Avocados are available in the South Indian market from April onwards. There is an abundance of desi Avocados in the market. Apart from making Guacamole, you can make many types of … [Read More...]
Flower Arrangement – Solitaire
You do no need a bunch of flowers to create a flower arrangement. A single flower can be a garden as well as a good flower arrangement. Ikebana rules can be sometimes applied to freestyle … [Read More...]
June 2026 Hints
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
Karibevina Chutney Pudi – Curry Leaves Chutney Powder
We have a Curry leaves tree in Mysore and the tree grows better if the branches are cut during monsoons. After distributing some among the neighbors, the rest are used to prepare Curry leaves … [Read More...]
Adrak Pasand Gobhi
Cauliflower florets cooked with Ginger and spices. Cuisine: North India Time Required: 30 Minutes Ingredients: 1 medium sized Cauliflower cut into florets ¼ Cup shelled Green Peas 3 … [Read More...]
Green Chickpea Dosa – Hara Channa Chila – Soppu Kadale Dose Recipe
Soppina Kadalekayi or Green Chickpea arrive in cart loads during winter. My friend SaPaSa shared this dosa recipe using Green Chickpea. Ingredients: 1 Cup shelled Green Chickpea 2 Green Chilies, … [Read More...]
Crispy Calocassia
This is a shallow fried snack using Calocassia tuber. This dish is also known as Podi in coastal regions of Karnataka. Time Required: 25 Minutes Serves: 2 Ingredients: 6 – 8 Calocassia / … [Read More...]
Garlic Bread
Making bread at home is an art. I have not perfected it yet, but my attempts to bake continue... Cuisine: European Time Required: 1 hour Ingredients: 250 gms Maida 1tbsp Butter or … [Read More...]
Carrot and Ginger Soup
Winter is here and soups are a great way to keep you warm. Carrot and Ginger Soup is mild and complete meal when served with bread toast or Garlic bread. Time required: 35 … [Read More...]
Boiled Sweet Potato
In South India Sweet Potatoes are available throughout the year. Boiled Sweet Potato is low calorie snack is very easy to make and also satisfies the sweet tooth. Cuisine: South … [Read More...]
Mango Lassi
Mango churned with sugar and yogurt. A refreshing and thirst quenching drink. Time Required: 5 Minutes Ingredients: 1 ripe Mango 2 Cup Curds / Yoghurt 4tbsp Sugar A pinch of … [Read More...]
Travel
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...]
Kodaikanal
Situated in the upper Palani hills at an elevation of 2,133 m (6,998 ft), Kodaikanal is a popular hill station in South India. The meaning of the name Kodaikanal is very apt “The gift of the forest” … [Read More...]
Magadi Bird Sanctuary
When I read that a large population of waterfowls migrates to Magadi Lake in Magadi Bird Sanctuary near Kurtakoti, Gadag district, I yearned to visit this place during the migration season. I got the … [Read More...]
Iruppu Falls
Another spectacular sight in the Western Ghats is the Iruppu falls. Lakshmanatheertha river originates in the Brahmagiri hills in the Western ghats and falls elegantly at this place from a height of … [Read More...]
Jodhpur
Jodhpur is the second largest city in the state of kings, Rajasthan. It was formerly the capital of the kingdom of Mewar. Jodhpur is known as Sun City, because of the weather being sunny throughout … [Read More...]
Nrityagram Dance Village, Hessarghatta and Taj Kuteeram
We planned for a weekend getaway to Nrityagram, which turned to be a unique experience. The dance village is situated on a 10 acre land near Hessarghatta, 30 Km from Bangalore. This was founded in … [Read More...]
Uttarakhand
My parents visited Uttarakhand in 1973 and I used to love hearing their experiences and the description of the different places they visited. My dad who was an avid photographer got all the pictures … [Read More...]
Festivals
Festivals in Shravana month – July and August 2025
Shrāvana (August - September) - From 25 July to 22 August (2025) Shravana Shanivara - 26 July, 2 August, 9 August, 16 August (2025) Mangala Gowri Vrat - 29 July, 5 August, 12 August, … [Read More...]
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...]
ಸರಸ್ವತಿ ಆರತಿ ಹಾಡು – Aarathi Song
During Dasara, Saraswathi is worshiped and on this day few people choose to arrange the dolls. For the festival date click here. The below song dedicated to Goddess Sarawathi is written by my … [Read More...]
Basava Jayanthi
Kalabeda, kola beda, husiya nidiyalu beda Muniya beda, anyarige asahya padabeda Thanna bannisabeda, idira aliyalu beda Ide antaranga shuddhi, ide bahiranga shuddhi Ide namma koodala … [Read More...]
Festival dates in Margashirsha month – November and December 2025
Mārgashīrsha (November – December) Champashashthi / Subramanyana Shashthi - 26 November 2025 Huttari habba - 5 December 2025 Shuddha Panchami Ellu amavasya - 19 December 2025 … [Read More...]
Nariyal Poornima
The fisherman of Daman and Kolis of Coastal Maharashtra look forward to celebrate Nariyal Poornima festival as it signifies retreating monsoon and the commencement of their fishing activity. Nariyal … [Read More...]
Lord Ganesha Arathi Song
Tomorrow is Ganesh Chathurthi. Wish you all a very happy festival. My mother has written the below arathi song praising Lord Ganesha. This is in Kannada script. ಗಣೇಶನಿಗೆ ಆರತಿ ಹಾಡು ಆರುತಿ … [Read More...]
