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
Hesarubele Payasa – Moong Dal Kheer Recipe – Parappu Payasam Recipe – Cherupayar Pradhaman
Pudding prepared using split Green Gram. This is a favorite among Kannadigas during festivals. Recipe: South India Time Required: 20 Minutes Ingredients: 2 Cups Hesarubele / … [Read More...]
Potato Sandwich
Grilled Sandwich with spicy mashed Potato filling. Time Required: 1 Hour Serves: 4 Ingredients: 8 Plain Bread slices Butter 4 Potatoes 1 Cup Peas, Shelled and boiled 1 Onion, … [Read More...]
Potato Dosa
Pancakes prepared using Potatoes. Time Required: 30 Minutes Ingredients: 4 Big Potatoes, Boiled and Grated 1 Cup Maida 4 Green Chilies 2tbsp Coriander Leaves, Chopped Oil for … [Read More...]
Tamarind Thokku
Raw Tamarind Chutney, which can be stored for a very long time. Tamarind Thokku is prepared in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. Ingredients: 10 Raw Tamarind 3 tbsp Salt 5 – 8 Green … [Read More...]
Bamboo Rice Payasam
Bamboo Rice Payasam / pudding is prepared using Bamboo Rice, which is known as Mulayari in Malayalam. Cuisine: Kerala Time Required: 1 hour Ingredients: 1 Cup Bamboo Rice, preferably … [Read More...]
Mangodi Pulav
This flavored Rice with dehydrated lentil dumplings recipe is from the state of kings, Rajasthan. Time Required: 30 Minutes Ingredients: ½ Cup Mangodi ¼ Cup Peas 1 Onion, sliced 3 Cups … [Read More...]
Karela Masala Fry
Bitter gourd stir fried with spices until crispy is a great accompaniment to any type of Indian Bread. Cuisine: North Indian Time Required: 20 Minutes Ingredients: 2 Bitter gourd, cut … [Read More...]
Boiled Sweet Potato
In South India Sweet Potatoes are available throughout the year. Boiled Sweet Potato is low calorie snack is very easy to make and also satisfies the sweet tooth. Cuisine: South … [Read More...]
Travel
Jenukallu Gudda
Jenu means Honey, Kallu means stone and Gudda means hill. This place is a viewpoint in the Western Ghat, which offers a panoramic view of the hills packed one behind the other. Jenukallu Gudda is … [Read More...]
Kaup Beach
Our unplanned visit to Kaup Beach pronounced as Kapu was a pleasant surprise. The character of the Kaup beach is enhanced by the striking black and white light house built on a sprawling rock on the … [Read More...]
Kodaikanal lake
The presence of a lake is always an add-on to the scenic locations especially in hill stations. It is a hub of activities like boating, horse riding, cycling, enjoying street food, and … [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...]
R.K.Narayan House Mysuru – Heritage site Mysore
All of us have enjoyed Malgudi days episodes on TV and the author behind this enthralling book is Sri R.K.Narayan. His house declared as a heritage site is now preserved as a museum filled with the … [Read More...]
Begur Temple
On the banks of Begur lake in Bengaluru is a 1300 year old Begur temple dedicated to the Pancha Lingas. Begur was a Jain settlement and a center of Vedic and Sanskrit studies. The Dravidian style … [Read More...]
Aquatic Birds of Kukkarahalli Lake
Recently there was a competition held in Bangalore between bird watcher's groups on the maximum number of birds sighted in a day. Well I was not part of this competition, but would like to share some … [Read More...]
Festivals
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...]
Satyanarayana Aarathi Song
It is a must to read the story of Satyanarayana at the end of Satyanarayana pooja. Here is a song covering all the stories that has to be read. You can sing this while doing the final … [Read More...]
Sampath Shanivara Pooja
The day next to Shravana Shukravara Pooja is Shravana Shanivara Gowri / Lakshmi Pooja also known as Sampath Shanivara Gowri / Lakshmi Pooja. This pooja / vratha / religious observance is … [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...]
Ele Ashtami – Jesta Devi Pooja
This festival is celebrated widely in North Karnataka. This festival falls on the 8th day of the Hindu month Bhadrapada, August – September of Gregorian calendar. For the festival dates click … [Read More...]
Adhik Maas – Adhika Masa – Purushotham Maas – Maal Maas
Adhik Maas is an extra month added to the Lunar Calendar to be in sync with the Solar Calendar. This period is also known as Adhika Masa in Kannada, Malimmacha (Maal), and Purushotham (Lord … [Read More...]
Lord Jaganath Rath Yatra
The famous Chariot festival of Orissa state falls in the month of Ashada (June - July). The Rath Yatra is one of the oldest and biggest festival of India held in Puri, Odisha … [Read More...]
