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
Uddina Vada or Bonda – Split Black Gram Fritters – Medu Vada – Ulundu Vadai
Uddina Vada or Bonda are fritters prepared using Split Black Gram and spices. You can shape them like a doughnut too. Though the doughnut shaped fritter is served in all the restaurants teamed … [Read More...]
Dal Palak – Spinach and Lentils Curry Recipe
A curry prepared using lentils and spinach. This recipe is from North India. Time Required: 20 Minutes Ingredients: 1 Cup Thogaribele / Tur Dal / Red Gram Split 1 bunch Palak / … [Read More...]
Achari Bhindi
Achari bhindi is a side dish prepared using Okra / Ladies Finger with Pickle Masala. Time required: 25 Minutes Cuisine: North Indian Ingredients: 15 Bhindi / Okra, chopped into 1" … [Read More...]
Peas Masala
Peas cooked with spices and coconut. Time Required: 20 Minutes Serves: 4 Ingredients: 3 Cups Shelled Green Peas 1 Cup Boiled Potato pieces 1 Cup Tomato Puree 1tbsp Kasoori Methi/Dry … [Read More...]
Mallige Idli – Soft Steamed Rice Cake
Mallige Idli is steamed rice cake. This is a healthy breakfast served in almost all South Indian households. Mallige means Jasmine flower. The end product of this recipe are Idlis as soft as the … [Read More...]
Eggless Pancakes – Pancakes without eggs
Pancakes are an all-time favorite in the West for breakfast. I like them when topped with fruits like Banana, Blueberries, and Strawberries. Time required: 20 minutes Ingredients: 2 cup Maida / … [Read More...]
Coconut Chutney
This chutney is served as an accompaniment to a variety of dishes. Cuisine: South Indian Time Required: 10 Minutes Ingredients: 1 Cup Fresh grated Coconut 3 Green Chilies 1tbsp Fried … [Read More...]
Kadlekayi – Groundnuts Unde
Kadlekayi - Groundnuts Unde is a sweet dish prepared using Groundnuts / Peanuts and Jaggery. A sweet filled with proteins is also nick named as "protein ball". A favorite sweet among … [Read More...]
Travel
Ralliah Dam, Coonoor
It was a pleasant surprise to know that there is a Dam in Coonoor and what made the visit more exciting was the fact that we had to trek in the striking mountain ridges along the Wellington-Coonoor … [Read More...]
Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary
The best part of our trip to Chikmagalur district last summer was the time spent at the Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary. This sanctuary is one of the best forest reserves that we have been to and would love … [Read More...]
Birding in the vicinity of Valley School
Valley school is situated 20 Kms on Kanakpura road. The road leading to the Valley school and the surrounding area is a forest offering a place to seek the much needed solace from the maddening … [Read More...]
Shore Birds of Kukkarahalli Lake
Busy birds chirping and singing joyfully greets early morning walkers in Kukkarahalli kere/lake. Birds of all sizes both aquatic and land/shore birds have found this lake a very conducive environment … [Read More...]
Manchinbele Dam
Manchinbele dam or Manchanabele dam is situated 40 Kms from Bangalore in Manchinbele village, Magadi Taluk. The dam is built across Arkavathi River. When your expectations are at its lowest … [Read More...]
Yediyur Lake
Yediyur Lake in Bengaluru is one of the oldest lakes in the city. It existed during the Hoysala period, 1,400 years ago and was the source of water for the fields surrounding the lake. Somehow, … [Read More...]
Somanathapura
Baagilali Kai Mugidu Valage Baa Yaathrikane Shileyalla Vee Gudiyu Kaleya Baleyu ….. Somanathapura temple inspired Kannada poet Kuvempu to pen the above poem. The poet says fold your hands and … [Read More...]
Festivals
Siriyala Shashti
Shiva Shiva endare bhayavilla Shiva namake sathi berilla (2) The above lyrics is a famous song from the movie Bhaktha Siriyala starring Lokesh, Aarathi, and Ashwath. The meaning of the … [Read More...]
Holi – Festival of Colors
I remember Holi being celebrated on the streets of Mysore, where the kids from the neighborhood would go begging from house to house collecting discarded things that can be burnt like mats, brooms, … [Read More...]
Satyanarayana Aarathi Song
It is a must to read the story of Satyanarayana at the end of Satyanarayana pooja. Here is a song covering all the stories that has to be read. You can sing this while doing the final … [Read More...]
Naga Rangoli – Snake Floor Design
The Naga rangolis / patterns shown below are drawn on Nagara Chauthi and Nagara Panchami festivals. Click on the image to see a bigger image. Rangoli drawn on Nagara Chauthi: Rangoli … [Read More...]
Lohri festival in Punjab – Makara Shankranthi – Harvest Festival
Makara Shankranthi is called as Lohri in Punjab. It is one of the major festivals of Punjab. It is celebrated with great pomp and show. This festival falls on Chaturdashi i.e., the 14th day in the … [Read More...]
Christmas
"Jingle bells Jingle bells Jingle all the way Oh what fun it is to ride on a one horse open sleigh…" This is a Christmas song that everyone loves to hear and sing not only during Christmas season … [Read More...]
Ganesha Ashtotra Shathanaamavali – 108 names of Lord Ganesha
Ganesha Ashtotra Shathanaamavali is 108 names of Lord Ganesha. While chanting this, you can offer 21 Patra or 21 Pushpa to Lord Ganesha. Here there are 110 names of Lord Ganesha. Om … [Read More...]
