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
Sagu – Vegetable gravy side dish – Kurma Recipe
Sagu is a side dish very popular in Karnataka, which is served along with Poori/deep fried bread or Dosa/Crepe. This is a dish wherein an assortment of … [Read More...]
Pudina Raitha
Pudina or Mint is considered to introduce coolness in any dish that it is tossed into. Now, that the summer is here, Pudina Raitha offers the welcome respite from heat. Cuisine: North … [Read More...]
Sweet and Sour Cucumber Salad
I was in Delhi last Friday and my friend served this simple, yet delicious salad for dinner. I re-created this recipe this Friday at home. Time Required: 20 Minutes Ingredients: 1 Seedless … [Read More...]
Mosambi Juice Recipe – Sweet Lime Juice Recipe
Tomorrow is Rama Navami and it is a practice to prepare fruit juice and Kosambari (salad) and distribute to friends and family. Here is a Sweet Lime juice suitable for the summer and to celebrate the … [Read More...]
Preservation of Fruits and Vegetables
Two decades ago, Central Food Technology Research Institute (C.F.T.R.I) in Mysore conducted classes for women in Mysore regarding preservation of fruits and vegetables. Mom completed the course and … [Read More...]
Uppu Huli Dose – Spicy Pancakes Recipe – Spicy Crepes Recipe – Uppu Huli Dosa Recipe
Salt, spices and tamarind goes into the making of this dosa / crepe and hence it is known as Uppu / Salt Huli / Sour Dosa. Time Required: 20 Minutes + Soaking and Fermenting time Cuisine: … [Read More...]
Alu Capsicum Masala – Aloo Capsicum Masala Recipe – Potato Capsicum Masala Recipe
Potatoes and Capsicum tossed with tomatoes and spices. Time Required: 25 Minutes Serves: 4 Ingredients: 2 Cups Potatoes chopped thin and long 1 Cup Capsicum chopped thin and long 1 Big … [Read More...]
Paneer Vegetable Sauté
This is a very simple dish with minimum spices. Time Required: 30 Minutes Ingredients: 1 Cup Broccoli florets 1 Cup Beans, Chopped into ½ inch pieces 1 Cup Carrot, Peeled and thinly … [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...]
Soochipara Falls
Soochipara Wateralls is also known as Sentinel Rock Waterfalls situated in the forests of Vellarimala, Wayanad district, Kerala. Soochi in Malayalam means needle and Para means rock and so … [Read More...]
Magadi Bird Sanctuary
When I read that a large population of waterfowls migrates to Magadi Lake in Magadi Bird Sanctuary near Kurtakoti, Gadag district, I yearned to visit this place during the migration season. I got the … [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...]
Osian Jodhpur
Having read many books and seen in movies about the hero getting lost in the desert and seeing mirages of an Oasis, I wanted to experience an oasis and I did just that when we visited an ancient town … [Read More...]
Cheluvanarayana Swamy Temple, Melukote
The ancient temple of Shri Cheluvanarayana Swamy is situated in Melukote, Mandya District, Pandavpura Taluk. The presiding deity of the temple on the foothills is Lord Vishnu known as Thirunarayana or … [Read More...]
St. Lawrence Church
Churches built by the Portuguese dot the Goan landscape and St. Lawrence Church is one of them. Located on a hill and built in Portuguese style of architecture, this white church was built in 1565 for … [Read More...]
Festivals
Mysore State Anthem
The existence of Mysore State Anthem was bought to my notice by my dad, who during his primary school days would sing the anthem every day. In 1881, the British decided to give back the state … [Read More...]
Gombe Arathi Haadu – Dolls Arathi Song – Golu Song – Dolls Arrangement Song
In Mysore, during Dasara festival, there is a tradition of arranging dolls on 7 steps or 9 steps. Various dolls passed on from generations are removed from boxes, dusted, and arranged according to … [Read More...]
Shivana Bhajane – Shiva Bhajan – Jagratha Bhajan
Happy Maha Shivaratri! Here is an easy Bhajan (devotional song) on Lord Shiva. We used to sing this every evening during our Summer break. Hey Shiva Shankara Namami Shankara Shiva Shankara … [Read More...]
Aarathi Song – Lakshmi Arathi Song – Goddess Lakshmi Pooja Song
This is a song written by my mom and we sing this song alternatively with other songs on Friday evening while we perform aarathi to goddess Lakshmi. It can be sung to any tune that you are … [Read More...]
Festival dates in Bhadrapada month – September and October 2026
Festival dates in Bhadrapada month – September and October2026 are as follows: Bhādrapad (August – September) Ganesh Chaturthi - 14 September 2026 Ganesha aarathi song Why Ganesha … [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...]
Independence Day
On August 15th, 1947, India got Independence from British rule. Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of independent India, addressed the Constituent Assembly and citizens to recognize the … [Read More...]
