The most awaited festival of the year is today! and it is definitely a double dhamaka as both Swarna Gowri Vratha and Ganesh Chathurthi are celebrated on the same day. The flower decorations, … [Read More...]
Festival dates in Bhadrapada month – September and October 2026
Festival dates in Bhadrapada month – September and October2026 are as follows: Bhādrapad (August – September) Ganesh Chaturthi - 14 September 2026 Ganesha aarathi song Why Ganesha … [Read More...]
Festival dates in Shravana month – August and September 2026
Festival dates in Shravana month – August and September 2026 are as follows: Shrāvana (August - September) - From 13 August to 11 September (2026) Shravana Shanivara - 15 August, 22 … [Read More...]
Gowri Aarathi Song
ಗೌರಿ ಆರತಿ ಹಾಡು ಮಂಗಳ ಜಯ ಗಿರಿಜಾತೆ ಮಾತೆ ।।ಪ|| ಪರಮಾಯುಧ ಕರ ದುರುಳ ಸುರಾರೆ । ಪರಮ ತೇಜ ಮೃಗರಾಜ ವಿಹಾರೆ ।।೧।। ರತ್ನ ಮುಕುಟ ಮಣಿ ಹಾರ ಕುಂಡಲ ಶೋಭೆ | ರವಿಕೋಟಿ ತೇಜ ವಿರಾಜ ಮುಖಿಯೇ ।।೨।। ಜಗದಾಧಾರೆ ಜಗದಾದಿ … [Read More...]
21 Pushpa Pooja to Lord Ganesha
21 types of Patra (leaves), 21 types of Pushpa (flowers), and 21 Kadabu or Modaka (sweets) are offered to Lord Ganesha during Ganesha Chathurthi and Sankashta Chaturthi. There are 21 mantra chanted … [Read More...]
21 Patra Pooja to Lord Ganesha
21 types of Patra (leaves), 21 types of Pushpa (flowers), and 21 Kadabu or Modaka (sweets) are offered to Lord Ganesha during Ganesha Chathurthi and Sankashta Chaturthi. Just before the festivities … [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...]
Ganesha Aarathi Song
This is a aarathi song dedicated to Lord Ganesha. Kannada Script: ಮಂಗಳ ಗಣರಾಯ ಜಯ ಜಯ ಮಂಗಳ ಗಣರಾಯ ಜಯ ಜಯ ಚಂದದ ಆರತಿ ತಂದು ಬೆಳಗುವೆ ಸುಂದರ ನಿನ್ನಯ ಚರಣ ಕಮಲಕೆ ವಂದಿಸಿ ಬೇಡುವೆ ಸಿಂದೂರ ವದನ ಬಂದು ಕರುಣಿಸೋ … [Read More...]
Gowri Aarathi Song
Gowri is the consort of Lord Shiva and during Ganesha-Gowri Festival, songs are sung in glory of her during Arathi. Lyrics in Kannada: ಗೌರಿ ಆರತಿ ಹಾಡು ಜಯ ಮಂಗಳವೆನ್ನಿರೆ ಗೌರಿಗೆ| ಜಯ ಭವ ಹರ … [Read More...]
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...]
Swarna Gowri Vratha – Gowri Habba – Gowri Festival
Swarna Gowri Vratha/Pooja is celebrated by girls and women in Karnataka and Andhara Pradesh. Goddess Gowri is the mother of Lord Ganesha. This festival falls in the hindu month of Bhadrapada, August - … [Read More...]
Vegetarian Recipes
Halasinakayi Huli – Raw Jackfruit Sambar – Chakka Sambar – Raw Jackfruit Curry
A Curry/Sambar prepared using raw Jackfruit. This curry is very popular in regions where Jackfruit is grown abundantly like coastal Karnataka, Chikmagalur, Mysore and Bangalore. Time … [Read More...]
Falafel
Falafel can be compared to Ambode. Fritters prepared using Chik Peas and these can be used in Falafel Pita Bread Sandwich. Cuisine: Mediterranean Time Required: 30 Minutes + Soaking … [Read More...]
Vegetable Fried Quinoa
Quinoa cooked in Chinese style adds a twist to the menu. Time required: 30 Minutes Ingredients: 1 Cup Quinoa 1 - 2 Green Chilies, slit 1 Onion, sliced 1 Carrot, Peeled and sliced and … [Read More...]
Methi Mutter Malai – Fenugreek leaves and Peas Recipe – Methi Matar Malai
Methi Mutter Malai is a side dish prepared using Fenugreek leaves, Green fresh Peas and Cream with a dash of spices. Cuisine: North Indian Time Required: 30 Minutes Ingredients: 1 big … [Read More...]
Labneh Dip Recipe
Labneh is prepared from hung curds/yogurt. This recipe is from the Middle East. The thick hung curds is whisked with herbs, cucumber, zatar, olive oil, and chili flakes. You can also add Olives, … [Read More...]
Pudina Tomato Chutney
Pudina Tomato Chutney is a chutney prepared using Mint leaves and Tomato. Tomato adds a tang to the chutney. Time Required: 10 Minutes Ingredients: 2 bunches Pudina Ki Patte/Mint … [Read More...]
Pudina Poori
A crispy snack prepared using Mint leaves. Cuisine: Indian Time Required: 30 Minutes Ingredients: 1 bunch Pudina / Mint leaves, Minced 1 Cup Wheat Flour ½ Cup Maida / Refined … [Read More...]
Zafrani Pulao
Zafrani Pulao is part of Awadhi cuisine. Basmati rice is cooked with Saffron, Clarified Butter, and Nuts. The aroma that arises from this dish is heady and the taste is delicious. Time Required: 30 … [Read More...]
Travel
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...]
Sowkoor Durgaparameshwari Temple
A temple dedicated to goddess Sri Durgaparameshwari is situated in Sowkoor, Kundapur taluk. This unknown temple is tucked away in the gorgeous hills of the Western Ghats. But the people who … [Read More...]
Kudremukh
I have a hazy memory of me standing at one of the view points in Chikkamagalur holding my sister’s hand and the elders identifying a faraway hill as Kudremukh from the shape of the hill. When … [Read More...]
Badrinath
Sri Badri Naryanji ki, jai Sri Badri Vishalji ki, Jai Badrinath is one of the char dhams (four pilgrim centers), which is visited by thousands of Hindus. The temple is dedicated to Lord … [Read More...]
Chunchi Falls
When I heard the name of the falls I felt like humming the good old Hindi song “Mera Naam Chin Chin Chu…Chin Chin Chu.. baba Chin Chin Chu…..” from the film Howrah Bridge sung by Geetha Dutt. Chunchi … [Read More...]
Junagarh Fort, Bikaner
Raja Rai Singh conquered Mewar and the pleased Mughal emperor Akbar rewarded him the territory in Gujarat and Burhanpur. To celebrate his success, Raja Rai Singh built the grand fort of Bikaner known … [Read More...]
Kote Venkataramana Temple – Bangalore – Bengaluru
Kote Venkataramana Temple - Bangalore is one of the oldest temples in Bangalore and situated next to Tipu Sultan Summer Palace. Built in 1689 by the Mysore king Chikka Devaraja Wodeyar, it is a fine … [Read More...]
Festivals
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...]
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...]
Akshaya Tritiya
Akshaya means infinite or never ending. Akshaya Trithiya festival falls on the third day of the Hindu month Vaishakha, April-May in Gregorian calendar. This festival is also known as Akha … [Read More...]
Dhanur Masa Poojas
Dhanur Masa Pooja as the name implies is to be performed in the Hindu month of Dhanur Masa, December – January according to Gregorian calendar. This year (2017) it is from 16th December to 15th … [Read More...]
Visarjana Manthra
The following manthra is chanted while performing the visarjana / send off to god. In Kannada Script: ವಿಸರ್ಜನಾ ಕ್ರಮ ಯಜ್ಞೇನ ಯಗ್ನಮಯಜಂತ ದೇವಾಃ | ತಾನಿ ಧರ್ಮಾಣಿ ಪ್ರಥಮಾನ್ಯಾಸನ್ || ತೇಹ ನಾಕಂ … [Read More...]
A thought on Saraswathi Pooja
ವಿದ್ಯೆಯ ಮಹತ್ವ ಒಡಲೊಳಗಿರುವದು ವಿದ್ಯೆಯು ನಡೆದರೆ ತಾಂಬರವಲ್ಲ ಕಳ್ಳರು ಕದಿಯರ್ ಪೊಡವಿಪರು ಕಸಿದು ಕೊಳ್ಳರ್ ವಡಹುಟ್ಟಿದವರು ಪಾಲು ಕೇಳರು ಕೇಳೈ Meaning: Knowledge is something that belong to you. Strangers … [Read More...]
Hire Gowri Pooja – Dodda Gowri Pooja – Gowri Hunnime
Hire Gowri Pooja also known as Dodda Gowri Pooja and Gowri Hunnime is celebrated with devotion in North Karnataka. Below is the write up by my mother on this festival in Kannada script. This … [Read More...]
