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...]
Happy Gowri and Ganesha Festival 2026
The most awaited festival of the year is today! and it is definitely a double dhamaka as both Swarna Gowri Vratha and Ganesh Chathurthi are celebrated on the same day. The flower decorations, … [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...]
Mariapura Lake
Another weekend and another birding trip and off we drove to Mariapura lake. A beautiful serene lake where the wind blows, birds chirp, plants whisper, and fishes swim. This lake has a calming effect … [Read More...]
Kodi Beach
Kodi Beach is a pristine beach and a very long one starting somewhere near Hangaluru to Kodi Bengre Beach. The Bengre Beach is an Estuary where River Suvarna meets the Arabian sea. Kodi in … [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...]
Sattu Ki Paratha
Stuffed Indian bread prepared using roasted chik pea (channa) flour. This type of bread is very popular in Bihar. Time Required: 30 Minutes Ingredients: 2 Cups Sattu Ki Atta / Roasted Chik … [Read More...]
Vegetarian Recipes
Sweet Corn Cheese Topping
Topping with sweet corn and cheese goes very well with hash browns, Nachos, bread toast, and on Papdi! Cuisine: Continental Time Required: 15 Minutes Ingredients: 1bsp Oil 1tsp Cumin … [Read More...]
Chili Vinegar
Chilies preserved in Vinegar. Chili Vinegar is a savior when it comes to adding some spice to a bland dish. Time Required: 3 Minutes Ingredients: 1 Cup Vinegar 2 Green Chilies or Raw … [Read More...]
Crispy Yam and Paneer Nuggets
Crispy Yam and Paneer Nuggets are as the name suggests yummily crispily delicious. Serve them at your get-together and see them vanish from the serving plates. Time required: 1 … [Read More...]
Huli Pudi – Sambar Powder
Curry / Sambar is known as Huli in Kannada. Huli Pudi / powder is added to prepare a curry with vegetables and coconut known as "Huli". Cuisine: Karnataka Time Required: 20 … [Read More...]
Banana Smoothie
Welcome the summer days with this smoothie. This is a complete meal by itself. It is filling, it is nutritious and it is so slurrrpy! Time Required: 10 Minutes Ingredients: 2 Ripe Robust … [Read More...]
Moong Dal Halwa – Split Green Gram Sweet Dish – Moong Dal Shira Recipe – Hesarubele Sajjige Recipe
Moong Dal Halwa is a rich sweet dish prepared using split Green Gram. This is prepared during winters in North India. Moong Dal Halwa is a must-have on the wedding menu. I have heard … [Read More...]
Singada Halwa
Singada Halwa is prepared using Water Chestnut flour. Singada is also known as Water Caltrop. Today is the commencement of Dasara and let us start the celebration by preparing Singada … [Read More...]
Shenga Burfi – Groundnut Burfi – Peanut Squares
Shenga Burfi is a sweetmeat prepared using Peanuts. Cuisine: North Karnataka Time Required: 25 Minutes Ingredients: 1 Cup Shenga/Kadlekayi/Peanuts/Groundnuts 1 Cup Sugar 4 – 5 tbsp … [Read More...]
Travel
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...]
Birds of Markonahalli Dam
Marconahalli Dam is built across Shimsha River by Sir M Visweswraiah and Ganesh Iyer in 1938-40 incurring a cost of 29 Lakhs. It is a picturesque place with abundant flora and birds. We spotted … [Read More...]
Hubli
Hubli is my birth place and it was initially known as Hubballi meaning flowering creeper in Kannada. This is one of the major cities of Karnataka. The twin cities of Hubli and Dharwad are the second … [Read More...]
Lalith Mahal Palace, Mysore
Whenever we drove to Chamundi hills, Lalith Mahal palace would never fail to get its share of attention. The palace built on a small hillock near the foothills of Chamundi hill is so beautiful and eye … [Read More...]
Nandi on top of Chamundi Hills – Chamundi Hills Nandi
As children we were very excited to either drive down for a darshan of Nandi on top of Chamundi hills or climb down the steps to reach Nandi. We would be greeted by a big seated bull in … [Read More...]
Manchinbele Dam
Manchinbele dam or Manchanabele dam is situated 40 Kms from Bangalore in Manchinbele village, Magadi Taluk. The dam is built across Arkavathi River. When your expectations are at its lowest … [Read More...]
Talakadu – Part I
Picture1 - Talakadu Sand Dunes Talakadu is situated 50 Kms from Mysore and was under the rule of Western Gangas, Tamil Cholas in the 11th and 12th centuries, Hoysalas in the 12th century, … [Read More...]
Festivals
Good Friday
Having studied in a Catholic school, we were shown many movies on Jesus Christ. I remember when I was 6 or 7 yrs old and crying out with all my heart when Jesus was being nailed to the cross and Mary … [Read More...]
Morada Bagina
Bagina is an offering of everything essential and dear to you. It is believed that you will be blessed with all the things that you desire by performing particular vratas/ vowed religious observance … [Read More...]
Sri Krishna Song – Arathi Song
Happy Sri Krishna Janmashtami dear readers. Like Sri Krishna heard Draupadi's cries for help, let us hope and pray that he comes down to earth and help us by getting rid of the pandemic very … [Read More...]
Lullaby to Lord Rama
It is Lord Sri Rama's birthday today. Rama Navami is celebrated all over India with great devotion. The lullaby below was written by my grandfather M.M.Patil, Kurtakoti. ಶ್ರೀ ರಾಮನ … [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...]
Chatti Amavasya Festival – Vishwakarma Festival
Chatti Amavasya is the no moon day in the Hindu month of Kartika, October – November of the Gregorian calendar. For the festival date click here. This festival is celebrated in Karnataka, Andhra … [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...]
