Theme: Words related to India

From festivals, food, spices, sport, textiles, cinema, and monumental architecture, these nine answers explore the extraordinary cultural diversity of India, home to the Taj Mahal, one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.

9 themed words All 26 letters covered Vowels shown in gold Consonants hidden in blue
1
  O     A  
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  1. This word is associated with both a festival and a traditional dish.
  2. It is especially important in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu.
  3. The celebration is connected with the harvest and giving thanks.
  4. The dish of the same name is commonly prepared using rice.
Reveal answer
P O N G A L
Background information
Pongal is a major Tamil harvest festival celebrated particularly in Tamil Nadu. The name is also used for a traditional rice-based dish prepared in both savory and sweet forms.
2
    I     E  
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  1. This sport has an enormous following across India.
  2. It is played with a bat and ball between two teams.
  3. International matches can attract huge television audiences.
  4. India has won major global championships in this sport.
Reveal answer
C R I C K E T
Background information
Cricket is the most widely followed sport in India. The country has a hugely successful national team and a major professional league, and cricket plays a prominent role in Indian popular culture.
3
  A       O  
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  1. This prized ingredient comes from a flower.
  2. Only delicate threads are harvested for use as a spice.
  3. It adds a distinctive aroma and golden color to certain dishes.
  4. Kashmir is particularly associated with its cultivation in India.
Reveal answer
S A F F R O N
Background information
Saffron is a valuable spice obtained from the stigmas of the Crocus sativus flower. In India, Kashmir is particularly renowned for saffron cultivation, and the spice is used in dishes, sweets, and beverages.
4
  A     A   A  
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  1. This famous monument stands in Agra.
  2. White marble is central to its appearance.
  3. A Mughal emperor commissioned it in memory of his wife.
  4. It is India's representative among the New Seven Wonders of the World.
Reveal answer
T A J M A H A L
Background information
The Taj Mahal is a seventeenth-century marble mausoleum in Agra commissioned by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.
5
  A       E   I
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  1. This is a dish associated with Indian cuisine.
  2. It commonly combines a main ingredient with peppers, onions, and spices.
  3. Its preparation often involves stir-frying ingredients.
  4. It is frequently found on Indian restaurant menus.
Reveal answer
J A L F R E Z I
Background information
Jalfrezi is a style of curry in which ingredients are stir-fried with vegetables, chilies, and spices. Its modern forms are popular in Indian restaurants in India and abroad.
6
  I     A   O O
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  1. This dish is strongly associated with Goa.
  2. Its history reflects Portuguese influence on Indian cuisine.
  3. Vinegar is traditionally important to its flavor profile.
  4. Restaurant versions are often known for being spicy.
Reveal answer
V I N D A L O O
Background information
Vindaloo is a Goan dish whose origins reflect Portuguese culinary influence. The name and preparation evolved from a Portuguese meat dish involving wine and garlic, adapting in Goa with local ingredients, spices, and vinegar.
7
  E     I   E  
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  1. India has produced and traded these for thousands of years.
  2. Cotton, silk, weaving, dyeing, and printing are closely associated with them.
  3. Different regions developed distinctive patterns and techniques.
  4. They include fabrics used for clothing, furnishings, and decorative arts.
Reveal answer
T E X T I L E S
Background information
India has one of the world's richest textile traditions, including cotton and silk weaving, embroidery, block printing, resist dyeing, and many regional techniques. Indian textiles have been traded internationally for centuries.
8
  O         O O  
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  1. This term is associated with Indian cinema.
  2. Its center is Mumbai.
  3. Music and dance are prominent features of many of its productions.
  4. The name commonly refers to India's Hindi-language film industry.
Reveal answer
B O L L Y W O O D
Background information
Bollywood is the popular name for the Hindi-language film industry centered in Mumbai. It is one part of India's much larger multilingual film industry and is internationally known for its stars, music, dance, romance, and drama.
9
  U   U     I   A  
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  1. This towering historic monument is located in Delhi.
  2. It is constructed largely from red sandstone.
  3. Its construction began around the end of the twelfth century.
  4. It forms the centerpiece of a UNESCO-listed historic complex.
Reveal answer
Q U T U B M I N A R
Background information
Qutub Minar is a monumental tower in Delhi and part of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Qutb complex. Construction began under Qutb-ud-din Aibak and was continued by later rulers.

India Trivia

🕌 The Taj Mahal changes with the light.
The monument's white marble reflects changing daylight, giving it subtly different appearances from dawn through sunset.
🏏 Cricket is a cultural phenomenon.
Major cricket matches involving India can draw enormous audiences, and the sport has a presence ranging from international stadiums to informal neighborhood games.
🧵 Indian textiles have traveled the world.
For centuries, Indian cottons, silks, dyes, and printed fabrics were important international trade goods and influenced textile traditions far beyond South Asia.
🌾 Pongal celebrates the harvest.
The Tamil festival is associated with gratitude for the harvest, the sun, nature, and cattle, and its name is shared with a traditional rice dish.