Festival dates in Jyaishtha month – June and July 2026 Adhika Jyaishtha (17th June - 14 July) Vata Savitri Vratha / Phala Poornima - 29 June 2026 Kara Hunnime / Bhoomi Hunnime - … [Read More...]
Avocado Chutney Recipe – Avocado Spread Recipe
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
Settu Soup
Soup prepared using Red Gram Split, Vegetables and spices Time Required: 30 Minutes Serves: 2 Ingredients: 2 Cups Cauliflower florets 1 Tomato, Quartered 1 Onion, Quartered ½ Cup … [Read More...]
Davengere Benne Dosa Recipe – Butter Dosa Recipe – Davengere Benne Dose
Dosa in South India is prepared in more than a zillion ways and each way has it's own followers. One way, which is ranked amongst the top 5 is the "Davengere Benne Dose". Benne means Butter and … [Read More...]
Pepper Sarina Pudi – Pepper Rasam Powder Recipe
Pepper Sarina Pudi is also known as Rasam Powder, this masala powder is used to prepare a lentil based accompaniment with Rice called Menasina / Pepper Saaru/Rasam. Time Required: 25 … [Read More...]
Rose Syrup
A syrup prepared using Rose petals. This syrup can be used as a spread, or make into a drink with water or milk. Time Required: 40 Minutes Ingredients: 1 Cup Paneer / Aromatic Rose … [Read More...]
Quinoa Soup
As the title suggests, the soup is prepared using Quinoa. Healthy and wholesome food and great when it is a wet and cold evening. Time required: 30 Minutes Ingredients: 2 Glasses of … [Read More...]
Hibiscus Juice
Hibiscus Juice is as the name implies is prepared from the petals of Hibiscus Flower. Juice is distributed during Rama Navami festival and a Flower juice instead of a Fruit juice is a … [Read More...]
Doodhi Kofta Curry – Bottle Gourd Balls in Gravy Recipe – Lauki Kofta Curry
Doodhi Kofta Curry is a side dish where Bottle Gourd balls are deep fried and cooked in a gravy. Cuisine: North India Time Required: 30 Minutes Serves: 4 Ingredients: 500 gms … [Read More...]
Saarina Pudi – Rasam or Curry Powder – Rasam Powder Recipe – Method 1
Saarina Pudi is also known as Rasam Powder, this masala powder is used to prepare lentil accompaniment with Rice called Saaru/Rasam. Cuisine: Karnataka Time Required: 25 … [Read More...]
Travel
Sirimane Waterfalls
When we planned to visit Sringeri again, I was determined to visit Sirimane waterfalls, which is around 20 Kms from Sringeri. So, even before we entered Sringeri we drove to the waterfalls and the … [Read More...]
Coonoor
Coonoor is situated at the head of the Hulikal ravine at 6,235 feet above sea level in Ooty district. Surrounded by tea plantations, grasslands, pine forests, shola, green meadows, tree factories, … [Read More...]
Baba Budangiri Hills
Baba Budangiri Hills is also known as Chandra Drona Parvatha and is situated in Chikmagalur district, Karnataka. The drive up Baba Budangiri hill is very beautiful with stunning visuals of the country … [Read More...]
Sathodi Falls
Sathodi Falls is situated in Uttara Kannada (North Karnataka) district; it is 32 Kms away from Yellapur. In the midst of the rain forests of Western Ghats many unknown water bodies come together near … [Read More...]
Sri Durgaparameshwari Temple, Bappanadu – Mulki
As we traverse the Karnataka coastal region, there are multiple ancient temples dedicated to various deities. One such temple is the Sri Durgaparameshwari Temple situated in Bappanadu village. The … [Read More...]
Qutub Minar
Qutub Minar is the tallest Islamic tower in India. It has been declared as a UNESCO World Heritage site. The tower is 72.5 meters high and the base diameter is 14.3 meters and the tower narrows … [Read More...]
Bryant Park Kodaikanal
Bryant Park is a botanical garden spread over 20.5 acres of land in Kodaikanal. The park is named after a forest officer from Madurai, H.D.Bryant who planned and built the park in … [Read More...]
Festivals
Mysore Dasara – Mysuru Dasara Celebrations – Mysuru Dussehra – Mysuru Navratri
Mysore looks its best during the 10-day Dasara celebration where all the major roads in the city, heritage buildings, palaces, historical monuments, ancient temples and shops are … [Read More...]
Chhat Pooja
Thou by whose luster all the world of life comes forth, and by thy beams again returns unto its rest, O surya with the golden hair, ascend for us day after day, and still bringing purer innocence – … [Read More...]
Dasara Gombe – Doll arrangement – Golu – 2024
Ten days of festivities begins in India with great devotion. Dasara is celebrated in different ways in various regions of our country. The celebration is the same, which is "Good over … [Read More...]
Goddess Sharadamba Utsava
Happy Saraswathi Pooja 2014. In Sringeri, Karnataka, during Dasara festival, the utsava murthy (procession idol) of Goddess Sharadamba (Saraswathi) is taken in a small chariot around the temple … [Read More...]
Oiling ritual song – ಎಣ್ಣೆ ಹಚ್ಚುವಾಗ ಹೇಳುವ ಹಾಡು
This is a beautiful song written by Sri Purandara Dasaru to sing during the head oiling ritual, which is the beginning of auspicious occasions like festivals, weddings, upanayana (sacred thread … [Read More...]
Festival dates in Bhadrapada month – August and September 2025
Bhādrapad (August – September) Ganesh Chaturthi – 27 August 2025 Ganesha aarathi song Why Ganesha is also known as Ekadantha Mystery of the term “Morya” 21 Patra … [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...]
