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
Rasayana – Banana Rasayana – Banana Prasad Recipe – Balehannu Rasayana
Rasayana is a sweet dish prepared using ripe Banana and Jaggery. Rasayana is prepared as Prasada (offering) during festivals. Cuisine: Karnataka Time Required: 15 Minutes Ingredients: 2 … [Read More...]
Banana Flower Vada Recipe – Vazhakkai Poo Vada – Aratikaya Poo Vadai – Bale Hoovina Vada
Banana Flower Vada is a delicacy prepared in South India using the tender flowers of the plantain plant. Cuisine: South India Time Required: 45 Minutes Ingredients: 1 Cup Banana … [Read More...]
Bombay Sandwich Masala Powder – Mumbai Sandwich Masala Powder
Bombay Sandwich Masala Powder is another taste enhancer for the Bombay Sandwich. Having this condiment in the kitchen can sure enhance the taste of the Sandwich along with the Sandwich … [Read More...]
Poha Kali Mirch Chivda
This is a spicy snack prepared with beaten rice. Time Required: 30 Minutes Ingredients: 1 Cup Thick Poha / Beaten Rice 2tbsp Groundnuts 1 – 2 tsp Pepper Powder ¼ Cup sliced Dry … [Read More...]
Bhendekayi Palya
Bhendekayi Palya is a side dish prepared using Lady's Finger/Okra. Cuisine: South India Time Required: 30 Minutes Serves: 4 Ingredients: 25 Bhindi/Okra 1 Big Onion 2 Tomatoes 1tsp … [Read More...]
Avarekayi Kurma
A delicious side dish with gravy prepared using Flat Winter Beans. This can be also be prepared with any type of sprouted beans that is available. Time Required: 40 Minutes Ingredients: 2 … [Read More...]
Buttermilk Masala Recipe – Chaas Masala Recipe – Chhach Masala Powder
Buttermilk is a soothing to the body and soul during summer. A dash of masala to the buttermilk perks it up more. Buttermilk Masala Recipe, enhances the flavor of traditional Indian buttermilk, … [Read More...]
Hasi Majjige Huli – Pumpkin in Spicy Yogurt Recipe – Mor Kozhambu Recipe
Hasi Majjige Huli is a yogurt and vegetable dish with raw Masala paste. Time Required: 20 Minutes Serves: 2 Ingredients: 1 Cup cooked slices of Ash Pumpkin or Cucumber or Leafy … [Read More...]
Travel
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...]
Vasantha Vallabharaya Swamy Temple, Bangalore – Bengaluru
The Vasantha Vallabharaya Swamy Temple is situated on a small hillock in Vasanthapura layout in Bangalore city. This temple is 1,000 years old is dedicated to lord Srinivasa / Balaji / Vishnu and was … [Read More...]
Jal Mahal, Jaipur
When I visited Jal Mahal, Jaipur in 1995, I was very disappointed to see the Man Sagar Lake in which it is situated was dry and dirty. The palace itself was not maintained well. I hoped that the place … [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...]
Heritage buildings of Pondicherry
Apart from Parks, Beaches, Backwaters, Temples, Ashrams and Auroville another interesting aspect of Pondicherry are its heritage buildings. The heritage buildings of Pondicherry comprises of … [Read More...]
Radhanagar Beach
Radhanagar Beach is situated in Havelock Island, which is part of Andaman and Nicobar Islands. It is located close to Radhanagar village. In 2004, the beach was declared as one of the best … [Read More...]
Cheluvamba Mansion, Mysore
Cheluvamba Mansion was built by Maharaja Krishnaraja Wodeyar IV in 1910. The mansion was built for the third daughter of the Maharaja, Princess Cheluvajammanni. There many other mansions similar to … [Read More...]
Festivals
Upakarma – Janivara Habba
Upakarma festival is solely for the men. The others also join in by preparing delicious food as naivedhyam / blessed food and eating together. This festivals falls on Shravana Nakshatra (a star) on … [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...]
Aarathi Song – Lakshmi Arathi Song – Goddess Lakshmi Pooja Song
This is a song written by my mom and we sing this song alternatively with other songs on Friday evening while we perform aarathi to goddess Lakshmi. It can be sung to any tune that you are … [Read More...]
Festival dates in Phalgun month – February and March 2026
Festival dates in Phalgun month – February and March 2026 Phālgun (February – March) Sri Raghavendra Swami Jayanthi – 24 February 2026 Holi – 2 to 4 March 2026 … [Read More...]
Ugadi, Hindu New Year
Ugadi, the name is split into Uga + Adi = Ugadi. Uga means Year and Adi means first in Sanskrit as well as in Kannada. The first day of the year is Ugadi, Hindu New Year. This falls in the Hindu month … [Read More...]
Krishna Janmashtami – Gokulashtami – Birth of Lord Krishna
"Yathra Yogeeshwara Krishno | Yathra Partho Dhanurdharaha | Thathra Shree Vijayo Bhuthir | Dhruvaneethirmimathirmama ||" The meaning of the above extract from the Gita is “wherever Krishna … [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...]
