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
Eggless Wheat Chocolate Apple Muffins
Time Required: 45 Minutes Makes: ½ kg (500 gms) or 9 cups Ingredients: ¾ cup Wheat flour 2tbsp Cocoa powder ¼ cup Sugar Powder ½ + ¼ cup Apple, Peeled and grated 2tbsp Brown Sugar 3tbsp … [Read More...]
Heerekayi Bonda – Ridge Gourd Fritters – Turai Pakora – Beerekayi Bajji
When you bite into a Heerekayi Bonda (Ridge Gourd fritters) your taste buds are sure to be confused. The outer layer is crispy and spicy and even before the saltiness is experienced a … [Read More...]
Pudina Chutney Powder
Time Required: 15 Minutes Ingredients: 1 Cup Pudina / Mint leaves ¾ Cup Kadalebele / Split Bengal gram 10 -12 Dry red chilies A marble size Tamarind Oil Salt to taste Method: Fry all … [Read More...]
Alu Palak – Aloo Palak Recipe – Potato Spinach Gravy Recipe
A side dish with gravy using Spinach and Potatoes. Alu Palak is a very popular dish of North India. Cuisine: North India Time Required: 30 Minutes Serves: 4 Ingredients: 2 Big … [Read More...]
Spaghetti in Marinara Sauce
The best to make children eat vegetables is to add some to their favorite Pasta. The Marinara Sauce has a tomato base and any sauteed vegetable of your choice can be added to this sauce. Time … [Read More...]
Mudde Payasa – Banana Rice Payasa Recipe – Kela Chawal Kheer Recipe
Mudde Payasa is prepared using cooked Rice and Ripe Banana. Cuisine: Dakshina Kannada Time Required: 25 Minutes Ingredients: 1 Ripe Banana (Robusta / Pachabale), Chopped 1 Cup Raw … [Read More...]
Red Pepper Soup
Charred Red Pepper is pureed along with Tomatoes to churn a delicious soup. Perfect for a rainy and cold evening. Time Required: 20 Minutes Serves: 4 Ingredients: 1 Red Pepper 4 … [Read More...]
Kairi Chi Dal – Chikpea Mango Salad Recipe – Kadalebele Mavinakayi Kosambari Recipe
Kairi Chi Dal is a salad prepared using Bengal Gram Dal and Raw Mango. This is distributed among women who are invited for Haldi Kumkum on Gudi Padwa (New Year) and Ganesh idol visarjan … [Read More...]
Travel
Pondicherry – Puducherry
After learning most of the computer languages, I enrolled myself for French language lessons and imagined myself traveling to France and speaking in French but could not go beyond pronouncing Merci … [Read More...]
Temples of Goa
You will be surprised to know that there are some beautiful and ancient temples dedicated to Hindu gods in Goa. Not so surprising either as the residents of Goa before the Portuguese came in were all … [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...]
Kavadi Kere
A beautiful lake spread over 62 acres shines like glass reflecting the blue sky and the hills all around it. The floating dried leaves along with lily leaves creates a lovely pattern over it. Beside … [Read More...]
Sasihithlu Beach
Yet another beach on the West coast of Karnataka, so what is new here? The same Sea, Sun, and Sand? Yes, the same but another word starting from “S” can be added to the list: Surf. You don’t have to … [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...]
Bangalore – Bengaluru
Bangalore is the capital city of Karnataka and IT capital of India. Kempegowda was a Palegar of Vijayanagar empire who found Bangalore by chance and named the city Benda kalooru (the place where the … [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...]
ಕೃಷ್ಣನ್ನ ತೊಟ್ಟಲಿಗೆ ಹಾಕುವ ಹಾಡು (೨೪ ನಾಮಗಳು)
This is song sung to Lord Krishna during the cradle function. On the eleventh day of the baby being born, a ceremony is performed wherein all the womenfolk gather and put the baby into cradle … [Read More...]
Mouna Gowri Vrata – Mauna Gowri Vrata
Unmarried girls perform Mouna Gowri Vrata. This Vrata / vowed religious observance is performed from the first day of the Hindu month of Magh to the first day of Phalgun (for 30 days), i.e, … [Read More...]
Aarathi Song to Sri Rama
Here is an Aarathi song in praise of Lord Rama. This is sung during Rama Navami festival and can also be sung on any other festival during Aarathi. Kannada Script: ರಾಮನ ಆರತಿ … [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...]
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...]
Galipata Habba – Indian Kite Festival – Festival of Kites
Gone are the days when we used to see people flying colorful and different shape Galipata/Kites. The Kite wars and making our own customized Kites was great fun. To balance the kite a long … [Read More...]
