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

Pudina Majjige – Pudina Lassi
Pudina Majjige - Pudina Lassi is buttermilk flavored with Mint leaves. Cuisine: Indian Time Required: 5 Minutes Ingredients: 1 Big Bowl Buttermilk 1 Green Chili 1" Ginger 1 Sprig Curry … [Read More...]

Kathal Mutter Vada Pav – Jackfruit Peas Sandwich Recipe – Kathal Matar Vada Pav
Kathal Mutter Vada Pav is Raw Jackfruit patties tucked in a Pav / Indian bread smeared with two kinds of chutney is sure to be a super hit with your kids as an evening snack. Cuisine: … [Read More...]

Amla Ki Launji – Instant Gooseberry Pickle
Amla Ki Launji is an instant pickle prepared using Indian Gooseberries. Cuisine: North Indian Time required: 20 Minutes Ingredients: 6 - 8 Bettada nellikayi / Amla / Indian … [Read More...]

Fruit Custard
Fruit custard is a favorite while growing up. With Ice-cream it would be the must loved Fruit Salad with Ice-cream! Time Required: 40 Minutes Serves: 6 Ingredients: 1 Apple 2 Banana 1 … [Read More...]

Alu Jeera – Aloo Jeera Recipe – Potatoes Cumin Recipe
Potatoes stir fried with plenty of Cumin Seeds. Time Required: 20 Minutes Ingredients: 4 Potatoes, Peeled and diced 1 Big Onion, Chopped finely 2tsp Jeera / Cumin Seeds 2 Green Chilies, … [Read More...]

Carrot Shavige Payasa Recipe – Carrot Vermicelli Payasa
Carrot Shavige Payasa will be an addition to your festival recipe list and might even top in family ranking as the most delicious. Today is the first day of dasara and very auspicious to Hindus … [Read More...]

Panaka – Lemonade – Lemon Juice
Lemon Juice prepared with Jaggery and served during Rama Navami festival. This is very good to quench your thirst during summer and while trekking. Time Required: 10 … [Read More...]

Fattoush
Fattoush is a salad using Pita bread and vegetables. Cuisine: Lebanese Time required: 20 Minutes Ingredients: 1 Pita Bread 1 cup Cucumber cubes 1 cup Tomato cubes 1/2 cup Capsicum … [Read More...]
Travel

Kanthanpara Waterfalls
Nestled in a scenic spot is the Kanthanpara Waterfalls. It is near Kalpetta, Wayanad District, Kerala. The waterfall is surrounded by Banana and betel leaves plantations and forest. It is a … [Read More...]

Birds of Masinagudi
Masinagudi hills have always fascinated me. We have passed the tiny town many times on our way to Ooty and many a time have driven there for a day outing to look at the majestic hills, flora, … [Read More...]

Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary
The best part of our trip to Chikmagalur district last summer was the time spent at the Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary. This sanctuary is one of the best forest reserves that we have been to and would love … [Read More...]

Agumbe, Karnataka
Agumbe is known as Chirapunji of South India as this place is next to Chirapunji in receiving a very high rainfall. So, you can just imagine the beauty of this place, rain forests covered hills, … [Read More...]

Aquatic Birds of Kukkarahalli Lake
Recently there was a competition held in Bangalore between bird watcher's groups on the maximum number of birds sighted in a day. Well I was not part of this competition, but would like to share some … [Read More...]

Lingambudhi Lake, Mysore
Another interesting water body in Mysore is the Lingambudhi Lake. This when compared with the other two lakes Kukkarahalli and Karanji Kere is not maintained and left to the wild. A pillared … [Read More...]

Annamalaiyar Temple, Thiruvannamalai
The Annamalaiyar temple situated at Thiruvannamalai is dedicated to Lord Shiva known as Sri Arunachalaswarar - Annamaliyar. It is one of the Pancha Bhootha Sthala, the Pancha Bhootha are sky, air, … [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...]

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...]

Ganesh Chathurthi – Ganesha Festival
I have extremely fond memories of Ganesha-Gowri festival. It was one of the grand festivals of the year for the family and for Mysore city itself. Our road would be decorated with serial lights, as … [Read More...]

Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Karaavalambam Sthotra in Kannada
Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Karaavalambam Sthotra is written by Sri Jagadguru Adi Shankaracharya in Sanskrit, my grandfather Sri M.M.Patil has translated the Sthotra to Kannada. ಶ್ರೀ ಲಕ್ಷ್ಮೀನರಸಿಂಹ … [Read More...]

Festival dates in Kartik month – October and November 2025
Kārtik (October – November) Diwali /Balipadyami/New Year in Gujarat - 22 October 2025 Karthika Somawara - 27 October, 3 November, 10 November, and 17 November 2025 Uttandwadashi - 2 … [Read More...]

Gowri and Ganesha Festival Platters – Festival Food – Habbada Adige
Wish you all a very happy Gowri - Ganesha festival! Shopping, mantapa decorations, and preparing delicious festival food mark the Gowri - Ganesha festival celebrations. Gowri … [Read More...]

Happy Durgashtami 2024 – Durga Pooja – Dasara Durga Pooja
Ashtami during Dasara was exciting, because Ambode/dal vada/Lentil fritters were offered to Goddess Durga but eaten and savored by us! Dal is full of Shakti and hence might have been offered to … [Read More...]
