Avocados are available in the South Indian market from April onwards. There is an abundance of desi Avocados in the market. Apart from making Guacamole, you can make many types of … [Read More...]
Flower Arrangement – Solitaire
You do no need a bunch of flowers to create a flower arrangement. A single flower can be a garden as well as a good flower arrangement. Ikebana rules can be sometimes applied to freestyle … [Read More...]
June 2026 Hints
Make a organic insecticide by adding onions and garlic to a jar of water, let it stand for a week, and spray plants with it. Used tea bags sprinkled on rose plants will make them blossom faster … [Read More...]
Nambhi Narayana Temple, Thodanur
The Nambhi Narayana/Lakshmi Narayana temple is the largest and the oldest temple in Thodanur. This was originally a Jain basathi/temple. Hoysala king Bittidevaraya, who was a Jain was influenced … [Read More...]
Akeel Dip Recipe
Yes, like you I was intrigued hearing the name of this dip. Akeel Dip is from Yemen and is similar to Indian Raitha with its own unique twist. This dip can be served with any of the crisp starters or … [Read More...]
Song on Lord Panduranga
This song is in praise of Lord Panduranga of Pandharpur. Panduranga appeared in Pandharpur to bless his devotee, Pundalik, who was busy serving his parents when the Lord arrived, … [Read More...]
Flower Arrangement – Windy
The wind blown arrangement is the nearest you can get to nature. This arrangement is one of my favorite. This arrangement gives an illusion of a tree laden with flowers blown to a side by … [Read More...]
Dinner with Pumpkin – Roti platter with Pumpkin
Light dinner keeps you agile the next day. Early dinner the better. Though this is easy said than done! Pumpkin is a powerhouse of fibre and when teamed with Roti is a perfect way to … [Read More...]
Black-eyed Susan Vine
The attractive flowers of Black-Eyed Susan Vine are like a pop-up in any garden. The profuse flowers are attractive and add the much needed colour among the other trees and plants. The … [Read More...]
Needle Rock View Point, Gudalur, Ooty
Needle Rock View Point is known as Soochi Malai. Soochi in Tamil means needle and Malai means hills. The name needle is derived from the rock that narrows to a sharp needle tip. As you wind up … [Read More...]
Boondi Burani Raitha Recipe – Boondi Raitha Recipe
Raitha is a dish prepared using Yoghurt in India. This is served as an accompaniment with Indian Bread and Pulav or Biryani (Spicy flavorful rice). During summer this is a prepared dish in most of … [Read More...]
May 2026 Hints
To preserve your expensive shoes, slide each separately into zip bags and hot blow over them to get a perfect shoe cover. To unclog shower pores, place a paper towel over the shower head, pour … [Read More...]
Festival dates in Vaisakh month – April and May 2026
Festival dates in Chaitra month – March and April 2026 Vaishākh (April – May) Akshaya Tritiya – 19 April 2026 Basava Jayanthi– 20 April 2026 Ramanujacharya … [Read More...]
Vegetarian Recipes
Eggless Butter Cookies
Crispy melting home-made butter cookies is a favorite with the hungry child. Cookie Cooking Method: Bread Crumb method Time Required: 1 hour Ingredients: 100gms Maida / Refined … [Read More...]
Agashi – Flaxseed Chutney Powder
People are now waking up to the health benefits of Flaxseed. In North Karnataka where this is grown extensively, this seed has been used in their cuisine since a long time. A chutney powder prepared … [Read More...]
Rose Milk
Rose Milk is a favorite drink among all age groups. If the Rose syrup is prepared at home, then the taste quotient rises higher. Time Required: 5 Minutes Ingredients: 4 tbsp Rose Syrup 2 … [Read More...]
Bean Sprout Salad
Bean Sprout Salad is a healthy edition to the dinner menu. This adds variety and boosts the health quotient. Time required: 10 Minutes Ingredients: 1 Cup Bean Sprouts 1 Cup Chopped … [Read More...]
Mango Juice
Summer is the time when Mangoes are available in abundance. A drink of chilled fresh Mango juice is the right way to beat the heat. Time Required: 5 Minutes + Chilling Time Ingredients: 1 … [Read More...]
Menthehittina Raitha
You can prepare this without much hassle if you have Menthedittu ready. Time Required: 5 Minutes Ingredients: 4 tbsp Menthedittu / Menthehittu 1 ½ Cups Curds 1tsp Oil ½ tsp Mustard … [Read More...]
Menthedittu Gojju
This dish is very easy to prepare and serve. Cuisine: North Karnataka Time required: 5 Minutes Ingredients: 3 tbsp Menthedittu / Menthkoot 1tbsp Sweet Chutney or 1tsp Tamarind pulp + 1 … [Read More...]
Eggless Mawa Cake
It's Christmas baking time! Type: Tea cakes Makes: 250 gms Ingredients to make an Eggless Mawa Cake: 60 gms Butter 1 + ½ tsp Castor Sugar 70 gms ( ¼ cup + ¼ Cup) Maida 1tsp Baking … [Read More...]
Travel
Sagarkatte, Mysore
The best part of the monsoon season is that the dams open their gates when full and the waterfalls and the backwaters along the river’s journey to meet the sea are fed with immeasurable water to … [Read More...]
Uttarakhand
My parents visited Uttarakhand in 1973 and I used to love hearing their experiences and the description of the different places they visited. My dad who was an avid photographer got all the pictures … [Read More...]
Ramana Ashram, Thiruvannamalai
"Distracted as we are by various thoughts, if we would continually contemplate the Self, which is Itself God, this single thought would in due course replace all distraction and would itself … [Read More...]
Anegudde Sri Vinayaka Temple
Anegudde Temple is situated in Kumbashi village near Kundapur, Karnataka is dedicated to Siddhi Vinayaka / Lord Ganesha. Kumbashi is also the birth place of Sri Vadirajaru. “Ane” means Elephant … [Read More...]
Pokhran, Rajasthan
"I love the full moon night in the sandy desert and wish to spend time there alone and I love Pokhran because it is a theatre of action and liberty," said our ex-president Hon. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam … [Read More...]
Havelock Island
As we cruised from Port Blair to Havelock Island, I looked forward to fulfill my dream to snorkel, sea walk, and scuba dive. Not limited to only these activities, Havelock Island has a lot to offer to … [Read More...]
Temples of Goa
You will be surprised to know that there are some beautiful and ancient temples dedicated to Hindu gods in Goa. Not so surprising either as the residents of Goa before the Portuguese came in were all … [Read More...]
Festivals
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...]
Festival dates in Magh month – January and February 2026
Festival dates in Magh month – January and February 2026 Mouna Gowri Vratha - 21 January 2026 to 27 February 2026 Vasanth Panchami - 23 January 2026 Rathasapthami - 25 January … [Read More...]
Rakhsha Bandhan
Rakhsha Bandhan 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 … [Read More...]
Nagara Chauthi
Nagara Chauthi festival is celebrated on the fourth day of the Hindu month Shravana, July – August according to Gregorian calendar dedicated to Snake god. For the festival date click here. On this … [Read More...]
Teachers Day
Guru Brahma Gurur Vishnu| Guru Devo Maheshwaraha| Guru Saakshat Para Brahma| Tasmai Sree Gurave Namaha|| Meaning of the above shloka / chant is that the Guru / teacher is the representative of … [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...]
Rama Navami
Rama Navami is a festival celebrating the birth of Sri Rama, son of King Dasharatha of Ayodhya. “Yada Yadaa hi dharmasya gnanirbhavathi bharatha Abhyuththaana madharmasya thadathmaanam … [Read More...]
