Across
- 3. "Action", "work", or "deed."
- 5. A decorative dot or piece of jewelry worn on the center of the forehead, between the eyebrows, by women in the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia.
- 8. A 5,000-year-old traditional Indian holistic medicine system.
- 10. A prominent Indo-Aryan language written in the Devanagari script, which serves as an official language of India and a lingua franca for the northern region. It means "of Hind" or "Indian," or "belonging to Hind (India)."
- 12. A leavened, oven-baked flatbread.
- 13. The informal name for the Hindi-language film industry based in Mumbai (formerly Bombay), India.
- 16. A traditional cylindrical clay or earth oven used for baking and cooking.
- 18. A traditional garment from the Indian subcontinent, consisting of a long, unstitched piece of cloth - typically 5 to 9 yards long - draped around the body, often with one end wrapped around the waist and the other draped over the shoulder.
- 19. Known as Jeera, or Jira, in India and refers to the dried, aromatic seeds of the Cuminum cyminum plant.
- 20. A mixture of spices used in Indian cooking, commonly appearing as a dry spice blend or a wet paste.
- 21. A variety of long grain-grain, slender, and highly aromatic rice originating from the Indian subcontinent, specifically the Himalayan foothills.
- 22. A fresh, non-aged, non-melting soft cheese common in India cuisine, made by curdling milk with an acid like lemon juice or vinegar.
- 24. The community kitchen in a Sikh Gurdwara (temple) that serves free, vegetarian meals to all visitors, regardless of religion, caste, gender, or social status.
- 26. A Sanskrit derived Indian greeting meaning, "I bow to you."
- 27. A Westernized, colonial term used to describe a diverse range of Indian, South Asia, and Southeast Asian dishes featuring meat, vegetables, or legumes in a spiced, often sauce-heavy base.
- 28. A savory, spicy, or sweet condiment of Indian origin, traditionally made by grinding fresh herbs, fruits, or vegetables.
Down
- 1. A vibrant yellow-orange spice derived from the rhizome (underground stem) of Curcuma longa, a plant in the ginger family (Zingiberaceae) native to the Indian subcontinent.
- 2. Dried, split pulses - such as lentils, peas, and beans.
- 4. To yoke, join, unite, or concentrate.
- 6. A major Hindu "Festival of Lights" signifying the victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance.
- 7. Primarily known as kesar in India and refers to the dried, red stigma of the Crocus sativus flower, used as a precious spice, coloring agent, and fragrance.
- 9. Meat slaughtered via a single, swift cut to the neck, ensuring blood drains completely.
- 11. A popular South Asian savory snack consisting of a friend or baked crispy pastry, typically triangular or cone-shaped, filled with spiced ingredients.
- 14. A traditional Indian yogurt-based drink that originated in the Punjab region, typically made by blending yogurt (curd) with water, spices, or fruit.
- 15. A vibrant Hindu spring festival, widely known as the "Festival of Colors" or 'Festival of Love."
- 17. A foundational Indian concept, derived from Sanskrit meaning "to hold" or "support," representing cosmic order, righteousness, duty, law, and virtue.
- 19. A highly aromatic spice derived from the seeds of plants in the Elettaria and Amomum genera, native to India and Indonesia.
- 22. A Hindy ceremonial act of worship, prayer, or reverence offered to a deity, Spirit, or divine aspect, often in the symbolic form of an idol (murti) of symbolic representation.
- 23. An ancient Indo-Aryan language, considered the sacred "language of the gods" (Deva-Vani) and the primary liturgical language of Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism.
- 25. A type of clarified butter originating from South Asia, made by simmering butter from cow or buffalo milk to remove water and milk solids.