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

Kadlebele Uddinabele Chutney – Dal Chutney Recipe – Lentils Chutney Recipe
Chutney prepared using Bengal Gram and Split Black Gram. Cuisine: Karnataka Time Required: 10 Minutes Ingredients: 1 Cup Fresh Coconut 1tbsp Kadlebele / Bengal Gram 1/2 tbsp Uddinabele … [Read More...]

Hesarubele Muchore – Green Gram Savory
During Dasara in Mysore, the households would start preparations to arrange dolls in their houses. The aroma of savories and sweets being prepared would fill the air and children would wait in … [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...]

Guntpongalu
It is a dosa in the shape of a ball, also known as Guliappa in South Canara (Karnataka) and Phad in North Karnataka. This is known as Guntpongalu in South Karnataka. I tasted this dish for the first … [Read More...]

Avalakki Bisibelebhath – Poha Bisibele bhath – Beaten Rice South Indian Pot Meal
A wholesome meal prepared using beaten rice, lentils, and vegetables. Time Required: 25 Minutes Ingredients: 1 Cup thick Avalakki / Beaten Rice / Poha ½ Cup Hesarubele / Green Gram Split … [Read More...]

Chakkali
A salty fritter in the shape of concentric circles, which is commonly prepared in South Indian homes and a favorite among children. Chakkali is compared to the Moon and a rhyme goes like this "Chanda … [Read More...]

Ek Do Teen Chaar Burfi
A very easy to remember recipe and can be made in very easily for parties and festivals. Time Required: 25 Minutes Ingredients: 1 Cup Chiroti Rawa / Fine Semolina 2 Cups Ghee / Clarified … [Read More...]

Hagalkayi Uppinakayi – Bitter gourd Pickle Recipe – Karela Achar
Spicy, sour, and bitter pickle prepared using Bitter gourd and Green Chilies. Time Required: 15 Minutes + Maturing time Ingredients: 1 Hagalkayi / Bitter Gourd 10 Green Chilies 1tsp … [Read More...]
Travel

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...]

Jaisalmer Fort
Sonar Quila / Golden fort, the living fort of Jaisalmer is fascinating and exotic. Memories of time spent here will be etched forever. Jaisalmer fort was built by Bhati Rajput ruler Jaisal in … [Read More...]

Sharavathi River
Sharavathi is a river with its origin at Ambuthirtha in Thirthahalli taluk, Shimoga district. Sharavathi river also tumbles down the cliff to form the enticing Jog Falls. A dam was constructed … [Read More...]

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...]

Kolluru Mookambika Temple
Amongst the hills of Kodachadri and on the bank of river Sourpanika is the 1200 years old temple of Kolluru Mookambika in Udupi district. The presiding deity of this Shree Kshetra is Mookambika who is … [Read More...]

ISKCON Temples of Bangalore
The most iconic temple in Bangalore is the ISKCON temple situated on a small hill along the West of Chord Road. It is dedicated to Sri Radha Krishna. ISKCON stand for International Society for … [Read More...]

Maharashtra State
Maharashtra is the third largest state in India. The State of Bombay was split into Maharashtra and Gujarat according to the language spoken in 1960 by the Bombay Reorganization Act. The borders are … [Read More...]
Festivals

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...]

Song on Lord Shiva – Devotional Song
Wish you all a very happy Mahashivarathri. My mother has written this song in praise of Lord Shiva in Kannada Script. ಶಿವನ ಮಹಾತ್ಮೆ ಹಾಡು ಜಯತು ಜಯತು ಶ್ರೀಮಹಾದೇವಾ ಪರಮೇಶ್ವರ ದೇವಾ ಪರಮೇಶ್ವರ ।।ಪ।। ಜಗವ … [Read More...]

Siriyala Shashti
Shiva Shiva endare bhayavilla Shiva namake sathi berilla (2) The above lyrics is a famous song from the movie Bhaktha Siriyala starring Lokesh, Aarathi, and Ashwath. The meaning of the … [Read More...]

Mahalakshmi Ashtakam – Lakshmi Sthotra – Prayer to Goddess Lakshmi
Wish you all a very happy Dasara. Today is the first day of Dasara known as Padya. The nine days during this festival is dedicated to the shakthi devathes (divine power). Here is a prayer to goddess … [Read More...]

Makara Sankranti
Sankranthi is a harvest festival and “Sankranthi” means movement. It is a celebration of the sun entering from the zodiac sign Dhanur/Sagittarius into Makara/Capricorn. So this Makara Sankranti … [Read More...]

Habbada Adige – Festival Food Recipes
Festivals are time for a variety of food to be cooked and relished by one and all at home. The Habbada Adige (festive food) is prepared without Onion and Garlic. In Karnataka, the following dishes are … [Read More...]

Ritu – Indian Seasons – Rithu
Ritu means "season" in ancient Indian calendars used in India, Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka. There are six ritus or seasons. The word is derived from the Vedic Sanskrit word Ṛtú. Every season, … [Read More...]