To stop dosa/idli batter from over flowing during fermentation, keep a tumbler upside down in the vessel and then pour the batter over it to ferment. While microwaving leftover idli and rice kept … [Read More...]
Flower Arrangement – Blue Drift
Flower arrangement styles like So-getsu school use drifwood in their arrangements. Driftwood refers to branches of trees, which breaks off and fall into the water. These pieces drift along the … [Read More...]
Happy Onam 2026
Wish you all a very happy Onam! It is time for Onam Sadya and Pookalam across Kerala and rest of the country and world where people from Kerala reside. … [Read More...]
Onam Sadya – Plantain leaf Onam Thali – Onasadya
Onam is celebrated for 10 days. During these days women wear Mudum Neriyathum/Mundu and make designs on the floor using flowers known as Pookalam. Around the Pookalam women perform … [Read More...]
Labneh Dip Recipe
Labneh is prepared from hung curds/yogurt. This recipe is from the Middle East. The thick hung curds is whisked with herbs, cucumber, zatar, olive oil, and chili flakes. You can also add Olives, … [Read More...]
Festival dates in Shravana month – August and September 2026
Festival dates in Shravana month – August and September 2026 are as follows: Shrāvana (August - September) - From 13 August to 11 September (2026) Shravana Shanivara - 15 August, 22 … [Read More...]
August 2026 Hints
Add baking soda while washing fruits and vegetable, this will remove any type of contamination. Add sparkling water to Pani puri dough. The Puris will turn out crisp. Add oil while boiling … [Read More...]
Malnad Style Beetroot Kayi Chutney
I tasted this Beetroot chutney at Sridhara Paduka Mandira in Bengaluru. The saying that god prasada is divine and satisfying is so true. The humble lunch comprising to Rice huli, saru, and … [Read More...]
Pookalam Art – Flower Carpet Making – Flower Rangoli
Pookalam (Flower Rangoli / Pattern), the art of designing floral carpets on the day of Onam festival in Kerala welcome their beloved king Mahabali. Pookalam Art can be made on … [Read More...]
Pookalam
Flower arrangement of Indian origin is Pookalam. “Poo” means flower and “kalam” design in Malayalam. The flowers are laid out in beautiful patterns on the floor. Traditionally laying out Pookalam is a … [Read More...]
Onam
Onam is celebrated in Kerala with a lot of enthusiasm. It is their biggest harvest festival and it falls in the Malayali (Malayalam is the language spoken in Kerala and hence the people of Kerala are … [Read More...]
Melukote Srivaishnava Piligrimage Center
Melukote is a famous piligrimage center situated in Mandya district, Karnataka. This place is also known as Thirunarayanapuram, Yadavagiri or Yadugiri nestled in the Cauvery river valley. From Mysore … [Read More...]
Wood Arrangement
"Wood Arrangements" include arrangements with driftwood or even roots and stumps of trees. Coffee roots are very popular in wood arrangements. The roots and the wood when combined with bright flowers … [Read More...]
Vegetarian Recipes
Godi Laddoo – Wheat Flour Laddoo Recipe – Atta Laddoo Recipe – Pinni Recipe
Godi Laddoo is a sweet prepared using wheat flour. This is great to carry while traveling to satisfy the Indian sweet tooth. It just melts in the mouth. Time Required: 25 … [Read More...]
Akki Kadalebele Payasa – Rice Channa Dal Kheer Recipe – Rice and Lentil Payasa Recipe
A pudding prepared using Rice and Bengal Gram. This is commonly prepared during festivals. Time Required: 25 Minutes Ingredients: 2 Cups Rice 1/2 Cup Kadalebele / Channa dal / Bengal … [Read More...]
Seasoned Raw Mango – Aam Vaghariyalu Recipe – Mavinakayi Vaggarane Recipe
When it is Mango season in India, every household along with having Mangoes as is either Raw or Ripe will also make several dishes using the Mangoes. This is one such Gujarati dish using Raw … [Read More...]
Water Apple Salad Recipe
Water Apple in White and Red are available in plenty during May End to June End. This fruit though tasteless is considered good for health. I tried this recipe and the fruit became a bit … [Read More...]
Hummus Papdi Chaat Recipe – A Delicious Fusion Snack
Holi is on the 14th and the festival is all about colors, chat, and cool drinks. Here is a unique hummus papdi chaat recipe using Hummus. Ingredients: 1 cup Pumpkin Hummus or … [Read More...]
Hunase Saaru – Puli Rasam – Tamarind Soup
Hunase Saaru is a watery accompaniment served with plain Rice and is prepared using Tamarind. Cuisine: Karnataka Time Required: 15 Minutes Ingredients: 2 tbsp Saarina Pudi / Rasam … [Read More...]
Thuppa Sandige Anna
Ghee and Fryums Rice. This dish is prepared in Mysore region and is served during auspicious celebrations like wedding, upanayana etc. Time Required: 20 Minutes Ingredients: 2 Cups of … [Read More...]
Sugarcane Dosa
Pancakes/Crepes prepared using Rice and Sugarcane juice. Time Required: 20 Minutes + Soaking Ingredients: 2 Cups Rice 1 Cup Sugarcane Juice ½ Cup Coconut, Grated ½ Cup Jaggery Oil for … [Read More...]
Travel
Jaisalmer Fort
Sonar Quila / Golden fort, the living fort of Jaisalmer is fascinating and exotic. Memories of time spent here will be etched forever. Jaisalmer fort was built by Bhati Rajput ruler Jaisal in … [Read More...]
Jantar Mantar Jaipur
Jantar Mantar Jaipur in Rajasthan, is the Largest Stone Astronomical Observatory in the World. It was built by Jaipur Maharajah, Jai Sawai Singh II during 1727 to 1733. Jantar Mantar Jaipur is one of … [Read More...]
Kalapathar Beach – Havelock Island
If you want an example of a breath-taking beach, it is Kalapathar Beach – Havelock Island. Kalapathar means Black Rocks and an adjoining village is also known as Kalapathar. Emerald … [Read More...]
Konkaneshwara Temple, Akkihebbalu
The presiding deity at Konkaneshwara temple in Akkihebbalu, Mandya district is Lord Shiva. This temple is situated next to the Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy temple. Both temples are ancient with no … [Read More...]
Bangalore – Bengaluru
Bangalore is the capital city of Karnataka and IT capital of India. Kempegowda was a Palegar of Vijayanagar empire who found Bangalore by chance and named the city Benda kalooru (the place where the … [Read More...]
Sri Venugopalaswamy Temple, Devanahalli
As you drive on NH-7 leading to Bangalore International Airport, the fort of Devanahalli catches your eye and as you drive inside the fort the Venugopalaswamy Temple is the first temple that you come … [Read More...]
Manikyadhara Falls
Manikyadhara falls also known as Nellikayi Theertha is situated 1 km from Baba Budan Giri Dattatreya Peetha, Chikkamagalur, Karnataka. The water that falls down is in the form of droplets and they … [Read More...]
Festivals
Paryaya of Sri Krishna Matha (Krishna Temple) of Udupi
Paryaya is a ritualistic system by which the pontiffs of the eight muttts of Udupi, by turn, take up the responsibility of worshipping the deity at the Sri Krishna temple. The ceremony of the handing … [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...]
Panchamrutha Abhishekha
"Panch" means 5 and "Amrutha" means nectar in Sanskrit. Panchamrutha Abhishekha is a Hindu ritual performed at all homes and temples, where the idols are bathed with Milk, Curds, Honey, Sugar and … [Read More...]
Chaitra Poornima
Chaitra Poornima is the first Poornima of the Hindu lunar calendar and falls in the Hindu month of Chaitra, March – April according to Gregorian calendar. It is the Poornima (full moon) after the … [Read More...]
Ritu – Indian Seasons – Rithu
Ritu means "season" in ancient Indian calendars used in India, Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka. There are six ritus or seasons. The word is derived from the Vedic Sanskrit word Ṛtú. Every season, … [Read More...]
Goddess Sharadamba Utsava
Happy Saraswathi Pooja 2014. In Sringeri, Karnataka, during Dasara festival, the utsava murthy (procession idol) of Goddess Sharadamba (Saraswathi) is taken in a small chariot around the temple … [Read More...]
Bhagvad Gita Jayanti – Bhagvad Gita Birthday – Srimad Bhagvad Gita Jayanti
During Corona time, my quest to listen and understand the Srimad Bhagvad Gita started. My mother patiently read the Bhagvad Gita shlokas and explained each of them in Kannada. I was in awe … [Read More...]
