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...]
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...]
Krishna Janmashtami – Gokulashtami – Birth of Lord Krishna
"Yathra Yogeeshwara Krishno | Yathra Partho Dhanurdharaha | Thathra Shree Vijayo Bhuthir | Dhruvaneethirmimathirmama ||" The meaning of the above extract from the Gita is “wherever Krishna … [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
Jamun Shikanji – Indian Blackberry Juice – Black Plum Juice – Narale Panaka
Come June - July, the markets are filled with these shiny Black-Purple fruit known as Narale Hannu in Kannada and Jamun in Hindi. Apart from eating with a pinch of salt, the fruit tastes great … [Read More...]
Palak Spread Dosa
Palak Spread Dosa is Pancakes/Crepes with Spinach and Onion topping. It is a great way to make children eat Spinach. Cuisine: South India Time Required: 20 Minutes Serves: … [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...]
Akki Rotti – Rice Flour Bread
Akki rotti is a very tasty bread prepared using Rice flour. This is extremely popular in Bangalore and Mysore regions. Cuisine: South Karnataka Time Required:30 … [Read More...]
Maddur Vada Recipe – Crispy Fritters
The ubiquitous Maddur Vada on Mysore – Bangalore train and highway is a hit among the passengers. You can see many enjoying the Maddur Vada with a cuppa. History: Madhvachar was a pakoda (onion … [Read More...]
Guntpongalu
It is a dosa in the shape of a ball, also known as Guliappa in South Canara (Karnataka) and Phad in North Karnataka. This is known as Guntpongalu in South Karnataka. I tasted this dish for the first … [Read More...]
Cucumber and Spring Onion Dip
This recipe is for a tasty tangy dip to accompany crisp savouries, bread sticks, or vegetable sticks. Cuisine: Continental Time Required: 20 Minutes + Hung Curds preparation … [Read More...]
Gujarati Dal Recipe – Lentils cooked with Jaggery and spices
Gujarati dal brings a refreshing change after consuming spicy food. This dal is mild and a bit sweet. You can adjust the sweetness according to your taste. Cuisine: … [Read More...]
Travel
Ajmer, Rajasthan
Ajmer is a major city situated 11 Km from Pushkar in Rajasthan. It is famous for the Dargah/tomb of the 13th century Sufi Saint Hazrat Khwaja Moinuddin Hasan Chisti. The saint is revered by both the … [Read More...]
Amber Fort, Jaipur
Amber also known as Amer was the former capital of the Kachhwahas. The majestic fort built on Cheel ka Teela (Hill of Eagles) in the Aravalli range of hills above the Maota Lake is visible from far … [Read More...]
Gadisar Lake
A lake in the middle of the desert is a surprise to the visitors and the presence of an exquisitely carved sandstone balcony in the lake adds to the mystical charm. Gadisar Lake is a man-made lake … [Read More...]
Pyramid Valley International – Maitreya Buddha Pyramid
Pyramid Valley International is situated in a serene valley surrounded by greenery and small hills in Bengaluru. The campus is spread over 28 acres. Here a large pyramid is built solely for the … [Read More...]
Maharashtra State
Maharashtra is the third largest state in India. The State of Bombay was split into Maharashtra and Gujarat according to the language spoken in 1960 by the Bombay Reorganization Act. The borders are … [Read More...]
Devil’s Kitchen, Kodaikanal
Per our itinerary we headed off to the Devil’s Kitchen in Kodaikanal not knowing what to expect. After parking the car and a short hike uphill are caves and tranches that is mysterious and dangerous. … [Read More...]
Shore birds of Hadinaru Kere
Apart from the numerous aquatic birds, there are so many other shore birds that catch your eye and your camera lenses at Hadinaru Kere near Mysore. Picture1 - Purple Sunbird Female enjoying the … [Read More...]
Festivals
Lakshmi Aarathi Song – Devotional Song
Here is a devotional song sung while doing Aarathi to Goddess Lakshmi. May Goddess Lakshmi bless you with health and prosperity. ಲಕ್ಷ್ಮಿ ಆರತಿ ಹಾಡು ಮಂಗಳಾರತಿ ಬೆಳಗುವೆ ರಂಗನಾರ್ಧಾ೦ಗಿಯಳೇ … [Read More...]
Pattada Gombe Alankara
Pattada Gombe in Kannada means, the royal dolls and Alankara means decoration. Many households have a custom of arranging dolls during Dasara festival in Mysore and distribute sweet and savories to … [Read More...]
Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Karaavalambam Sthotra in Kannada
Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Karaavalambam Sthotra is written by Sri Jagadguru Adi Shankaracharya in Sanskrit, my grandfather Sri M.M.Patil has translated the Sthotra to Kannada. ಶ್ರೀ ಲಕ್ಷ್ಮೀನರಸಿಂಹ … [Read More...]
Dasara Procession and Torch Light Parade during the reign of the Wodeyars
Picture1 - Illuminated Mysore Palace Mysore Dasara procession during the Maharajah’s rule used to be on a larger scale and grander. My grandparents and parents generation go on and on … [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...]
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...]
Nariyal Poornima
The fisherman of Daman and Kolis of Coastal Maharashtra look forward to celebrate Nariyal Poornima festival as it signifies retreating monsoon and the commencement of their fishing activity. Nariyal … [Read More...]
