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
Cucumber Hasi Gojju – Sweet and Sour Cucumber Salad
Cucumber Hasi Gojju is a sweet and sour salad and is prepared in South Karnataka households during auspicious occasions. If you are bored of the usual Kosambari (salad), you can try this recipe for a … [Read More...]
Cabbage Dosa
Crispy dosas/crepes with crunchy cabbage. Time Required: 20 Minutes + Soaking Time + Fermenting Time Serves: 4 Ingredients: 1½ Cups Raw Rice ½ Cup Urad Dal/Black Gram split 1 tsp … [Read More...]
Dragon Fruit Salad Recipe
Dragon fruit growing is catching up across India. The plants thrive in this weather and the farmers are reaping good harvest year on year. Here is a simple yet difference fruit salad using Dragon … [Read More...]
God Saru – Sihi Saaru Recipe – Sweet Rasam Recipe – Thili Saaru Recipe – Goddasaru Recipe
God Saru is a watery and sweet curry / soup prepared using Jaggery. This is best served when you feel like having something light. Goes very well with Sweet Lemon Pickle or Spicy Lemon … [Read More...]
Khara Kuchchida Kadabu – Spicy Steamed Modak – Masaledar Ukadiche Modak
Spicy lentil mixture filled in Rice flaps and steamed. Khara Kuchchida Kadabu is very popular in south India and in Karnataka this dish is prepared on Bheemana Amavasya festival. A sweet variety is … [Read More...]
Udaru Bele
Recipe by mom. This is one of the side dishes from her childhood days. Udaru means separate, Bele means Dal / lentils. Time Required: 20 Minutes Ingredients: ½ Cup Tuvar Dal 1 Onion, … [Read More...]
Palak Chutney – Spinach Chutney Recipe
Palak Chutney is prepared using Spinach. Time Required: 10 Minutes Ingredients: 1 bunch Palak/Spinach 2tsp Urad Dal/Split Black Gram 3tsp Coconut 5 - 6 Green Chilies 2" piece … [Read More...]
Dosa Italiano
Dosa Italiano as the name suggests contains Italian ingredients as topping. Cuisine: Fusion Time Required: 20 Minutes Ingredients: 1 Bowl Dosa Batter Olive Oil for roasting For the … [Read More...]
Travel
Sims Park Coonoor
Sims park is named after J.D.Sim who was the secretary of the Madras Club in 1874. The garden is spread over 12 hectares with more than 1000 plant species at an elevation of 1780 mts above sea … [Read More...]
Chhatarpur Temple Complex
Chhatarpur Temple complex is the second largest temple complex in India and is located in South Delhi. 60 acres of land has been converted into gardens and lawns dotted with 20 temples dedicated to … [Read More...]
Nrityagram Dance Village, Hessarghatta and Taj Kuteeram
We planned for a weekend getaway to Nrityagram, which turned to be a unique experience. The dance village is situated on a 10 acre land near Hessarghatta, 30 Km from Bangalore. This was founded in … [Read More...]
Balmuri Falls and Edmuri Falls
Balmuri Falls and Edmuri Falls is picnickers paradise situated 18 Km from Mysore city. Balmuri Falls is a man-made waterfall (check dam) built on Cauvery River. As the river turns to the right at … [Read More...]
Kalapathar Beach – Havelock Island
If you want an example of a breath-taking beach, it is Kalapathar Beach – Havelock Island. Kalapathar means Black Rocks and an adjoining village is also known as Kalapathar. Emerald … [Read More...]
Sooryanarayana Temple, Lakkundi – Suryanarayana temple
Sun plays a vital role in our lives and the whole mankind, animals, plants, and birds thrive because of the sunlight. Hence, Sun is worshipped throughout India. Rathasapthami festival is … [Read More...]
Pokhran, Rajasthan
"I love the full moon night in the sandy desert and wish to spend time there alone and I love Pokhran because it is a theatre of action and liberty," said our ex-president Hon. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam … [Read More...]
Festivals
Saraswathi Prarthane – Prayer to Goddess Saraswathi
Today is Saraswathi Pooja, which is part of Navrathri celebrations. This is a prarthane (prayer) to Goddess Saraswathi written by my grandfather Sri M.M.Patil in 1969. ಸರಸ್ವತಿ ಪ್ರಾರ್ಥನೆ ಕಂದ … [Read More...]
Ganapathi Bappa Morya!
During the Visarjane of Genesha idol after the celebration of Ganesha festival, it is common to hear people hollering “Ganapthi Bappa Morya” in North Karnataka and Maharashtra. In this post the … [Read More...]
Mangala Drowya and Pooje Samaanu
Mangala Drowya and Pooje Samaanu means sacred items used on auspicious occasions like marriage rituals, upanayana (sacred thread ceremony), shrimantha (arathi to pregnant women), namakarna (naming … [Read More...]
Holi – Festival of Colors
I remember Holi being celebrated on the streets of Mysore, where the kids from the neighborhood would go begging from house to house collecting discarded things that can be burnt like mats, brooms, … [Read More...]
Manmatha or Kama – the god of love
Another interesting statue in Nanjanagudu is that of Manmatha or Kama - the god of love (Kama Samhara (killing) Murthy (idol)). During Holi festival, effigy of Manmatha or Kama is burnt, which is … [Read More...]
Guru Poornima
Guru Poornima is the auspicious day of worshiping the Guru/Master falls on Poornima, which is the full moon day in the Hindu season of Ashada. July - August in the Gregorian calendar. This … [Read More...]
Surya Stotra
Today is Rathasapthami and here is a beautiful stotra / hymn in praise of the sun written by Lakshmisha in Jaimini Mahabharatha. Kannada script: ಸೂರ್ಯ ಸ್ತೋತ್ರ ಮಿತ್ರಾಯ ಸೂರ್ಯಾಯ ಹಂಸಾಯ … [Read More...]
