Kahkaran

Kahkaran is a term primarily used in Urdu and Persian, and occasionally in related languages influenced by Persian, to refer to the Milky Way galaxy. It literally translates to "galaxy" or "the galaxy." The word is derived from kahk (کاه), meaning "straw," and the suffix -aran (-کران), implying "scattered" or "strewn." Thus, Kahkaran describes the Milky Way as a scattering of stars resembling strewn straw. This visual association likely arose from observations of the faint, diffuse band of light stretching across the night sky caused by the unresolved stars of our galaxy.

The term is often used in literature, poetry, and astronomical contexts to describe the Milky Way. While "Milky Way" is becoming more common due to the increasing influence of English and scientific terminology, Kahkaran retains a poetic and cultural significance within Urdu and Persian-speaking communities.