Today is Vijayadashami, the final day of Dasara / Navratri festivities. The festival culminates in a grand manner with thousands attending the famous Dasara procession at Mysuru. … [Read More...]
Happy Ayudha Pooja 2026
Depending on the number of Ayudha / weapons that the ruler owned decided how powerful he was in that region. Weapons comprised of daggers, guns, revolvers, swords, cannons, cannons on wheels and … [Read More...]
Happy Durgashtami 2026 – Durga Pooja – Dasara Durga Pooja
Durga pooja is no more confined to West Bengal, we can all experience the devotion and pooja in any city of India. The pendals set up by the migrants from West Bengal during Dasara gives us an … [Read More...]
Saraswathi Pooje – Sapthami – Navratri Saraswathi Pooja 2026
Swathi Nakshatra Saraswathi Pooja 2026 is on 16th October 2026. On this day, children bring their favorite or toughest subject book to the Golu / Gombe stand and keep near the doll of goddess … [Read More...]
Ramaswamy Circle, Mysuru
Our house was just behind hundred-foot road and I must have passed on this road leading to Ramaswamy circle a zillion times. Ramaswamy circle was like the head of the hundred-foot road. Jhansi Lakshmi … [Read More...]
Ambujavalli Temple Mysuru Palace
I remember my grandparents always taking me to this temple for a special pooja. While the pooja was getting done, I would be running around the temple premises and also sit on the beautifully … [Read More...]
Shweta Varahaswamy Temple Mysuru Palace
Ambavilas / Mysuru Palace complex is dotted with many ancient Hindu temples. One of them is the Shweta Varahaswamy Temple. The Shweta Varahaswamy Temple is situated in the southern gate / … [Read More...]
Dasara Gombe – Doll arrangement – Golu – 2026
During Navratri / Dasara, in Mysuru-Bengaluru region, the tradition of doll arrangement is still continued in most of the homes. They are arranged on either 3 steps or 5 steps or 7 steps or 9 … [Read More...]
Sharad Navratri Dasara Calendar for October 2026
Sharad Navratri 2026 Calendar (October) Day and Date … [Read More...]
Kada Prasad – Godi Halwa – Atta ka halwa – Gurudwara Atta Halwa
Tomorrow is the beginning of Dasara pooja, vrata, doll arrangement, garba, and endless celebrations. For the next 10 days family and friends get-together and celebrate good over evil in various … [Read More...]
Festival dates in Ashwin month – October and November 2026
Festival dates in Āshwin month – October and November 2026 Āshwin (September – October) Dasara - Navaratri - 11 October to 20 October 2026 Saraswathi Pooja - 16 October 2026 … [Read More...]
Coriander Rice Recipe
Coriander Rice Recipe is a simple and quick recipe using lots of Coriander and Raw Mango or Lemon. As this dish is a dry dish, it is very convenient to pack for school lunch boxes or picnics or … [Read More...]
India loves to pose – 59
India loves to pose series contains random pictures of people in different moods and gears captured during a moment in their story. I believe that behind every face lies a story. The smile, the … [Read More...]
October 2026 Hints
Tie a stole to the airplane or car seat top portion and rest your head in the pouch for a good snooze. Keep your Phone in a zip lock bag and hang it on the airplane/train food tray and lock … [Read More...]
Habbada Thindi and Panaka – Festival Snacks and Juice Recipes
Food and festival go hand in hand in India. Special dishes are prepared on festivals and during vratha (observance). Habbada Adige / festival food is prepared on all festivals. But … [Read More...]
Vegetarian Recipes
Bhath Powder – Spice Powder for Rice – Vangibhath Powder
Bhath Powder is a masala powder used to prepare a spicy rice or rawa (semolina) dish along with vegetables like Vangibhath / Eggplant, Potaotes, Peas, Fenugreek leaves, Capsicum, Cauliflower, Cabbage … [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...]
Kharabhath – Khara Bath Recipe – Masala Bath Recipe – Rawa Masala Bath Recipe
A variation of Uppittu/Upma. This is a tasty breakfast or evening snack prepared using semolina and vegetables. When this is served along with Kesaribhath/Sajjige a sweet dish it is called … [Read More...]
Pineapple and Pomegranate Kosambari – South Indian Salad recipe
The most awaiting months of the year with innumerable festivals are here. Aroma of festive food fills the air in every home. Children in crisp silk run around and women of the house get … [Read More...]
Lal, Pila Bhindi Subzi – Red Yellow Capsicum with Okra
There was a Red and Yellow Pepper along with some Okra in the fridge and I came up with this recipe using all of them. Thankfully everyone relished it with Phulkas. Time Required: 15 … [Read More...]
Sabbakki Payasa – Sabudana Kheer – Sago Pearls Pudding
Sabbakki Payasa is a pudding prepared using Sago pearls. The Sago pearls become transparent when cooked and appear like bubbles in Milk, which children love to play with in the plate. Time … [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...]
Ker Sangri – Dried Beans Side Dish – Rajastani Kandi Subzi Recipe
This is one of the most authentic dishes of Rajasthan. I made a point to taste this dish when in Rajasthan. I also bought the dried Ker and Sangri and prepared this dish at home. The Ker is a wild … [Read More...]
Travel
Mavinakere
I had a strong desire to visit our family deity Sri Ranganatha Swamy also known as Mavinakere Ranga in Mavinakere and I could fulfill this desire last year. I had heard that we have to trek on a … [Read More...]
Nahargarh Fort – Jaipur, Rajasthan
Nahargarh fort was built in 1734 by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II. It is built on one of the hills of the Aravalli at 600 feet above Jaipur city in Rajasthan. The fort is being renovated and the … [Read More...]
Shri Venugopala Swamy Temple, Kannambadi
Since the day it was reported that the Venugopala Swamy temple resurfaced in the backwaters of Cauvery 2002 due to drought in the Mysore region, I was very keen on visiting the temple. There was … [Read More...]
Catigao Wildlife Sanctuary
Picture1 - On the way to Catigao Established in 1969, Catigao Wildlife Sanctuary is located in Canacona Taluk, South east of Goa. It is on NH – 17 bordering Goa – Karnataka border. The sanctuary … [Read More...]
Meenakshi Amman Temple
Meenakshi Amman Temple is an ancient and popular temple in Madurai. The sheer size of the temple overwhelms you and the magnificent gopurams (towers) will make you gasp with awe. The main deity … [Read More...]
Udupi Sri Krishna Temple
Udupi is famous for the Krishna Matha (monastery) established by the dwaitha philosopher Sri Madhvacharya in the 13th Century. The presiding deity of Udupi Sri Krishna Temple is fondly called as … [Read More...]
Halebidu – Halebeedu
The city Dwarasamudra meaning “the door to the sea” was the capital city of the Hoysala Empire in the 12th century. In the 14th century the city was vandalized by Malik Kafur and since then has been … [Read More...]
Festivals
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...]
Sampath Shanivara Pooja
The day next to Shravana Shukravara Pooja is Shravana Shanivara Gowri / Lakshmi Pooja also known as Sampath Shanivara Gowri / Lakshmi Pooja. This pooja / vratha / religious observance is … [Read More...]
Shri Sathyanarayana Swamy Vratha
Narayana Lakshminaryana Narayana Sathyanarayana The above chorus is from a famous Kannada song Kapadu Sri Sathya Narayana. For lyrics please refer the following link - … [Read More...]
Dasara Procession and Torch Light Parade during the reign of the Wodeyars
Picture1 - Illuminated Mysore Palace Mysore Dasara procession during the Maharajah’s rule used to be on a larger scale and grander. My grandparents and parents generation go on and on … [Read More...]
Vijayothsava – Vijayadashami – Importance of Banni – Kannada Version
Story of King Raghu (of Raghuvamsha) written by my mother in Kannada script. This story appears in the Ramayana and my mother has written in simple words for easy understanding. Click here for … [Read More...]
Festival dates in Kartik month – October and November 2025
Kārtik (October – November) Diwali /Balipadyami/New Year in Gujarat - 22 October 2025 Karthika Somawara - 27 October, 3 November, 10 November, and 17 November 2025 Uttandwadashi - 2 … [Read More...]
Adhik Maas – Adhika Masa – Purushotham Maas – Maal Maas
Adhik Maas is an extra month added to the Lunar Calendar to be in sync with the Solar Calendar. This period is also known as Adhika Masa in Kannada, Malimmacha (Maal), and Purushotham (Lord … [Read More...]
