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...]
Praline – Dry Fruits Chikki Recipe – Dry Fruits Bar Recipe
Praline is prepared using sugar and nuts. This is used in cakes, pastries, and ice creams. Time Required: 10 minutes Ingredients: 1Cup Almonds or Cashew nuts, Pistachios 1Cup … [Read More...]
Badanekayi Masala Palya – Eggplant with spices – Brinjal Side Dish Recipe
This side dish is very similar to Yennegai (Coconut, Onion and Spices stuffed into Brinjals/Eggplant/Aubergine and cooked in oil) but much more easier to prepare. In this dish the aubergine is … [Read More...]
Microgreens Pear Salad Recipe
Microgreens are now readily available and when tossed with the right ingredients, it can turn out to be a delicious healthy starter at parties. Ingredients: A handful of Microgreens - I have … [Read More...]
Thandai – Sardai Recipe – Dry Fruits Milkshake Recipe – Dry Fruits Smoothie Recipe
Thandai is a refreshing drink prepared using many dried fruits. Holi, the festival of colors ends with a drink of Thandai and it is also offered to Lord Shiva on Shivarathri. … [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...]
Huggi – Ven Pongal Recipe – Khara Pongal – Khichdi Recipe
Also known as Pongal or Khichdi, Huggi is prepared using Rice, Split Green Gram and spices. This recipe is in typical South Indian style. Huggi is compulsorily prepared a day before … [Read More...]
Halasinahannina Gidde – Halasinahannina Gatti – Jackfruit Idli – Pelatha Gidde
In Mysuru, we do get Jackfruit and it is enjoyed as is and was not aware of the various dishes that can be prepared out of this fruit. When I heard about this dish, I wanted to taste it and … [Read More...]
Travel
Wenlock Downs, Ooty
Wenlock Downs is popularly known as 9th and 6th mile as they are situated exactly at the 9th and 6th mile from Ooty. Innumerable movies have been shot here with the hero and the leading lady singing … [Read More...]
Yennehole
Yennehole is a lake situated in Dadadahalli village in Mysore. This lake is surrounded by non-irrigated fields and fallow land. You can find many villagers grazing their livestock in these … [Read More...]
Chamundi Hills – Mysore
As you near Mysore city, the first thing that you notice is Chamundi hills standing protectively over the city spread on its foothills. Every Mysorean is fond of this hill and they might have visited … [Read More...]
Byndoor Beach
Byndoor Beach is a beautiful stretch of sand on the Arabian Sea. The place is completely green with hills on one side and long stretches of beach on the other side.Together it is one of the … [Read More...]
Yercaud
Yercaud is a beautiful hill station on the Shevaroys hills of the Eastern Ghats. Yercaud got its name because of the many trees surrounding the lake. Yeri means Lake and Kadu means forest. The … [Read More...]
Ghati Subramanya Temple
Ghati Subramanya temple of great reverence is a piligrimage center situated near Doddaballapur, 60 Km from Bangalore. Ghati Subramanya temple is dedicated to Lord Subramanya and Lakshmi … [Read More...]
Sultan Battery, Kerala
Gananaptivattam was a small town in Wayanad district ruled by the Rajas of the Veda tribe and Pazhassi Raja of Kottayam-Kurumbanad Royal Dynasty of Kannur. Hyder Ali captured Wayanad and his son Tipu … [Read More...]
Festivals
Festival dates in Pushya month – December and January 2026
Festival dates in Paush/Pushya (December – January) Dhanurmasa Pooja – Starts on 16 December 2025 and ends on 14 January 2026 Vaikunta Ekadasi – 30 December 2025 … [Read More...]
Navaratri Golu – Dolls Arrangement during Dasara
This is in continuation of the post “Traditional Dolls Arrangement”. The custom of arranging dolls during Navaratri / Dasara is also followed in Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Andhra Pradesh. In these states … [Read More...]
Swathi Nakshatra Saraswathi Pooja 2024
As children, we would feel very important on the day of Saraswathi Pooja during Dasara. On this day, our books would be stacked in front of Goddess Saraswathi Photograph and we would all worship … [Read More...]
Rama Navami
Rama Navami is a festival celebrating the birth of Sri Rama, son of King Dasharatha of Ayodhya. “Yada Yadaa hi dharmasya gnanirbhavathi bharatha Abhyuththaana madharmasya thadathmaanam … [Read More...]
Guru Nanak Jayanthi
The birthday of Guru Nanak who is the founder of Sikhism is celebrated by Punjabis all over the world. Devotees pay obeisance to their Guru in Gurudwaras. Guru Nanak Dev was born in 1469 at … [Read More...]
Sheege Hunnime
Sheege Hunnime festival is fondly remembered by my mother. The excerpt follows… My dad seemed to be in a very celebrative mood. He ordered the servants to get the bullock cart ready and also … [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...]
