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
Palak Mutter Subzi – Spinach and Peas Side Dish – Palak Matar Subzi
Palak Mutter Subzi is prepared using Spinach and Peas. This creamy gravy dish is ideal as an accompaniment with Indian bread. Cuisine: North Indian Time Required: 25 Minutes Ingredients: 1 … [Read More...]
Raw Papaya Salad
This delicious Thai salad is known as Som Tam. Time Required: 20 Minutes Serves: 4 Ingredients: 2 Cups, Peeled and Grated Raw Papaya 1 Tomato, Chopped finely 1 Cup Capsicum Julienne … [Read More...]
Nugge Huli
This is a South Indian Curry prepared using drumstick and leavess of drumstick tree. It is also known as Sambar. Time Required: 30 Minutes Ingredients: 1 Bunch Drumstick Leaves 2 … [Read More...]
Chinese Cabbage Stir Fry
Cuisine: Chinese Time Required: 8 Minutes Serves: 4 Ingredients: 3 Cups Chinese Cabbage, Shredded 1 Cup Capsicum 3 - 4 Dry Red Chilies 1tbsp Ginger Juliennes 2tbsp Oil Salt to … [Read More...]
Sauthekayi Palya
A side dish prepared using Cucumber. Time Required: 20 Minutes Ingredients: 1 Cucumber 2 Green Chilies, Chopped finely Few curry leaves 2tbsp Grated Fresh Coconut 2tsp Oil 1tsp … [Read More...]
Halasinabeejada Palya – Jackfruit Seeds Stir Fry
Halasinabeejada Palya is prepared using the seeds of Jackfruit. Cuisine: Karnataka Time Required: 25 Minutes Ingredients: 20 - 25 Halasinabeeja / Jackfruit Seeds 4 - 6 Green Chilies 1/2 … [Read More...]
Lettuce Salad
Lettuce was introduced by my dad who as a vegetarian had survived on this in England during his University days. I love all types of Lettuce and introduce it as much as possible in salads. Time … [Read More...]
Sweet Lime Soda
A very good thirst quencher and goes very well with Punjabi food. Time Required: 10 Minutes Ingredients: 500ml Soda Juice of 1 Lemon 8 Spoons Sugar ½ tsp Salt Method: Add Sugar, … [Read More...]
Travel
Shivanasamudra
The route of River Cauvery’s journey from her birthplace Talacauvery to Bay of Bengal is dotted with picturesque waterfalls, pilgrimage centers, islands and confluence of rivers. Picture1 - … [Read More...]
Jaisalmer Fort
Sonar Quila / Golden fort, the living fort of Jaisalmer is fascinating and exotic. Memories of time spent here will be etched forever. Jaisalmer fort was built by Bhati Rajput ruler Jaisal in … [Read More...]
Sri Prasanna Nanjundeshwara Temple
Sri Prasanna Nanjundeshwara Temple is an extremely old temple situated on Kozhikode-Mysore-Kollegal Highway. This temple was in ruins and recently is now being renovated by Karnataka Muzrai … [Read More...]
Bandipur Wild Life Sanctuary
Picture1 - Bandipur Another favorite getaway of ours is Bandipur. I have lost count the number of times we have visited this place. Between the Western Ghats and Niligiri Mountains lies … [Read More...]
Jaigarh Fort, Jaipur
Jaigarh fort also known as Victory fort is one of the most beautiful and unscathed forts in India. In 1726, Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh built this fort on a hill known as Cheel ka Teela (Hill of Eagles) … [Read More...]
Dharmasthala
The Western Ghats like its higher counterpart the Himalayas is dotted with pilgrimage centers. One such center is Dharmasthala situated on the banks of Netravati River in Dakshina Kannada … [Read More...]
Ramadevara Betta
"Kitne Aadmi the?" Is the famous Sholay movie dialog shot in Ramadevara Betta. Ramadevara Betta is also known as Siddeswara Betta and Sholay Gudda and one of the most preferred family trekking … [Read More...]
Festivals
Dasara Gombe – Doll arrangement – Golu – 2025
Dasara is celebrated in different ways in various regions of our country. The celebration is of goddess Durga and her various avatars. Each day the goddess is decorated in a different way … [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...]
Swathi Nakshatra Saraswathi Pooja 2024
As children, we would feel very important on the day of Saraswathi Pooja during Dasara. On this day, our books would be stacked in front of Goddess Saraswathi Photograph and we would all worship … [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...]
Bheemana Amavasya – Gandana Pooje – Gandana Habba
This festival is also known as Jyothirbheemeshwara Vrata and Pathi Sanjeevini Vratha and it is mentioned in Skaanda Purana (Skanda Purana, one of the major eighteen Puranas, a Hindu religious text, is … [Read More...]
Ananthanagantu Rangoli
This Rangoli / pattern is drawn on Ananthapadmanabha Vratha / festival of Vishnu. First draw 15 X 15 dots and join as shown below: The Ananthanagantu rangoli can be filled with colors too. … [Read More...]
Sampath Shanivara Pooja
The day next to Shravana Shukravara Pooja is Shravana Shanivara Gowri / Lakshmi Pooja also known as Sampath Shanivara Gowri / Lakshmi Pooja. This pooja / vratha / religious observance is … [Read More...]
