sabha

Sabha is a word of Sanskrit origin meaning "assembly" or "meeting." In modern South Asian usage, the term denotes a formal gathering, council, or organized body. In classical literature, sabha appears as the concept of an assembly, for example in the Sabha Parva, the Book of the Assembly in the Mahabharata.

In India, sabha is used for various legislative and deliberative bodies. Lok Sabha, the House of the People, and Rajya Sabha, the Council of States, are the two houses of the national Parliament; Vidhan Sabha refers to a state legislative assembly. Beyond government, sabha also designates cultural or religious gatherings and, in many languages, refers to a club or association that hosts events.

In the arts, a sabha often denotes a venue or sponsoring organization for concerts, especially in Carnatic music, where "sabha concerts" or "music sabhas" are common in major cities.

Geography: Sabha is also the name of a city in southwestern Libya, serving as the capital of the Sabha District. It lies on the edge of the Sahara and has historically been an important trading and oasis region in Fezzan.

Other uses reflect the broad meaning of assembly; the term appears in various place names and organizational titles across South Asia and North Africa.