Add baking soda while washing fruits and vegetable, this will remove any type of contamination. Add sparkling water to Pani puri dough. The Puris will turn out crisp. Add oil while boiling … [Read More...]
Malnad Style Beetroot Kayi Chutney
I tasted this Beetroot chutney at Sridhara Paduka Mandira in Bengaluru. The saying that god prasada is divine and satisfying is so true. The humble lunch comprising to Rice huli, saru, and … [Read More...]
Lord Jaganath Rath Yatra
The famous Chariot festival of Orissa state falls in the month of Ashada (June - July). The Rath Yatra is one of the oldest and biggest festival of India held in Puri, Odisha … [Read More...]
Festival dates in Ashadha month – July and August 2026
Festival dates in Ashadha month – July and August 2026 Āshādha (July - August) - From 15 July to 12 August 2026 Ashada Shukravara Lakmi Pooja - 17 July, 24 July, 31 July, … [Read More...]
Flower Arrangement – Peaced
Who better than Gautham Buddha to represent Peace? This arrangement using Bamboo and Buddha bust gives out the most peaceful oriental vibe. The famous Three Refuges (or Triple Gem) in … [Read More...]
Water Apple Salad Recipe
Water Apple in White and Red are available in plenty during May End to June End. This fruit though tasteless is considered good for health. I tried this recipe and the fruit became a bit … [Read More...]
July 2026 Hints
When using Banana leaves as a wrap, iron using an electric ironing machine iron and then use them. Add a pinch of salt at each stage of cooking, for example, add a pinch when sautéing Onions, … [Read More...]
Flower Arrangement – Rock Solid
In nature, wild flowers gently peep out from rocks and its crevices. This looks very beautiful. We can introduce rocks in our gardens for an aesthetic look. Similarly, rocks can be … [Read More...]
Yoga Narasimha and Saint Ramanujacharya temple, Todanur
The Yoga Narasimha and Saint Ramanujacharya temple is on a hillock and has been renovated recently and was sporting a fresh coat of paint. This temple , which is 1000 years old is built in the Chola … [Read More...]
Festival dates in Jyaishtha month – June and July 2026
Festival dates in Jyaishtha month – June and July 2026 Adhika Jyaishtha (17th May - 15th June) Vata Savitri Vratha / Phala Poornima - 29 June 2026 Kara Hunnime / Bhoomi Hunnime … [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...]
Neeru Dosa – Thin Rice Dosa
"Neeru" in Kannada means water. Neeru Dosa is prepared with a batter as thin as water and hence the name. Cuisine: Udupi Time Required: 20 Minutes + Soaking Time Serves: … [Read More...]
Vegetarian Recipes
Hari Makai Ki Subzi – Sweet Corn and Spinach Gravy Recipe
Sweet corn kernels cooked in Spinach puree. Cuisine: North Indian Time Required: 20 minutes Ingredients: 1 Cup Makai / Sweet Corn Kernels, Boiled 1 Bunch Spinach, Blanched and pureed 2 … [Read More...]
Baked Beans Toast
A healthy breakfast to start the day Time Required: 20 Minutes Serves: 4 Ingredients: 12 slices of Wheat Bread 1 tin Baked Beans 1 Onion, Chopped finely 1tbsp Chopped Coriander Leaves, … [Read More...]
Midi Uppinakayi
Tender whole mangoes are pickled and stored for a year. Midi Uppinakayi is common in regions of Mysore, Bangalore, South and North Canara and parts of Andhra and Tamil Nadu. The pickle is … [Read More...]
Hesarakalu and Sabsige Palya – Green Gram and Dill Recipe
Hesarakalu and Sabsige Palya is prepared using whole Green Gram and Dill. This makes for an interesting side dish to go along with the Indian Bread. Cuisine: North Karnataka Time required: 15 … [Read More...]
Hesarubele Tovve – Moong Dal – Dal Recipe
Hesarubele Tovve is a curry prepared using split green gram with either Cucumber or Ridge gourd. Cuisine: Karnataka Time Required: 20 Minutes Serves: 4 Ingredients: 2 Cups … [Read More...]
Masala Channa Dal – Crisp Spicy Chikpea Recipe
Masala Channa Dal is deep fried Bengal Gram (Chikpea) tossed in spices. This can be made into a Chaat too. Cuisine: North Indian Time Required: 10 Minutes + Soaking time Caution to … [Read More...]
Oats Idli
As India discovered the goodness of Oats and started consuming it the way the English did, some liked it and some did not, and the some who do not like it the English way can now easily have the Oats … [Read More...]
Avocado Chutney
Avocado or Butter fruit chutney could be a surprise entry for the party menu. Cuisine: South Indian Time Required: 15 Minutes Ingredients: 1 cup Avocado pieces (Avocado should be firm … [Read More...]
Travel
Kadambi Waterfalls
As we drove into Kudremukh National Park mesmerized by the scenic beauty all around, we came across a lovely waterfall known as Kadambi Waterfalls by the roadside. We tumbled out of the vehicle … [Read More...]
Maharaja’s Sanskrit College, Mysore
The Maharaja’s Sanskrit school was started by then Maharaja of Mysuru, H.H.Krishnaraja Wodeyar III in 1868. The Maharaja was an expert in Kannada and Sanskrit languages. He was scholar and a writer … [Read More...]
Namdroling Monastery
The largest Tibetan settlement is at Bylakuppe in Coorg District, near Kushalnagar. As you enter Bylakuppe you can see many Buddhist monks in their bright robes and Tibetan women and children going … [Read More...]
Birla Mandir Jaipur
People visiting Jaipur never fail to visit the Birla Mandir Jaipur dedicated to Lord Narayana / Vishnu and his consort Goddess Laxmi. The temple was built by B.M.Birla foundation in white Markarana … [Read More...]
Goa
Goa is the smallest state in terms of area located in the west coastal region of India referred to as 'Goa Dourada' in the local dialect, which means 'Golden Goa'. Capital of Goa is … [Read More...]
Maravanthe Beach
On our Karnataka coastal temple trip, my husband insisted on driving up to the Maravanthe beach. The drive was spectacular with the Arabian Sea lashing on one side of the road and the Saurpanika River … [Read More...]
Kanva Reservoir
A check dam was built over the Kanva river in 1946 thus forming the Kanva reservoir. It is 15 kilometres long and covers 776 hectares (1,920 acres). Sir M Vishveshwaraiah was the chief advisor while … [Read More...]
Festivals
Kiratha Arjuna – Shabara Shankara
One of Lord Shiva’s statues in Nanjanagud is Kiratha Arjuna – Shabara Shankara statue. The character of KiraAthaArjuna is introduced in the Aranya Parva (forest section) of the great epic … [Read More...]
Galipata Habba – Indian Kite Festival – Festival of Kites
Gone are the days when we used to see people flying colorful and different shape Galipata/Kites. The Kite wars and making our own customized Kites was great fun. To balance the kite a long … [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...]
Onam
Onam is celebrated in Kerala with a lot of enthusiasm. It is their biggest harvest festival and it falls in the Malayali (Malayalam is the language spoken in Kerala and hence the people of Kerala are … [Read More...]
Happy Vijayadashami – Veeragase Folk Dance of Karnataka – Guggla
Veeragase is a folk dance of Karnataka where the participants wear grand makeup, headgear, and costumes and dance to folk music composed on Hindu mythology. The dance movements are intense with … [Read More...]
Ashada Shukravara
Lakshmi (goddess of wealth) pooja / ritual is performed on all the Fridays of the Hindu month of Aashada, July-Aug in Gregorian calendar. This year (2020) Aashada starts on 22nd June and the … [Read More...]
Independence day memories
My mother remembers and shares her memories on the days before Indian Independence and the joy felt on 15th August 1947. Place: Kurtakoti Script: Kannada ಸ್ವಾತಂತ್ರ ದಿನ ಈ ದಿನ ೭೪ನೆೇಯ (74th) … [Read More...]
