Today is Vijayadashami, the final day of Dasara / Navratri festivities. The festival culminates in a grand manner with thousands attending the famous Dasara procession at Mysuru. … [Read More...]
Happy Ayudha Pooja 2026
Depending on the number of Ayudha / weapons that the ruler owned decided how powerful he was in that region. Weapons comprised of daggers, guns, revolvers, swords, cannons, cannons on wheels and … [Read More...]
Happy Durgashtami 2026 – Durga Pooja – Dasara Durga Pooja
Durga pooja is no more confined to West Bengal, we can all experience the devotion and pooja in any city of India. The pendals set up by the migrants from West Bengal during Dasara gives us an … [Read More...]
Saraswathi Pooje – Sapthami – Navratri Saraswathi Pooja 2026
Swathi Nakshatra Saraswathi Pooja 2026 is on 16th October 2026. On this day, children bring their favorite or toughest subject book to the Golu / Gombe stand and keep near the doll of goddess … [Read More...]
Ramaswamy Circle, Mysuru
Our house was just behind hundred-foot road and I must have passed on this road leading to Ramaswamy circle a zillion times. Ramaswamy circle was like the head of the hundred-foot road. Jhansi Lakshmi … [Read More...]
Ambujavalli Temple Mysuru Palace
I remember my grandparents always taking me to this temple for a special pooja. While the pooja was getting done, I would be running around the temple premises and also sit on the beautifully … [Read More...]
Shweta Varahaswamy Temple Mysuru Palace
Ambavilas / Mysuru Palace complex is dotted with many ancient Hindu temples. One of them is the Shweta Varahaswamy Temple. The Shweta Varahaswamy Temple is situated in the southern gate / … [Read More...]
Dasara Gombe – Doll arrangement – Golu – 2026
During Navratri / Dasara, in Mysuru-Bengaluru region, the tradition of doll arrangement is still continued in most of the homes. They are arranged on either 3 steps or 5 steps or 7 steps or 9 … [Read More...]
Sharad Navratri Dasara Calendar for October 2026
Sharad Navratri 2026 Calendar (October) Day and Date … [Read More...]
Kada Prasad – Godi Halwa – Atta ka halwa – Gurudwara Atta Halwa
Tomorrow is the beginning of Dasara pooja, vrata, doll arrangement, garba, and endless celebrations. For the next 10 days family and friends get-together and celebrate good over evil in various … [Read More...]
Festival dates in Ashwin month – October and November 2026
Festival dates in Āshwin month – October and November 2026 Āshwin (September – October) Dasara - Navaratri - 11 October to 20 October 2026 Saraswathi Pooja - 16 October 2026 … [Read More...]
Coriander Rice Recipe
Coriander Rice Recipe is a simple and quick recipe using lots of Coriander and Raw Mango or Lemon. As this dish is a dry dish, it is very convenient to pack for school lunch boxes or picnics or … [Read More...]
India loves to pose – 59
India loves to pose series contains random pictures of people in different moods and gears captured during a moment in their story. I believe that behind every face lies a story. The smile, the … [Read More...]
October 2026 Hints
Tie a stole to the airplane or car seat top portion and rest your head in the pouch for a good snooze. Keep your Phone in a zip lock bag and hang it on the airplane/train food tray and lock … [Read More...]
Habbada Thindi and Panaka – Festival Snacks and Juice Recipes
Food and festival go hand in hand in India. Special dishes are prepared on festivals and during vratha (observance). Habbada Adige / festival food is prepared on all festivals. But … [Read More...]
Vegetarian Recipes
Pista Kulfi
Indian ice cream with Pistachios. Time Required: 30 Minutes + Freezing Time Ingredients: 2 Cups Milk 1tbsp Corn flour 1tbsp Pistachios syrup 1 Cup Sugar 4tbsp Plain Khoya/Dehydrated … [Read More...]
Croutons Chaat – Bread Crouton Chat Recipe
A tangy spicy snack known as Chaat prepared using bread croutons. Cuisine: North Indian Time Required: 20 Minutes Serves: 4 Ingredients: 16 Bread slices, cut into cubes 2 tsp Chat … [Read More...]
Mixed Fruit Chaat – Mixed Fruit Chat Recipe
Fruits tossed in spices. A favorite street snack, Mixed Fruit Chaat is especially refreshing after a long shopping spree! Ingredients: 1 Apple 1 Guava 1 Cup Pomegranate 1 Banana, (Use … [Read More...]
Masala Uddina Vada – Medu Vada – Medhu Vadai – Ulundu Vadai
Masala Uddina Vada are fritters prepared using Split Black Gram and Onions. A very popular dish usually served for breakfast in South India. Cuisine: South Indian Time Required: 20 minutes … [Read More...]
Sweet Corn and Cheese Paratha
Indian bread stuffed with sweet corn and cheese. Time Required: 30 Minutes Ingredients: Oil for roasting For Filling: ½ Cup Grated Mozzarella Cheese 1 Cup Sweet Corn kernels 1 Big Red … [Read More...]
Idli Fry – Crispy Rice Cakes Recipe – Idly Fry
Deep fried Rice cakes. I tasted this on the high recommendation by my hubby at a restaurant and immediately got hooked to it. It is crispy and delicious and a perfect way to finish off left over … [Read More...]
Conchigli Pasta Tomato
Time Required: 30 Minutes Serves: 2 Ingredients: 1 Bowl Conchigli (Shell shaped) Pasta 1 Onion, Sliced 1/2 Cup Capsicum 3tsp Olive Oil 2tbsp Grated Cheese 1tsp Salt For the Sauce: 1 … [Read More...]
Jackfruit Cocoshake Recipe – Jackfruit Milkshake Recipe
Jackfruit is a fruit relished in the summer months in South India. You can make a variety of dishes out of this fruit and also relish the fruit as is. Here is a Jackfruit drink with … [Read More...]
Travel
Vama Retreats – weekend getaway from Bengaluru
A fantastic getaway from Bengaluru for families, friends, or corporate outing. Vama retreats is also pet friendly and has great views of the hills all around. Unwind, relax in this … [Read More...]
Gumbaz Srirangapatna
Gumbaz is situated in Srirangapatna and is the mausoleum of Tiger of Mysore – Tipu Sultan, his father Hyder Ali and his mother Fathima Begum. The Gumbaz Srirangapatna stands out against the background … [Read More...]
Birds of Maravanthe Coast
A trip to Maravanthe, coastal Karnataka was full of surprises. We went on a boat trip to an island that was submerged during the monsoons with great anticipation to spot Dolphins. We spotted only … [Read More...]
Bangalore Fort – Bengaluru Fort
It took me few years to realize that Bangalore has an ancient fort, which was open to public. Bangalore fort was built by the founder of Bengaluru Kempe Gowda I in 1537 using mud. Kempe Gowda was a … [Read More...]
Thataiah Park, Mysore – Mysuru
Every time I have zipped past the strip of a park in front of Landsdowne building in Mysore with the statue of Thataiah, I have wondered who this “Thatha” (grandfather) was? Now I reveal to myself and … [Read More...]
Nishat Bagh Mysuru – Sunnada Kuppanna Park Mysore
You must be wondering how the Nishat Bagh (garden) in Srinagar has landed in Mysuru situated in South India. Well, the imagination of creating such gardens for the citizens of Mysuru city to enjoy was … [Read More...]
Heritage Buildings of Mysore – Part1
My school was just behind one of the oldest buildings in Mysore…Jaganmohan Palace. Everyday I used to walk to school and back along with friends on the road beside it or we used to take a short cut by … [Read More...]
Festivals
Mahalakshmi Ashtakam – Lakshmi Sthotra – Prayer to Goddess Lakshmi
Wish you all a very happy Dasara. Today is the first day of Dasara known as Padya. The nine days during this festival is dedicated to the shakthi devathes (divine power). Here is a prayer to goddess … [Read More...]
Ganesh Chathurthi – Ganesha Festival
I have extremely fond memories of Ganesha-Gowri festival. It was one of the grand festivals of the year for the family and for Mysore city itself. Our road would be decorated with serial lights, as … [Read More...]
Oiling ritual song – ಎಣ್ಣೆ ಹಚ್ಚುವಾಗ ಹೇಳುವ ಹಾಡು
This is a beautiful song written by Sri Purandara Dasaru to sing during the head oiling ritual, which is the beginning of auspicious occasions like festivals, weddings, upanayana (sacred thread … [Read More...]
Makara Sankranti
Sankranthi is a harvest festival and “Sankranthi” means movement. It is a celebration of the sun entering from the zodiac sign Dhanur/Sagittarius into Makara/Capricorn. So this Makara Sankranti … [Read More...]
Why Lord Ganesha is also known as Ekadantha / single tusk
The most popular narration on how Lord Ganesha lost his tusk is penned in the Skanda Purana / tales of gods and goddesses. Lord Ganesha was a patron of good food with a healthy appetite. Once … [Read More...]
Manmatha or Kama – the god of love
Another interesting statue in Nanjanagudu is that of Manmatha or Kama - the god of love (Kama Samhara (killing) Murthy (idol)). During Holi festival, effigy of Manmatha or Kama is burnt, which is … [Read More...]
Naga Rangoli – Snake Floor Design
The Naga rangolis / patterns shown below are drawn on Nagara Chauthi and Nagara Panchami festivals. Click on the image to see a bigger image. Rangoli drawn on Nagara Chauthi: Rangoli … [Read More...]
