that's a complete Indian meal served on a plate with separate depressions in the dish for different parts of the meal. Sometimes it's a platter with lots of little dishes.

http://www.indickarestaurace.com/photos/Chicken%20Thali_320.jpg

http://blog.nj.com/southjerseylife/2008/01/Thalis.jpg

Neil

Information supplied free of charge by NITS(tm) International Culinary Division because Man cannot have too much curry. even if it's only pictures.