Plant Summary:
The name is derived because the leaves when crushed smells of garlic. The smell is because it contains sulphur compounds like alliin and allyl sulphides that the garlic has. This plant is a native to Amazon rainforests, but is grown widely in South India. The natives of Amazon use the leaves as a condiment [...]

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Lal Bagh is a Botanical Garden situated in South Banglaore, India. The garden was commissioned by the ruler of Mysore, Hyder Ali in 1760. His son Tipu Sultan completed the 240 acre gardens. The Glass House on the lines of the London’s Crystal Palace and the Band Stand in front of it, stands testimony to [...]

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Spicy, sweet and crispy Baby Corns.  It is delicious and children love ‘em.
Time Required: 20 Minutes
Ingredients:
10 Baby Corns
2 tbsp Gram Flour/Besan
2 tbsp Rice Flour
3 tbsp Corn Flour
2 tsp Chili Powder
A pinch of cooking Soda
Oil for deep-frying
Salt to taste

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Spathoglottis Plicata is a species from the Far East grows very well in South India. It is a terrestrial orchid with large bulbs. A long spike shoots up and at the edge sparkling lilac flowers bloom. The blooms stay for a long time.
This plant clusters quickly in a humus rich soil media. Cocoa Peat can [...]

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“Cymbidium Bicolor” is widely found in Western ghats and Himalayas. It is a tufted robust orchid with large false bulbs and pendulous flowers. They bloom during April to July. The flowers last for more than 20 days.
This orchid is best planted in a coal, bark and moss mixture. When the buds appear, it is better [...]

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This festival is solely for the men. The others also join in by preparing delicious food as naivedhyam / blessed food and eating together. This festivals falls on Shravana Nakshatra (a star) on the full moon day of Hindu month Shravana.  August – September in Gregorian calendar.   This festival is celebrated on different days [...]

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Swarna Gowri Vratha/Pooja is celebrated by girls and women in Karnataka and Andhara Pradesh. Goddess Gowri is the mother of Lord Ganesha. This festival falls in the hindu month of Shravana, August – September by Gregorian calender. This year (2009) it is on 23rd August.  This pooja has a special significance for married women as [...]

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This festival is a celebration of the brother-sister bonding, celebrated mainly in North India. It falls on Poornima / full moon day in the Hindu moth of Shravana.  August – September in Gregorian Calendar.  This year(2009) it is on Wednesday, August 5th.

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A type of Indian bread prepared using Gram Flour.
Time Required: 25 Minutes
Serves: 2
Ingredients:
100 gms Wheat Flour
50 gms Gram Flour/Besan
5 gms Carom Seeds/Ajwain
5 gms Jeera/Cumin Seeds
5 gms White Sesame Seeds/Til
5 gms Red Chili Powder
5 gms Turmeric Powder
3 gms Asafoetida
15ml Oil
50 ml Water
20 gms Curd

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Crispy and spicy rings prepared using Rice, a favorite evening snack among Mysoreans and Bangaloreans along with a good cup of South Indian filter coffee.
Ingredients:
2 Cups Raw Rice
1 Cup Coconut
10 – 12 Dry Red Chilies
1/4 tsp Asafoetida/Hing
1/4 tsp Ajwain or Jeera/Cumin Seeds
1/2 Cup, Hot Oil
Oil for Deep-frying
Salt to taste

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