About
itslife.in is all about life. From birth to death life’s journey is unpredictable for human beings, animals, birds and plants. Each life is celebrated in different ways and the human beings are the only species who are able to express feelings with words and expressions. For humans, life is just not to live but to let live, share, love, accept, reject, talk, fight, laugh, cry, get angry, travel, have hobbies, read, get education, work, celebrate festivals, cook, taste different cuisines, have relationships, acquire material assets etc., etc., Life never ceases to impress and life just goes on stopping for nothing.
In this website I have tried to bring in the essence of good living and it is loaded with information on travel, hobby, cooking, gardening, relationships, goodness of nature, festivals etc., All this information has been collected and experienced over the years.
I dedicate this website to all the previous generation women, who have sacrificed and fought to have their voices heard and have tried to bring in positive changes for women in the society. It is because of them that we can hold our head high and lead a life of our choice.
About itslife.in logo
The logo depicts the earth, life, water and sky. These four things together make earth the most beautiful planet in the universe. The earthy colors (brown and red) representing the earth, green the life and blue – sky and water completes itslife.in theme.
Life Impressive For Ever is the full form of LIFE and this tag line summarizes the essence of itslife.in
The logo is hand drawn by me, but I thank and appreciate Mr. G. Navaneetha Krishnan for transforming it into the digital form just the way I had imagined.
I would also like to thank Mr. Jeganathan T for setting up the website and making it easy to organize and share the information and thoughts.
You can send me feedback about the site by sending an email to - itslife at itslife dot in
About me (Nirupama Sriram)
I am an ambivert with varied interests. Love my family, friends and Mysore – the city I grew up in.. I believe that the day I stop learning will be the day I stop living.
Copyright & Disclaimer
All rights reserved. Reproduction of articles, photos, recipes, videos or any other content in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission of itslife.in is prohibited.
itslife.in and the blogs linked from here does not warrant or assume any legal liability or responsibility as the content of itslife.in is for general information purposes only and does not constitute advice. itslife.in tries to provide content that is true and accurate as of the date of writing; however, we give no assurance or warranty regarding the accuracy, timeliness, or applicability of any of the contents. Visitors to itslife.in should not act upon itslife.in’s content or information without first seeking appropriate professional advice.
Dear Nirupama,
Your website depicts how wholesome life is. It is truly a delight to read the articles and views you have shared, an eye of every detail that you of contributed on itslife.in. All the best to you.
Hi,
Just stumbled across your site while looking for a picture of Hotel Mayura Hoysala. Thanks you so much for putting together such a beautiful and useful site,
Have you ever considered compiling all these posts into book form? Could make sense. Anyway, please make sure you back up all your posts. Relatively simple to do this on WordPress.
Sharath Bhat
Thanks Sharath, yes..I am taking back up of all the posts periodically. One of my hobbies was to compile information into organized books. Hence, most of the information on this website is already in book formats complete with table of contents, index etc., (7 volumes of recipes, 1 on flower arranging, 1 on vegetable carving, 1 on bonsai, 2 on gardening). None of the books are published. With blogging technology I am very happy to be sharing this information with others.
Hi Nirupama,
I was just going thru your cv and saw this link,it’s a beautiful site and believe me you are really good at writing..
Keep the good work up
Warm Regards:
Amit Rana
Hi Amit,
Thanks for the lovely words….it is so encouraging.
Regards,
Nirupama
Dear Nirupama,
Congratulations for writing such an informative blog.I stumbled upon it accidently.You have a very good collection on varied subjects. Keep this good work going, and educating people like me.
Thank you,
&
With best wishes,
Lavanya
Thank you Lavanya…
I would like to use one of your photos of Tabebuia trees for a non-profit newsletter and would like your permission.
( http://www.itslife.in/wp-content/gallery/gardening/garden-tabebuia-aurea1.jpg )
and my be:
http://www.itslife.in/wp-content/gallery/gardening/garden-tabebuia-aurea5.jpg
The newsletter is for a mental health organization and of the volunteer authors refer to this tree so I thought it would be nice to show them what it looks like. (Circulation 1300 b/w but the online pdf file will be in color.)
please get back to me soon… They just gave me this project this week and I have to build a newsletter from scratch since they lost all the past files.. LOL They want it ready for print in two weeks too… if they only know how mach time it take to do something like this… but so is the live of a volunteer.
Copyright & Disclaimer
All rights reserved. Reproduction of articles, photos, recipes, videos or any other content in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission of itslife.in is prohibited.
Can you please post the recipe of ‘SANDIGE HULI’.
With Best Regards,
Hi Meera, I will try to post Sandige Huli as soon as possible.
ಆತ್ಮೀಯ ನಿರುಪಮಾರವರೇ, ಅತ್ಯಂತ ಮನೋಜ್ಞವಾದ ವೆಬ್ಸೈಟ್. ಇಂದು ತಾನೇ ನಿಮ್ಮ ಸೈಟ್ ಅನ್ನು ಮೊದಲ ಬಾರಿ ವೀಕ್ಷಿಸಿದೆ. ಎಲ್ಲಾ ಪ್ರಕಾರದ ವಿಷಯಗಳಿಂದ ಕೂಡಿ ಸಂಪದ್ಭಭರಿತವಾಗಿದೆ. ಸಂತಸವಾಯಿತು. ನಿಮ್ಮ ಬರಹವನ್ನು ಮುಂದುವರಿಸಿ. ಧನ್ಯವಾದಗಳು.
ಹಾಯ್ ನಿಖಿಲ್,
ನೀವು ನನ್ನ ವೆಬ್ಸೈಟ್ ಭೇಟಿ ಕೊಟ್ಟಿದಕ್ಕೆ ತುಂಬ ಧನ್ಯವಾದಗಳು.
ನಿರುಪಮ
Hi Nirupama,
very interesting blog with a mysorean twist, just like it. one of the very few to be sans rubbish, sans self proclamation found online.
liked all the sections. keep up the good work & let more come out of ur stable.
wanted to comment in namma kannada, but kud’nt.
regs.
Raghunandan.
Namaskara Raghunandan,
Thanks for visiting and the comment. I will do my best to constantly update the blog.
Cheers!
Nirupama
nimma baraha dalli Mysorena sogadu nodi santhosha ayithu-shubha haraikegalondige
Dear Nirupama,
Your website is too good.It gives a lot of information on festivals and the ways on performing them.Thanks for the wonderful work .This morning I did the Bheemana amavasya pooja according to what you had written .
Cheers,
Uma
ನಮಸ್ಕಾರ ಶ್ರೀಧರ ರವರಿಗೆ ನನ್ನ ಬ್ಲಾಗ್ ನೋಡಿ ಮೆಚ್ಚಿದ್ದಕ್ಕೆ ಧನ್ಯವಾದಗಳು.
Dear Uma,
It is nice to hear that you performed the pooja using the information here as a guide. Thanks for the comment. Keep visiting and have a great festival season.
Nirupama
Dear Nirupama.
I stumbled onto your lovely site while looking for Gejjevastra. I was in the process of making some myself instead of buying.Thanks for such a simple explanation and wonderful informative site.
I live in Mysore , so all the more nice to see a mysoreans site.
regards
shubha
Hi Shubha,
Mysore is my favorite place on earth…I keep visiting very often. It is heartening to note you liked the information here. Lots more is coming…keep visiting.
With best best wishes,
Nirupama
please give me a particular nursery address of bangalore from where i must get this tabebuia aura flower seeds. thank yoyu.
Susanta, Lalbagh nursery is one of the best and largest in Bangalore.
Nirupama
Hi Nirupama,
I am from Mysore. Wonderful recipes. I have tried couple of them.
Do you have recipe for sakkare holige (sugar Holige), if so pls
post it.
thanks a bunch, good luck
Ramya
Ramya, thanks for visiting and trying out recipes. Yes I do have the recipe for sakkare holige will post it soon.
Regards
Nirupama
Thanks, Nirupama
We are from allahabad and celebrate ganeshotsava . We would like to submitt a report about our function organise here . We have photograph also to display
How it can be happen
Satish, I am sorry but right now I am not accepting contributors articles but I admire your enthusiasm to showcase your culture. Keep visiting.
Regards,
Nirupama
Dear Sow.Nirupama,I just happend 2 visit u r sight ,while going through jur Photograph of Sri.VeeraNarayanaswami.Its so nice 2 have a Dharshan of the Lord.As if i am inside the temle.Once again my best wishes n thanks for lthe nice sight .Pls.U can post me latest pictures,stories.all ablut Mysore n surroundings.
Hello Srinivasan,
It is good to hear that you enjoyed the photograph, I feel my effort is paid when I hear that a reader is satisfied by seeing the pictures or by reading an article. Sure…there will be lots more pictures and articles coming. Please keep visiting.
Thanks and Regards,
Nirupama
Hey Ramya,
I have posted your request for Sakkare holige recipe. Please check it out.
http://www.itslife.in/2009/08/sakkare-sugar-holige
Happy Gowri Ganesha festival!
Nirupama
U have some really good pics..very talented.
Thanks Sheba for your views…I still have a long way to go!
Nirupama avarige Namaskaaragalu.
Just like everybody else, stumbled to be here…. looking for ‘Dasara Flower Show’. When I looked around the website, I tried to lift it away with both hands, but could not…. it is so heavily loaded with so much information. Kudos to you for gathering all those ‘Mysorean stuff’ and making it e-available to the world! As a Mysorean (a rare breed these days, eh?) I thought this is a place to feel like a Mysorean! Generally, Mysoreans seldom leave Mysore and I’m one. I have not looked deeper into the website, but Southekai gojju, Herlekai gojju, Haagalkai gojju, kumbalakai huLi, etc… may also be there? Delicious recipes!
All things Mysore are my favourites and I carry much memory from the past which give me some good nostalgic moments – I enjoy reminiscing those good days and I also have tried to put as many as possible in one place here: http://mysoreanmusings.blogspot.com/
I wish you could post many vintage pictures of that era (hope they are preserved) like the one of your grandparents. What I did to all our old pictures that were in photoframes from the past (1920s >) was to ‘deframe’ them and wherever possible, they were dismounted from their cardboard mounts carefully and lo, a vintage album appeared!! But not without effort. Frames were then given away and some suitable glasses were replaced to broken window or almirah panes in our old house!
How I wish I knew my grandmother’s recipes. She always won a prize in the Dasara cooking contests from 1930s onwards!
An old colleague of mine used to ask the expansion of WIFE. Worries Invited For Ever, he would say. LOL. Your web title reminded me of that. Nice web title and explanation to go with it.
Best wishes.
Namaskara Dinakar avarige,
Wow! your response is so overwhelming and coming from a Mysorean means a lot to me. Thank you so much.
Yes, most of the Mysore recipes can be found in the website along with authentic North Karnataka recipes as my mother is from Hubli and Udupi recipes as my husband is from Udupi and many many others, which I keep experimenting in my kitchen lab. And I would have loved to try out your grandmother’s recipes.
Every single photograph of yesteryear is preserved at home and I have made an album starting from my great grandparents to the current generation by scanning the old photographs. I recently found an old dasara procession photograph and my grandfather’s amateur club photo, which I will post asap.
Your blog is extremely interesting and I will be visiting often for a dose of Mysore tales and woes.
Regards,
Nirupama
The first half of the above set is a repetition to this which I uploaded just now on Picasa, here:
http://picasaweb.google.com/dinakar58/MysoreVintageSigned?authkey=Gv1sRgCJHPx_i58r36Qw&feat=directlink
Nirupama avarige namaskaaragalu.
Thanks for the prompt response. My grandmother was famous for Badanekai Yennegai, Muchore, Halkhova Obbattu, BeLe Saaru, Eerulli-Aaloogedde Huli (rarity – onions were taboo and a separate IligemaNe for that!)… I should say “et cetera”! She left us in 1978. Perhaps you or your parents may be knowing my grandparents. The album links could provide some clues!!
Today, I went on a ‘heritage walk’ (took leave/holiday from office). Some pictures of my route: http://picasaweb.google.com/dinakar58/DasaraHeritageWalk?feat=directlink
Dasara has become so gaudy! Gaudy decorations! Very cheap!
You have used a word ‘ambivert’ in your web page. Am I one too?
There are many posts and links in my blog which also might interest you.
Best wishes and regards.
Hi Dinakar,
The old photographs are a treat. Thanks for sharing.
I was in Mysore too during the first 3 days of Dasara and was shocked to see tourists clambering on to the pedestal of Chamaraja Circle and taking pictures. The rains also played a spoil sport like every year. Nonetheless I am always carried away by the enthusiasm of the people and feel proud to be part of the celebrations.
I just hope Mysore does not become an eye sore.
Yummy! Halkova obbattu, never heard or tasted it…..I can imagine how rich and tasty it must have been. And yes, after a one month past the petition requesting for erulli alugadde huli from me would be granted along with sandige happala and on that day separate saaru would be prepared for my grandparents.
Ha ha ha….true you are an ambivert too!
Happy Dasara,
Nirupama
Wow, again prompt reply.
Having seen the Dasara and people of yore, I have become a critic of present day Dasara (I simply cannot accept certain things though I try to be a bit flexible).
People have no respect or value for public and heritage objects. The vandals just don’t care — they are all from outside, you know! Tell me how many “Mysoreans” are in Mysore! How can we expect them (who came in recent years to this city) to love the city? Don’t you agree? A small number of us frown and shout to satisfy ourselves, but it has no effect overall, also at a time when the general public thinks ‘noise’ is melody! Lookl at those fans thronging to their ‘heroes’ singing on stage with 10,000 watt speakers on! Yuva Dasara! Beauty of Dasara is something else, don’t you think so?
Yes, I forgot Sandige prepared by her that always went with E/A huLi….. sometimes we had that dinner under moonlight. Kai tuttu, was a pleasure, sitting in circle, palms stretched for a morsel! The pungency of onions also have reduced drastically and no one ‘cries’ as they did, say 25-40 years ago.
HuruLi HappaLa was also made at home. PeNi. Slurp.
For Ayudya Pooja, these KSRTC buses get decorated with hoovina haara and BaLe Kandus… in recent years, another gaudy thing — they play cheap film music with blaring loud speakers tied to them while roaming on its route! I cannot imagine such horrific things in Mysore! I wonder who allows them to these extents?
Glad you are away (wherever you are).
With every good wish.
Dinakar, I live in Bangalore, so I find Mysore always a peaceful place to unwind albeit many aspects of the city changing for the worse. Instead of spending time in Mysore city itself, during our visits we explore places of interest within a radius of 100kms, which includes historical sites, wildlife sanctuaries, bird sanctuaries, rivers and waterfalls. Not many Mysoreans are even aware that they are living in a place surrounded by unsurpassed natural beauty and there is a need to know, conserve and preserve such treasures.
Nirupama
There was an article in a supplement in Deccan Herald in the last ten days. It was about Masala Dosa. Somehow it has gone out of our pile for something else and I’m unable to find it. Please do look for it because the writer has mentioned a few interesting points about it including its mention in old epics. Make a search. I reckon it may be useful.
Deepavali greetings. Hope there is less smoke and sound this time, a time when there are thousands suffering due to flood havoc.
Dinakar
Deepavali Greetings to you too Dinakar. The article in Deccan Herald must have been interesting….please access the following link to browse through Deccan Herald epaper http://deccanheraldepaper.com. You can also read through their archives.
I tried the e-search also before I posted above, but I could not locate it. The e-paper has only the last 10 days’ editions.
all food recipes are very interesting
Hi nirupama
I just bumped into ur wonderful site today. Amazing work. Left India and Mysore in1991, really miss Mysore, maharanis college, Christ The king convent and manasa Gangotri.My friends. kalidasa Road, Ambode, vade, road side gadi puri etc etc…….
Your knowledge of plants and gardening is really good. We do find quite a few rare species of flora and fauna here in Johannesburg. I shall definitely try to post them.
kalpana
Dear Kalpana,
Thank you for your lovely comments and it is nice to meet another Mysorean in the cyber world.
Do you blog too?? I would love to see the pictures of the flora and fauna in Johannesburg. Please let me know the URL.
Happy New Year!
Nirupama
Hello Kalpana,
http://ckcdays.blogspot.com/
The above is the URL of my exclusive blog on my schooldays. I also studied at CKC. Scrolling down for older posts there will take you to my memories at CKC. Hope that rings many bells to you!
Best.
Dinakar
Dear Nirupama
First off all i personal congrats of opening this website. Your website content is very impress and wonderful. Your way of writing the article is excellent. Keep writing. I want to use your website content in my website with your name below.
Kindly give me Permission
Prasanna
Prasanna,
Thank you for your appreciation.
Unfortunately this site is copyrighted and therefore the content cannot be used on any other site. Kindly do not upload any of the content from itslife.in on your site.
Nirupama Sriram
hello Nirupama, i am sonia here did u recognise me if yes, answer me. itslife is a wonderful site Nirupama congrats for what u are doing.
Dear Sonia,
Thanks for appreciating. Of course I remember you. I cannot forget the great days we spent at Avila Convent.
Do keep visiting and give your valuable inputs.
Regards,
Nirupama
Hello Nirupama,
I am circulating the same note to the recipe blogs I came across on thatskannada.com:
It was a very good surprise to stumble onto your blog/website. Unfortunately as I have been lamenting , we have very few blogs/websites for Kannada adige or for anything relating to Karnataka for that matter. And Kannada adige is simply superb! It is regrettable that Karnataka related info is very little compared to the info regarding other South Indian states. That
info is huge ! It is ironic that Kannada has very little web presence inspite of Kanndigas’ huge IT talent pool ! Hope there will be more and more people like you. Keep up the good work.
Hi S.K.,
Thanks for your comment and really glad that you liked what you read here.
Agreed that Karnataka cuisine is the best and every region of Karnataka have something unique to offer. I will continue to post more about Karnataka keep reading.
Regards,
Nirupama
Dear Nirupamaji
I like very much your recipes, please continue posting new recipes.
I like Kerala style food.
Regards!
Hello Upendra,
Thanks for appreciating.
Best Wishes,
Nirupama
Hi Nirupama,
Are you a house wife? Do u have kids? Want to know about yourself..
Your way of writing things is verrry good… Great job!
Regards,
Madhumitha.
Hi Madhumitha,
Thanks for liking my work.
I am a working mother and I live in Bengaluru. I have varied interests like traveling, reading, writing, painting, cooking, gardening, technology, photography etc., which keeps me busy all the time. I feel happy sharing my thoughts with the rest of the world in this blog and will keep trying to post the best.
Cheers!
Nirupama
Ok good job..
Would like to suggest you to post more articles useful for working women, like work-life balance, personality development etc.
Cheers,
Madhumitha.
Hey Madhumitha,
Though not an expert in the above subjects, I will try to post articles regarding them based on my experiences sometime later.
Keep reading,
Nirupama
Hi,
Nirupama,
Nice to see your blog.its very impressive.i like it.Can you plz tell me how to subscribe to your site?
Hello Shweta,
Thank you for stopping by…You can join the site by clicking on “join this site” link on the right hand side of the page.
Keep visiting….
Nirupama
Hi,
Nirupama
Thanks for the prompt reply..I am also doing blog…Your way of writing and thoughts are really gud..keep it up.
Shweta, All the very best for your blog. I will visit your blog once it is online.
Regards,
Nirupama
Namaskaara.
Trust this finds you well. My DW tried to prepare that sweet dish ’1-2-3′. It came off beautifully last time but this time it did not harden off at all. The insides remained pasty after 4-5 days though taste is superb. I think she copied the recipe from here following my nudge! She has noted a few more also.
Best
Hello Dinakar,
I am doing good thank you. Sometimes things fail in the food (kitchen) lab too…especially sweets, because the consistency to remove the mixture off the heat is very tricky. But if this sweet becomes soft, it can be passed off as Halwa
With warm wishes,
Nirupama
Hi Nirupama,
Inspite of you being a working lady and mother, how do you manage time to keep things updated in your blog as well…. Give us some tips know…
:)
Waiting for your reply,
Parimala.
Hi Parimala,
I blog for an hour daily after my office hours. There are days when it is impossible to write, so I write on weekends and holidays and keep the drafts ready. Sometimes a photograph that I take inspires me to write an article…
Hope this helps!
Nirupama
Hmm…Great…
Nowadays it is becoming such a difficult thing to balance both work and home.. It is very important to manage time..
Hi Nirupama
read your words on Mysore…….Oh, what I can I say when Mysore is my soul! BTW I too studied in Avila Convent! When you get time just go through the link herein below;
http://thatskannada.oneindia.in/festivals/dasara/stories/2006/220906anjali_mysore.html
Hi Anjali,
Great to meet a Mysorean who also happens to be a Avilian. I read through your article and it is a superb summary of every experience and feeling that I have for Mysore city.
Keep visiting….
Cheers!
Nirupama
Hi, very interesting blog, found a lot of recipes which i’m sure i can surprise my hubby with…(i’m a tamilian and he’s a kannadiga!:-)).
I have a query: what is “Ucchhil” called in English – this is typically made into a chutney and had with Ragi roti is what I’ve heard! Can you clarify?
Thanks in advance.
Sudha
Sudha thanks a lot…do try the recipes and let me know how it turns out.
Huchellu or Gurellu is nothing but Niger Seeds, they are black in color and is available in select stores. It is roasted and ground with red chilies to make a Chutney powder and this is usually served with Bhajra, Jowar, Ragi rotti.
Hi Nirupama:
I am interested in the digital version of the image at the following link.
http://www.itslife.in/wp-content/gallery/festivals/festival-dasara-procession-before.jpg
I Intend to use this image as a digital wall mural if approved by the architect.
Do let me know the terms
Rgds
Meher
Hi Meher,
I have scanned the image from a postcard hence the image is not very sharp. This is actually a painting in the Mysore palace where photography is not allowed. The copyrights belongs to the current scion of Mysore and you will have to contact the palace authorities for further use of this image.
Regards,
Nirupama
Dear nirupama…
Please post different vratha procedures for Varamahalakshmi, swarna gowri, ananthapadmanabha and others if you have good idea about them as I am planning to do them at home newly this time..
Thanks,
Shree.
Hi Shree,
Please check the following link for the vratha procedure -
http://www.itslife.in/festivals
Regards,
Nirupama
Nirupama,
Oh Thanks for the link….Very informative link!
Thanks and waiting for some more posts..
-Shree
Hi Nirupama,
Nice blog yar!!!! Keep it up
Hey btw, where are u working… Do you have children.. Hope u r a middle-aged women like me with variety of interests in life…
Keep up the good work
-Smruti.
Thanks Smruti, I have a son and work for an MNC in Bangalore. If middle age is being 50 years old, I have a decade yet to reach there. Yes, I do have a variety of interests.
You enjoy your life too…
Regards,
Nirupama
Hey Nirupama,
Nimma account idya “Orkut” nalli?
Regards,
Niveditha.
No Niveditha, I do not have an Orkut account.
Hey Nirupama,
How do you actually look like? can i have ur pic..? Are u sister of story writer anupama niranjana? I have imagined u as a Strict,Disciplined, middle-aged head madam like.. is that true?
Do let me know,
-Madhura Prasad
Hi Madhura, I am not the sister of writer Anupama Niranjana. I am an easy going, fun loving working mother who has spent exactly 4 decades on this earth.
OK..
I Love this sentence in the introduction part of Itslife.in…
“I dedicate this website to all the previous generation women, who have sacrificed and fought to have their voices heard and have tried to bring in positive changes for women in the society. It is because of them that we can hold our head high and lead a life of our choice.”
It is wonderful really and the truth…. My grandmom itself have struggled a lot to get her sons education, quality of living n all that so that we all are fine now, though my grandpa was not that much responsible person.
Nice dedication!!!!
Regards,
Nagashree.
True Nagashree, we have a lot to learn from the previous generation. The patience, tolerance and simple qualities that they possessed are becoming rare among the current generation.
Hey nirupama, nice pic!
But, nanu nimna bere thara imagine madkondidde..
Thanks Nagashree. I would love to see the picture of your imagination
hey nirupama, your friend shantala is also my good friend and she told me abt your blog, i really liked it. i like your simple easy to cook recipes
thanks for the same. i want to try your chocolate burfi, i just wanted to ask u if i can replace butter with ghee// pls do reply
Hi Sushma,
Nice to know that you are a friend of Shanthala. Ages, rather decades since I last met her. Please give my regards to her.
Thank you for liking this website.
With butter the burfi has turned out very good. I am not sure about Ghee. Anyway try with Ghee and let me know the results.
All the best,
Nirupama