Jalsa
/ˈdʒʌl.sə/noun
A formal gathering, assembly, or convention, especially in South Asian Muslim communities.
Did you know?In Ahmadiyya Islam, Jalsa Salana is an annual religious convention whose name literally evokes people gathering together in a formal sitting or session.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Semitic
Proto-Semitic
*j-l-s
“To sit or be seated”
Classical Arabic
Arabic
jalasa
“He sat down or took a seat”
Classical Arabic
Arabic
jalsah
“A sitting, session, or gathering”
Medieval Persian
Persian
jalsa
“An assembly, courtly sitting, or formal gathering”
19th–20th Century
Urdu
jalsa
“A public meeting, political assembly, or religious gathering”
Modern English
English
jalsa
“A formal gathering or convention, especially in South Asian usage”