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
Palak Vada – Palak Medu Vada – Uddina Vada – Medhu Vadai – Ulundu Vadai
Palak Vada is a fritter prepared using Split Black Gram and Spinach. This does not need any accompaniment and can be served hot with Tea. Cuisine: South Indian Time Required: 20 minutes + … [Read More...]
Radish and Onion Salad
When in a hurry to make a side dish, try Radish and Onion Salad. It is quick to make and delicious to have with Indian Bread. Cuisine: Karnataka Time Required: 10 Minutes Ingredients: 4 … [Read More...]
Sweet Corn Cheese Topping
Topping with sweet corn and cheese goes very well with hash browns, Nachos, bread toast, and on Papdi! Cuisine: Continental Time Required: 15 Minutes Ingredients: 1bsp Oil 1tsp Cumin … [Read More...]
Hasi Majjige Huli – Pumpkin in Spicy Yogurt Recipe – Mor Kozhambu Recipe
Hasi Majjige Huli is a yogurt and vegetable dish with raw Masala paste. Time Required: 20 Minutes Serves: 2 Ingredients: 1 Cup cooked slices of Ash Pumpkin or Cucumber or Leafy … [Read More...]
Onion Besan Paratha – Onion Gram Flour Flat Bread Recipe – Pyas Paratha Recipe
Onion and Gram flour stuffed bread. Onion Besan paratha is extremely tasty and form the state of Punjab. Time Required: 30 Minutes Makes: 4 Ingredients: 2 Cups Wheat Flour Oil for … [Read More...]
Coconut Rose Burfi – Nariyal Gulab Burfi Recipe – Thengu Gulabi Mithai Recipe
Wish you all a very happy Dasara! Here is a recipe for a rosy start to the Navratri festival. This delicious sweet dish is easy to make and can be prepared during any festival. Time required: … [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...]
Kasoori Methi Paratha – Dried Fenugreek Leaves Flat Bread Recipe
Indian bread prepared using dried Fenugreek leaves. Cuisine: North India Time Required: 25 Minutes Serves: 4 Ingredients: 2 Cups Wheat Flour ¾ Cup Kasoori Methi / Dried Fenugreek … [Read More...]
Travel
Jain Temples Jaisalmer
Some of the most magnificent Jain temples are location in the fort of Jaisalmer. Jain temples Jaisalmer are ancient and are a pilgrimage center for Jains. These temples date back to the 12th and 15th … [Read More...]
Forts of Goa
Most of the forts built in Goa are high up on the hills and offer a grand view of the Arabian Sea. The forts of Goa are dotted from Tiracol Fort, which is at the northernmost tip of Goa to Cabo da … [Read More...]
Chunchanakatte Falls – Chunchankatte Waterfalls
Cauvery flows into Chunchanakatte falls roaring thunderously forming a 60 feet height and approximately 300 to 400 feet wide waterfalls. This place is situated 57 Kms from Mysore in Krishna Raja … [Read More...]
Saheliyon Ki Bari Udaipur
It took some time for us to pronounce the name (Saheliyon Ki Bari) of this ancient park built by Maharana Sangram Singh II in Udaipur in the 18th Century. He built Saheliyon ki Bari, … [Read More...]
Varadahalli
Varadahalli also known as Varadapura is situated 6 Kms from Sagar, Shimoga district of Karnataka. This divine place in the midst of pristine natural surroundings of the Western ghats was the chosen … [Read More...]
Birds of Byndoor
Byndoor is a beautiful coastal town in Udupi district, Karnataka. This place was also known as Bindupura and is famous for the Byndoor Beach, Someshwara Beach, Kosalli Falls, and Ottinene Sunset … [Read More...]
Birding in the vicinity of Valley School
Valley school is situated 20 Kms on Kanakpura road. The road leading to the Valley school and the surrounding area is a forest offering a place to seek the much needed solace from the maddening … [Read More...]
Festivals
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...]
King Raghu and Vijayadashami – Importance of Banni Tree – English Version
King Raghu of Raghuvamsha fame was a brave, generous, humble, and sensible ruler of Ayodhya. He had won many battles and his treasury was filled to the brim. On the behest of his guru Vashishta, he … [Read More...]
Satyanarayana Aarathi Song
It is a must to read the story of Satyanarayana at the end of Satyanarayana pooja. Here is a song covering all the stories that has to be read. You can sing this while doing the final … [Read More...]
Festival dates in Chaitra month – March and April 2026
Festival dates in Chaitra month – March and April 2026 are as follows: Chaitra (March - April) Ugadi/Gudi Padwa - Sri Parabhava Nama Samvatsaram - 19 March 2026 Gangaur - 4 March … [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...]
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...]
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...]
