A dastarkhan (Kazakh: дастарқан; [dɑstɑrqɑ́n], Kyrgyz: дасторкон dastorqon, Dari: dastarkhawan, Urdu: دسترخوان‎, Pashto: دسترخوان‎, Tajik: дасторхон, dastarkhān, Azerbaijani: dəstərxan, [dɑstorqón], Uzbek: dasturxon dasturxon [dasturxɒ́n]) is the name used across Central Asia to the traditional space where food is eaten. The term may refer to the tablecloth which is spread on the ground, floor, or table and is used as a sanitary surface for food, but it is also used more broadly to refer to the entire meal setting. It is part of traditional Central Asian cuisine. The term was introduced in South Asia by the Turkic invaders and conquerors from the Central Asia.