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
Healthy Tea
Herbal Tea is healthy tea! Required Time : 5 mts + Chilling Time Serves : 2 Ingredients: A small piece of Ginger 2 pieces Dalchini / Cinnamon 7 - 8 leaves Tulsi (Basil) 2 tsp Tea … [Read More...]
Green Chilies Pickle – Instant Green Chili Pickle – Hari Mirchi ki Achar
Green Chilies Pickle is one of our favorite pickle and goes very well with Akki Rotti and Paratha. Time Required: 20 Minutes Ingredients: 20 thin long Green Chilies / Byadagi variety is the … [Read More...]
Mocha Recipe – Coffee and Chocolate Drink
Let us warm the winter nights with some Mocha and usher in the New Year. Wish you all a very happy New Year! Time required: 5 Minutes Ingredients: 2 Cups Hot Milk 1 tbsp Cocoa Powder or … [Read More...]
Batura – Bhatura Recipe – Chole Bhature Recipe
Deep fried bread prepared using refined flour. This dish is incomplete without Channa / Chole a side dish prepared using Chik peas. Chole Bature or Channa Batura always go hand in hand. Cuisine: … [Read More...]
Kiwi Soufflé
After a hearty bread based meal, Kiwi soufflé is apt to be served as a dessert. Cuisine: French Time Required: 45 minutes Ingredients: 200 gms Whipping Cream 2tbsp Sugar ½ Cup Kiwi … [Read More...]
Antina Unde – Dinkache Laddoo – Dink Ladu – Dry Fruits Laddoo
Sweet dish prepared using dry fruits and nuts and edible gum. Antina Unde is prepared for lactating mothers in Maharashtra and North Karnataka. Time Required: 40 … [Read More...]
Palada Pal Payasa
Palada Pal Payasa is prepared using Ada. Ada is dried Rice flour flakes, which is available in any of the grocery stores. This is one of the five payasa served during Onam Sadya (festive … [Read More...]
Mango Milk Shake
Time Required: 10 Minutes Serves: 2 Ingredients: 2 Ripe Mangoes ½ Liter Milk 6 tsp Sugar Method: Scoop out the pulp of the Mangoes and blend along with Milk and Sugar in a liquidizer. … [Read More...]
Travel
Rameswaram
The conch is auspicious to Hindus and Lord Vishnu is always depicted holding a conch in one of his hands. Rameswaram is a sacred island in the shape of a conch spread across 61.8 square kilometers in … [Read More...]
Himavad Gopalaswamy Betta
Clouds zoom in and around Mesmerizing the soul Hills n’ Valleys rise n' fall Entrenching the mind To the Emerald horizon And the life between I surrender to you O’ Divine Gopala! There is … [Read More...]
Goa Heritage Buildings
Along with endless beaches, Goa is also dotted with beautiful heritage buildings reminding of the Portuguese who ruled Goa for 450 years. Goa was freed from Portuguese in 1961, but the impact of the … [Read More...]
Jal Mahal, Jaipur
When I visited Jal Mahal, Jaipur in 1995, I was very disappointed to see the Man Sagar Lake in which it is situated was dry and dirty. The palace itself was not maintained well. I hoped that the place … [Read More...]
I live to tell this story…
I was parched and knew I would die a slow and painful death. The stench was unbearable and the plastic was clogging my respiratory organs. Slowly my body was getting filled by … [Read More...]
Rajasthan
The meaning of the name of the largest state of India, Rajasthan is “land of the kings”. It is also the land of sun, sand, songs and dance. The history, culture, art, landscapes and cuisine are rich … [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...]
Festivals
Kiratha Arjuna – Shabara Shankara
One of Lord Shiva’s statues in Nanjanagud is Kiratha Arjuna – Shabara Shankara statue. The character of KiraAthaArjuna is introduced in the Aranya Parva (forest section) of the great epic … [Read More...]
Madhwa Navami
Prathoma Hanumanamah| Dwithiyo Bheemayevacha| Poornaprajna Thrithyasto| Bhagavatkarya Sadhakaha|| The above shloka/chanting is all about the three avatars/incarnations of Sri Madhwacharya. … [Read More...]
ಸರಸ್ವತಿ ಪ್ರಾರ್ಥನೆ – Saraswathi Prarthana
Today is Vasantha Panchami festival celebrated grandly by people of West Bengal. Here is a prarthana/prayer on goddess of education Saraswathi, which was written by my grandfather, M.M.Patil, … [Read More...]
Festival dates in Phalgun month – February and March 2026
Festival dates in Phalgun month – February and March 2026 Phālgun (February – March) Sri Raghavendra Swami Jayanthi – 24 February 2026 Holi – 2 to 4 March 2026 … [Read More...]
Aarathi Song – Lakshmi Arathi Song – Goddess Lakshmi Pooja Song
This is a song written by my mom and we sing this song alternatively with other songs on Friday evening while we perform aarathi to goddess Lakshmi. It can be sung to any tune that you are … [Read More...]
Song to Goddess Lakshmi – Varamahalakshmi Arathi Haadu
My mother had written this song in the praise of Goddess Mahalakshmi in 1996. This song can be sung on festivals like Varamahalakshmi, Diwali Lakshmi Pooja, Shravana Shukravara Pooja, Ashada … [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...]
