Add baking soda while washing fruits and vegetable, this will remove any type of contamination. Add sparkling water to Pani puri dough. The Puris will turn out crisp. Add oil while boiling … [Read More...]

Malnad Style Beetroot Kayi Chutney
I tasted this Beetroot chutney at Sridhara Paduka Mandira in Bengaluru. The saying that god prasada is divine and satisfying is so true. The humble lunch comprising to Rice huli, saru, and … [Read More...]

Lord Jaganath Rath Yatra
The famous Chariot festival of Orissa state falls in the month of Ashada (June - July). The Rath Yatra is one of the oldest and biggest festival of India held in Puri, Odisha … [Read More...]

Festival dates in Ashadha month – July and August 2026
Festival dates in Ashadha month – July and August 2026 Āshādha (July - August) - From 15 July to 12 August 2026 Ashada Shukravara Lakmi Pooja - 17 July, 24 July, 31 July, … [Read More...]

Flower Arrangement – Peaced
Who better than Gautham Buddha to represent Peace? This arrangement using Bamboo and Buddha bust gives out the most peaceful oriental vibe. The famous Three Refuges (or Triple Gem) in … [Read More...]

Water Apple Salad Recipe
Water Apple in White and Red are available in plenty during May End to June End. This fruit though tasteless is considered good for health. I tried this recipe and the fruit became a bit … [Read More...]

July 2026 Hints
When using Banana leaves as a wrap, iron using an electric ironing machine iron and then use them. Add a pinch of salt at each stage of cooking, for example, add a pinch when sautéing Onions, … [Read More...]

Flower Arrangement – Rock Solid
In nature, wild flowers gently peep out from rocks and its crevices. This looks very beautiful. We can introduce rocks in our gardens for an aesthetic look. Similarly, rocks can be … [Read More...]

Yoga Narasimha and Saint Ramanujacharya temple, Todanur
The Yoga Narasimha and Saint Ramanujacharya temple is on a hillock and has been renovated recently and was sporting a fresh coat of paint. This temple , which is 1000 years old is built in the Chola … [Read More...]

Festival dates in Jyaishtha month – June and July 2026
Festival dates in Jyaishtha month – June and July 2026 Adhika Jyaishtha (17th May - 15th June) Vata Savitri Vratha / Phala Poornima - 29 June 2026 Kara Hunnime / Bhoomi Hunnime … [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...]

Neeru Dosa – Thin Rice Dosa
"Neeru" in Kannada means water. Neeru Dosa is prepared with a batter as thin as water and hence the name. Cuisine: Udupi Time Required: 20 Minutes + Soaking Time Serves: … [Read More...]
Vegetarian Recipes

Puri Unde – Puffed Rice Laddoo
Puri Unde - Puffed Rice Laddoo is a laddoo (sweet) prepared using puffed rice and Jaggery. It is prepared on all auspicious occasions and is distributed among friends and relatives. Cuisine: … [Read More...]

Alu Torai Ki Subzi – Aloo Subzi – Potato Ridge gourd Recipe
One of my house help "B" shared this recipe. I tried this immediately and loved the combination of Potatoes and Ridge gourd in a creamy gravy. Ingredients: 2 Potatoes/Alu with skin, … [Read More...]

Steamed Modaka – Kuchichida Kadabu – Ukadiche modak
A sweet coconut filled in Rice flour wantons, which are steamed. This is also known as Kuchichida Kadabu (Steamed Kadabu) in Kannada. This is prepared on Ganesh Chathurthi and Bheemana … [Read More...]

Muskmelon Juice – Karbooja Panaka Recipe – Sidota Juice
Today is Rama Navami, the day Lord Rama was born. May this day bring solutions for the pandemic that has hit the world. Let us hope everyone of them impacted is cured and that the front … [Read More...]

Malpua
Deep fried fritters dipped in Sugar syrup and served with a dollop of Ice Cream. Malpua With Ice Cream is a favorite dessert during summer. Required Time : 40 … [Read More...]

Kurtkoti Avalakki – Kurtakoti Avalakki – Hatchtchida Avalakki Recipe – Kuttavalakki Recipe – Dadpe Poha Recipe
Kurtkoti is my maternal grandparents place, which is a village in North Karnataka, where most of my summer holidays were spent with fun, food and freedom. This Spicy crunchy flattened rice snack is a … [Read More...]

Yellu Hasimenasinakayi Chutney
Yellu Hasimenasinakayi Chutney is a chutney prepared using Sesame Seeds and Green Chilies. This can be stored for three days without refrigeration. Time Required: 10 … [Read More...]

Vanilla Cake with Chocolate Icing
Wish you all a Merry Christmas and very Happy New Year! This is a simple eggless sponge cake with flaky chocolate icing. I always feel like baking during Christmas and New Year time. Time … [Read More...]
Travel

Kudremukh Peak
Though we did not trek up to the peak, the drive to the place where the actual trek starts was an awesome journey. Yes, we do plan to trek to the peak sometime soon. The Kudremukh peak is 1892 … [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...]

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...]

Vintage car museum, Udaipur
The Maharanas of Udaipur were connoisseurs of cars. These vintage beauties on wheels like Cadillac, Chevrolet, Morris, Rolls Royce, and so on are displayed within the grounds of the Garden Hotel in … [Read More...]

Bhagamandala
Bhagamandala is famous for the confluence of the 3 sacred rivers, Cauvery, Sujyothi and Kanike and also for the Kerala style temple dedicated to Bhagandeshwara / Lord Shiva. Cauvery flows at this … [Read More...]

Ooty Botanical Gardens
The jewel in Ooty’s tourism crown is the beautifully laid 22 acre Ooty botanical gardens. The garden was conceptualized in 1847 by the then governor of Madras Marquis of Tweedale. The 22 acres is … [Read More...]

Tirupati
Tirupati does not need any introduction to the readers. Yet, as I have visited this place many times, this write-up is a humble offering to the gateway to the richest temple in the world: Lord Balaji … [Read More...]
Festivals

Festival dates in Ashwin month – September and October 2025
Āshwin (September – October) Dasara - Navaratri - 22 September to 2 October 2025 Saraswathi Pooja - 29 September 2025 Durgashtami - 30 September 2025 Ayudha Pooja - 1 October … [Read More...]

Aanai Pandige – Aane Habba – Karthika Deepotsava
Aanai Pandige Karthikai also known as Karthika Deepotsava, Aane / Elephant Habba is an important festival of Iyengars (Vishishtha Advaitha sect) of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. It is … [Read More...]

Bhagvad Gita Aarathi Song – Bhagvad Gita Jayanthi – Bhagvad Gita Birthday
Bhagvad Gita Aarathi Song is a prayer that is sung after reading the Srimad Bhagvad Gita book. Known as Gita Arati, the verses are found at the end of the 18th chapter of the Bhagvad Gita … [Read More...]

Rakhsha Bandhan
Rakhsha Bandhan festival is a celebration of the brother-sister bonding, celebrated mainly in North India. It falls on Poornima / full moon day in the Hindu moth of Shravana. August - September … [Read More...]

Karnataka Rajyotsava
Jai bharata jananiya tanujaate jai he karnataka mathe Jai sundara nadi vanagaLa nade jai he rasa rushigala beede. Bhoodeviya mukutada nava maNiye gandhada chandada honnina ganiye Raghava … [Read More...]

Song in the glory of Lord Shiva
This devotional song on Lord Shiva sung during the Aarathi. ಶಿವನ ಆರತಿ ಹಾಡು ಆರುತಿ ಎತ್ತಿರೆ । ಮಾರಾನಮರ್ದನಾಗೆ ಆರುತಿ ಎತ್ತಿರೆ । ನಂದೀ ವಾಹವಗೆ। ರಂಭೆಯೇರು ಚಂದದಿಂದ|| ಮುಂಗುರುಳಿನಲ್ಲೆ ಚಂದ್ರನ್ ಧರಸೀದವಗೇ … [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...]