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
Sweet Corn Salad
Time Required: 15 Minutes Ingredients: 1 Cups Sweet Corn, boiled 1 Charred Chili, Chopped ¼ Cup Peeled and chopped Cucumber 6 Shallots, Peeled and diced 4 - 5 Cherry Tomatoes, cut into … [Read More...]
Alu Methi Palak – Aloo Methi Palak Recipe – Potato Fenugreek Spinach Recipe
I learnt to make this dish from my Mami/Aunt, who is a wonderful cook. This North Indian side dish goes very well with all types of Indian Bread and is prepared using Potatoes, Fenugreek and … [Read More...]
Apple Gojju Recipe – Apple Gotsu Recipe – Apple Menaskai Recipe
When there are no vegetables at home and you find Apples not eaten, you can make a quick gojju using the Apple. If the Apple is Granny Smith, the taste is better. Time required: 20 … [Read More...]
Salad Platter
Salad is nutritious and good for health. A portion of salad eaten during one of the meals helps the body get some fiber for easy absorption of food. Time Required: 15 … [Read More...]
Lal, Pila Bhindi Subzi – Red Yellow Capsicum with Okra
There was a Red and Yellow Pepper along with some Okra in the fridge and I came up with this recipe using all of them. Thankfully everyone relished it with Phulkas. Time Required: 15 … [Read More...]
Shakarkandi Fry – Sweet Potato Fry Recipe
Shakarkandi Fry is a dry side dish prepared using Sweet Potatoes. Children will love this as it tastes like Chaat! Cuisine: North India Time Required: 25 Minutes Ingredients: 3 - 4 … [Read More...]
Avarekayi Kurma
A delicious side dish with gravy prepared using Flat Winter Beans. This can be also be prepared with any type of sprouted beans that is available. Time Required: 40 Minutes Ingredients: 2 … [Read More...]
Ambode – Channa Dal Vada – Dal Vada – Paruppu Vadai
Spicy lentil fritters. Ambode is prepared during festivals and other occasions like weddings, house warming ceremonies etc., in Karnataka. Cuisine: South Karnataka Time Required: 30 … [Read More...]
Travel
Bangalore Fort – Bengaluru Fort
It took me few years to realize that Bangalore has an ancient fort, which was open to public. Bangalore fort was built by the founder of Bengaluru Kempe Gowda I in 1537 using mud. Kempe Gowda was a … [Read More...]
Birds spotted in KR Nagar, Chunchanakatte and Hosa Agrahara – Krishna Raja Nagara
KR Nagar also known as Yedathore is situated 57 Km from Mysore. The ancient Arakeshwara temple is situated in KR Nagar. The small yet beautiful Chunchanakatte waterfalls is very near to … [Read More...]
Sri Manjunatheshwara temple, Dharmasthala
Sri Manjunatheshwara temple situated in Dharmasthala in South Kanara District attracts more than 10,000 visitors every day. It is a place with a culmination of people from all walks of life and … [Read More...]
Bada Bagh, Jaisalmer
Bada Bagh means big garden. It is a garden of royal cenotaphs or chhatris of the royal family of Jaisalmer. The cenotaphs are worth a visit to marvel at the intricate carvings and the effort … [Read More...]
Brahmeshvara Temple, Kikkeri
Kikkeri is a small town in Krishnarajapete (K.R.Pete), Mandya district of Karnataka state, India. The Brahmeshvara Temple in Kikkeri was completed in 1171 AD by Bammave Nayakiti during the … [Read More...]
Kanva Reservoir
A check dam was built over the Kanva river in 1946 thus forming the Kanva reservoir. It is 15 kilometres long and covers 776 hectares (1,920 acres). Sir M Vishveshwaraiah was the chief advisor while … [Read More...]
Kalpetta
We chose to stay at Kalpetta as all the interesting places are around Kalpetta. We were also tempted to stay in far flung places like Rain Country resorts, but the fact that the drive to and from the … [Read More...]
Festivals
ಜೋ ಜೋ ಹಾಡು
Jo Jo Hadu is a lullaby sung to Lord Krishna while putting the Lord to sleep. ಜೋ ಜೋ ಶ್ರೀ ಕ್ರಿಹ್ಸ್ನ ಪರಮಾನಂದ ಜೋ ಜೋ ಗೋಪಿಯ ಕಂದ ಮುಕುಂದ ಜೋ ಜೋ ಪಾಲಗಡಲೊಳು ಪವಡಿಸಿದವನೆ ಆಲದೆಲೆಯ ಮೇಲೆ ಮಲಗಿದ … [Read More...]
Lakshmi Devotional Song – Arathi Hymn – Varamahalakshmi Festival
This devotional song was sung by my mother's aunt during arathi to Goddess Lakshmi. You can use any tune suitable to sing this song. In Kannada script: ಲಕ್ಷ್ಮೀ ಆರತಿ ಹಾಡು ಸುಕಾಂತೆರಾರತಿ … [Read More...]
Chhat Pooja
Thou by whose luster all the world of life comes forth, and by thy beams again returns unto its rest, O surya with the golden hair, ascend for us day after day, and still bringing purer innocence – … [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...]
Deepavali – Diwali
Deepavali (“avali” means rows and “deepa” means lamp) or Diwali is a festival of lights much loved by one and all. It is the time for sweets, savories, family get-together, new clothes, crackers and … [Read More...]
Lord Ganesha Arathi Song
Tomorrow is Ganesh Chathurthi. Wish you all a very happy festival. My mother has written the below arathi song praising Lord Ganesha. This is in Kannada script. ಗಣೇಶನಿಗೆ ಆರತಿ ಹಾಡು ಆರುತಿ … [Read More...]
Aarathi song for Lord Rama
On the auspicious day of the birth of Lord Rama (Rama Navami festival), songs praising him are sung while doing the traditional Arathi. ರಾಮನ ಆರತಿ ಹಾಡು ಮಂಗಳಂ ಜಯರಘು ಪುನ್ಗವರಾಘವಾ ಅಂಗದ … [Read More...]
