offers a gift to his sister and vows to look after her for as long as he lives. |
| Rasmalai | An Indian sweet where flattened balls of paneer (milk solids) are soaked in sweetened milk. (My favourite!) |
| Ritha | Also known as the soap-nut tree (Sapindus mukorossi) is one of the most important trees of Asia. The fruit has medicinal value. The Ayurvedic system of medicine uses it to treat common colds, epilepsy, and nausea. |
| Roti | Unleavened flatbread. |
| Saffron | A spice derived from the dried stigma of the flower of the saffron crocus. |
| Sal tree | Tall tree (Shorea Robusta) that provides good quality timber. |
| Shabash/Wah-wah | Expressions of praise. |
| Shalwar | A loose trouser with a drawstring waistband normally worn only by women. |
| Tandoor | Cylindrical clay oven used for cooking and baking. The food is cooked over hot charcoal or a wooden fire. Temperatures in a tandoor can reach 480°C (900°F). |
| Thali | A round tray made of steel or silver with smaller bowls or compartments in which a variety of foods are served. |
| Tulsi | This is a sacred plant of India (Ocimum Sanctum). The reddish-purple flowers are used in Ayurveda to treat cold, fever, cough, and bronchitis. |
| Vark or Varak | A foil of very pure silver and used for garnishing Indian sweets. The silver is edible, but flavourless. |
M
y heartfelt thanks to Uma Krishnaswami for her tough yet brilliant mentoring. Of all the advice she gave me, one piece is indelibly etched in my mind; when in doubt go deep instead of wide.
Rahul, Aftab, and Coby, you've been so patient and learned to ignore my crankiness when I'm writing, which is always. Thanks!
Mom, you're always there, supporting and encouraging me. Thank you!
Dad, you'll always be remembered for starting me down this path.
A warm hug to all my friends, especially Marsha Skrypuch and Helaine Becker.
Thanks to all the Kidcritters who continue to share selflessly, give useful suggestions, and nurture newcomers to the critique group.
And finally, thank you to the wonderful team at Dundurn, but especially to my patient and excellent editor, Shannon Whibbs.
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