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
Parwal Alu Fry – Parwal Aloo Fry Recipe – Pointed Gourd Potato Fry Recipe
A side dish prepared using Potatoes and Pointed gourd. Time Required: 25 Minutes Ingredients: 2 Potatoes / Alu, Peeled and Diced 4 Parwal / Pointed Gourd 2 Tomatoes 1 tsp Black Pepper … [Read More...]
Chole – Channa Masala Recipe – Chickpea in Tomato Gravy Recipe
Chickpea in tomato gravy and spices also known as Channa. It is a common side dish in the state of Punjab and it is usually served with Batura, which is a deep fried bread. It also tastes … [Read More...]
Uppesaru
Uppesaru means boiled with Salt. This is a tasty curry, which is popular among the Gowda community of south Karnataka. I learnt to prepare this from our tenant Mrs. Pankaja at Mysore. Either the … [Read More...]
Bhelpuri – Puffed Rice Street Food – Puffed Rice Salad – Chat Recipe
Bhelpuri is a sweet, spicy and tangy snack prepared using puffed Rice. Cuisine: North Indian Time Required: 30 Minutes Ingredients: 8 Cups Puffed Rice/Churmur/Kadalepuri 6 small flat … [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...]
Sweet Potato Paratha – Shakkarkhand Paratha – Sweet Potato Flat Bread
Indian bread stuffed with Sweet Potatoes and spices. Time Required: 30 Minutes Makes: 6 Ingredients: 2 Cups Wheat Flour Oil for roasting Salt to taste For the stuffing: 2 medium … [Read More...]
Dal Palak – Spinach and Lentils Curry Recipe
A curry prepared using lentils and spinach. This recipe is from North India. Time Required: 20 Minutes Ingredients: 1 Cup Thogaribele / Tur Dal / Red Gram Split 1 bunch Palak / … [Read More...]
Thovve – Dal Recipe
Cooked split Red Gram with seasoning. This is a very auspicious dish among the Brahmin community and is prepared during festivals and all auspicious occasions. When the food is served … [Read More...]
Travel
Cubbon Park – Bangalore
In 1870, 100 acres of land in Bangalore was shaped into a park and hence the city came to be known as Garden city. It was named as Meade’s Park as Sir John Meade was the Commissioner of … [Read More...]
Tirupati
Tirupati does not need any introduction to the readers. Yet, as I have visited this place many times, this write-up is a humble offering to the gateway to the richest temple in the world: Lord Balaji … [Read More...]
Shopping and eating out in Udupi
When you hear the word Udupi, dosas, idlis, mangaluru bun and bhajji, comes to your mind as the restaurants run by the people from Udupi are very popular. But, when you actually visit Udupi, you hear … [Read More...]
Ooty Lake
Not a single bollywood movie would be complete without a song being picturized with the hero and heroein boating in Ooty Lake. The lake is an artificial lake built by the founder of Ooty John … [Read More...]
Mysore Palace
The main attraction of Mysore and the heritage building which gives the aura of royalty to the city is the grand Mysore palace also known as Amba Vilas. The majestic palace stands at the center and … [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...]
Kaikondarahalli Lake Bengaluru
Kaikondarahalli Lake is situated near Sarjapur road. Thanks to active citizens who identified the dumping yard to be a dying lake and decided to rejuvenate the lake along with the help of the … [Read More...]
Festivals
Gombe Habba – Forest Arrangement
During Dasara, many households had the ritual of arranging dolls in the house for 9 days in Mysore region. This would bring out a lot of creativeness among the people. The … [Read More...]
Subramanya Shashti
Subramanya Shashti also known as Champa Shashti is celebrated honoring the birth of second son of Shiva named Subramanya / Skanda. It falls on the 6th day of the Hindu month of … [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...]
Udaka Shanti Pooja
Udaka Shanti Pooja is performed before major events like marriage, upanayana, gruha pravesha, and so on. This pooja is performed for peace and harmony in the house. First, Ganesha is worshiped. … [Read More...]
Mouna Gowri Vrata – Mauna Gowri Vrata
Unmarried girls perform Mouna Gowri Vrata. This Vrata / vowed religious observance is performed from the first day of the Hindu month of Magh to the first day of Phalgun (for 30 days), i.e, … [Read More...]
Banni Tree
The botanical name of this tree is Prosopis spicigera. In Sanskrit it is known as Shami Vruksha. Banni tree is found in dry and arid regions at low altitudes. This tree is widely grown in … [Read More...]
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...]
