A pink coloured candy which tastes like paan. It was really popular back in the 80's and was the main market competitor of Paan Pasand.

Originally derived from the digga pronunciation of the English word "love", it has now wholly eclipsed the English word in usage and meaning.

Now it is a Kannada slang word meaning "romantic intent" but carrying more suggestive overtones. Road-side Romeos distinguish this word from a similar yet orthogonal word dau which means "lustful intent" and is more anatomical in execution.

The gap between lau and dau is the saga of frustruated youth in Bangalore.

The 26th of January is "Republic Day" in India, and generally is a day to commemorate the adoption of the Indian Constitution by the whole country on the same day in 1950. Much soul-searching still goes on about whether the ideals in the constitutional preamble are lived up to, 63 or so years later, but we leave that more complex discussion for other sofa sadhus. It's a public holiday, after all, so let's all chillax.

Republic Day is celebrated with great pomp in Dilli, where an impressive parade takes place around the India Gate area, featuring floats, military men and women, and impressive mustachioed baton-twirlers, some even wearing kilts. As an eng bai, it would thrill the heart of this definer to see elephants, camels, and horses pass by during the parade, along with tanks and jeeps and colourful representatives from all over the country.

Now of course, a not-so-very eng bai might decide that watching the parade on TV makes him feel morose and lonely and pensive, given all that the country has been through recently. So then he decides that watching it while sipping IMFL would really be living well, except he then realizes that Republic Day is a state-mandated Dry Day, so no such luck. So he watches the parade feeling morose and lonely and pensive, and tries hard to remember when the pageantry of it all would sweep him away.

In adversity, everything takes a bad turn. Literally means, "the dough is runny in poverty." Atta is the word for dough, typically used to make rotis and chappatis.

An important day on the Indian calendar, Makar Sankranti (also known as Makar Sankrant) signifies the start of the harvest season in India, though it is celebrated in many ways all over the country. This day marks the gradual increase of daytime after winter, and is therefore considered to be the start of a new auspicious period. In Punjab, the eve of Makar Sankranti is celebrated as Lohri.

This harvest festival goes by many names in different parts of the subcontinent, and in each region it is celebrated with distinct rituals and traditions. (See Wikipedia for details of customs followed in various states on this day) The most famous image of Makar Sankranti has come to be the thousands of colourful kites that are flown by Gujaratis all over Gujarat to mark the occassion.

Etymology : 'Makar' refers to the zodiac sign of Capricorn. Thus, Makar Sankranti denotes the changing path of the sun into the house of Capricorn.

useless, incompetent, object of ridicule

Most indian children have uniforms in school, so they cannot fully express their ishtyle. Most children also never buy new clothes, they get hand-me downs from Amreeka relatives. So on a day they happen to wear something new - their friends will give them a pinch or a "new pinch". I have no idea why!

to denote a shirt or pant which is gaudy/flashy. Also when the combination is horribly bad...like a peppermint pink shirt and a green pant.

Friskiness. Spunky energy, often used when seen in the underdog.
A versatile word, chool can be used in a variety of contexts, non-sexual and sexual.