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
Kurtakoti Saarina Pudi – Rasam Powder Recipe – North Karnataka Rasam Powder
Loved the change in cuisine when I visited my maternal grandfather's house in Kurtakoti. The Saaru prepared there was so different from Mysore Saaru. Hence, I named it Kurtakoti Saaru and here is the … [Read More...]
Gulla Sagle
Gulla Sagle is a dish prepared using Matti Gulla, a variety of brinjal grown in Udupi region. Cuisine: Konkani Time Required: 40 Minutes Ingredients: 2 Drumsticks cut into 2 inch pieces 1 … [Read More...]
Paneer Tikka Masala – Cottage Cheese in spicy gravy
Paneer Tikka Masala is a side dish is prepared with grilled Paneer. Time Required: 45 Minutes Ingredients: For the Tikka: 15 1" square pieces of Paneer/Cottage Cheese 1 Cup Hung … [Read More...]
Dal Raitha
Dal Raitha is cooked lentils in curds. Tastes good with Indian bread. Cuisine: Karnataka Time Required: 15 minutes Serves: 4 Ingredients: 2 Cup cooked Tuvar dal/Togaribele/Red gram … [Read More...]
Fruity Salad
Fruity salad is tangy, sweet, and salty. Tasty and low calorie, this is a great starter or eaten along with Bread or flavored Rice. Time Required: 10 Minutes Ingredients: 6 - 8 … [Read More...]
Dates and Tamarind Sparkler – Kharjur Sharbat – Kharjurada Panaka
Tomorrow is Rama Navami and custom beckons us to prepare Kosambari and Panaka (Salad and Juice). Dates and Tamarind sparkler is a healthy and refreshing drink sans … [Read More...]
Jhunka – Maharashtrian Zunka Recipe – Pitla Recipe
Jhunka is a side dish prepared using Gram flour, this dish is also known as Pitle. Pitle bhath is the most common menu in most of North Karnataka and Maharashtrian homes. Cuisine: North … [Read More...]
Masala Pudi – Spice Powder – Goda Masala – Kala Masala
This masala pudi (powder) is used in most of North Karnataka dishes like Badanekayi Yennagai, Masala Bhath, Saaru / Rasam etc., Cuisine: North Karnataka Time Required: 25 … [Read More...]
Travel
Shri Anantheswara temple
Udupi was known as Shivalli, which was derived from the presiding deity of this temple. The brahmins living in this place to this day are known as Shivalli brahmins. Shri Anatnheswara (Lord … [Read More...]
Kalasa
Kalasa is a holy temple-town located in Chikkamagaluru district in Karnataka. Kalasa is home to the Kalaseshwara Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. Kalasa is 92 Kilometres South-west of Chickmagalur and … [Read More...]
Shetty Kere – Mysore
On the Kozhikode-Mysore-Kollegal Highway, a small lake known as Shetty Kere attracts a lot of bird life. Though Lake Dalvoy next to this lake is 10 times bigger, it does not attract any birds … [Read More...]
Mushrooms in Kukkarahalli Kere
When I was walking in Kukkarahalli Kere last Sunday, I got to see many varieties of Mushrooms growing in the thicket. Not a surprise as Mysore has received copious rains this … [Read More...]
Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Puducherry
Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus was sanctified in 1895 by Archbishop Mgr. Gandy in Pondicherry. The church started functioning in 1908. This ancient church is 50 meters long and 48 meters … [Read More...]
Radhanagar Beach
Radhanagar Beach is situated in Havelock Island, which is part of Andaman and Nicobar Islands. It is located close to Radhanagar village. In 2004, the beach was declared as one of the best … [Read More...]
Ralliah Dam, Coonoor
It was a pleasant surprise to know that there is a Dam in Coonoor and what made the visit more exciting was the fact that we had to trek in the striking mountain ridges along the Wellington-Coonoor … [Read More...]
Festivals
Oiling ritual song – ಎಣ್ಣೆ ಹಚ್ಚುವಾಗ ಹೇಳುವ ಹಾಡು
This is a beautiful song written by Sri Purandara Dasaru to sing during the head oiling ritual, which is the beginning of auspicious occasions like festivals, weddings, upanayana (sacred thread … [Read More...]
Mysore Dasara Flower Show
Mysoreans love gardening and every house will have at least a Tulasi and Money plant growing in a pot. To encourage this wonderful hobby, a flower show on a grand scale is held by the … [Read More...]
Sri Vadirajara Aradhane
Vadirajatirtharu is one of the greatest saints belonging to the Madhwa Brahmin sect. He was born in 1480 on Magha (February) Shudda Dwadashi to a Shivalli Tulu Brahmin couple, Ramabhatta and Gowri in … [Read More...]
Happy Vijayadashami 2024
Why in North India, Ravana is burnt on Vijayadashami day? This is done to symbolize Lord Rama killing the 10 headed demon Ravana. Good over evil! What does the 10 heads of Ravana stand … [Read More...]
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...]
Visarjana Manthra
The following manthra is chanted while performing the visarjana / send off to god. In Kannada Script: ವಿಸರ್ಜನಾ ಕ್ರಮ ಯಜ್ಞೇನ ಯಗ್ನಮಯಜಂತ ದೇವಾಃ | ತಾನಿ ಧರ್ಮಾಣಿ ಪ್ರಥಮಾನ್ಯಾಸನ್ || ತೇಹ ನಾಕಂ … [Read More...]
Gangaur, Festival of Rajasthan
Gangaur is a popular festival of Rajasthan. This festival is also celebrated in parts of Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh. The name of the festival is resultant of two words “Gan” and “Gauri”, which are … [Read More...]
