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
Fried Wonton Straws
This sweet and crunchy snack is very easy to make and tastes great to munch as a snack or to be served as dessert. Cuisine: Chinese Time Required: 10 Minutes Ingredients: 4 – 5 … [Read More...]
Pudina Raitha
Pudina or Mint is considered to introduce coolness in any dish that it is tossed into. Now, that the summer is here, Pudina Raitha offers the welcome respite from heat. Cuisine: North … [Read More...]
Saboot Masoor Masala Dal
This healthy dish is prepared using whole red lentils. Time Required: 20 Minutes Ingredients: 1 Cup Saboot Masoor Dal / Whole Red Lentils 1 Onion, Chopped finely 1 Tomato, Chopped … [Read More...]
Raw Jackfruit Dosa
Crepes prepared using Raw Jackfruit. This dish is known as Halasinakayi Dose in Kannada. Cuisine: South Indian Time Required: 20 Minutes + Soaking time Ingredients: 1 Cup Raw … [Read More...]
Bagara Baingan – Eggplant in spicy Gravy Recipe – Brinjal in spicy Gravy Recipe
A side dish prepared using Egg Plants / Aubergine. This dish is from Andhra Pradesh. Time Required: 40 Minutes Ingredients: 5 Brinjals Lemon sized Tamarind, soaked in water 1 big … [Read More...]
Mint and Cherry Tomato Salad
This is a refreshing salad to beat the heat during summer. Time Required: 10 Minutes Ingredients: 1 Cup Mint Leaves, Chopped finely 1 Green Chili, Slit 1 Onion, Chopped finely 1/2 … [Read More...]
Baingan and Paneer Tikki – Eggplant and Cottage Cheese Patties – Brinjal and Cottage Cheese Patties
My cook who is from Orissa cooked this delicious Baingan and Paneer Tikki for a dinner party at home. Usually except for the Paneer (Cottage Cheese), the rest of the ingredients are used to … [Read More...]
Gorikayi Palya – Cluster Beans Stir Fry Recipe – Gawar Subzi Recipe
Gorikayi palya is a side dish prepared using Cluster Beans. This is a very common dish prepared in Mysore and Bangalore region. Tastes very good with Rice and Rasam. Time Required: 20 … [Read More...]
Travel
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...]
Birds of Byndoor
Byndoor is a beautiful coastal town in Udupi district, Karnataka. This place was also known as Bindupura and is famous for the Byndoor Beach, Someshwara Beach, Kosalli Falls, and Ottinene Sunset … [Read More...]
Mysore Paintings Museum Mysore – Ramsingh Museum of Mysuru Paintings – Ramsons Museum Mysuru
Most of the houses and temples in Mysore will have a frame of Mysore painting. Kodandarama painting was the most famous adorning the walls of Rama Mandira and would be the centre piece during the Rama … [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...]
Gomatagiri
Gomatagiri is situated in Bettadoor in Mysore district. Gomatagiri is a major Jain center. In the 11th Century, a 10-meter-tall granite statue of Gometeshwara also known as Bahubali is installed on … [Read More...]
Kudremukh
I have a hazy memory of me standing at one of the view points in Chikkamagalur holding my sister’s hand and the elders identifying a faraway hill as Kudremukh from the shape of the hill. When … [Read More...]
Beaches of Pondicherry – Puducherry
Picture1 - Sunrise at Seaface The beaches of Pondicherry are another attraction for visitors to the city. The sun rise in the early mornings and the fisherman returning to shore in the evenings are … [Read More...]
Festivals
Festival dates in Chaitra month – March and April 2026
Festival dates in Chaitra month – March and April 2026 are as follows: Chaitra (March - April) Ugadi/Gudi Padwa - Sri Parabhava Nama Samvatsaram - 19 March 2026 Gangaur - 4 March … [Read More...]
Lord Vishnu Arathi Song – Lord Hari Arathi Song
This is a song in praise of Lord Vishnu also known as Hari. My mother had learnt this song from her late aunt few decades back. Tomorrow is Vaikunta Chaturdashi vratha (observance) and … [Read More...]
ಕೃಷ್ಣನ್ನ ತೊಟ್ಟಲಿಗೆ ಹಾಕುವ ಹಾಡು (೨೪ ನಾಮಗಳು)
This is song sung to Lord Krishna during the cradle function. On the eleventh day of the baby being born, a ceremony is performed wherein all the womenfolk gather and put the baby into cradle … [Read More...]
Mouna Gowri Vrata – Mauna Gowri Vrata
Unmarried girls perform Mouna Gowri Vrata. This Vrata / vowed religious observance is performed from the first day of the Hindu month of Magh to the first day of Phalgun (for 30 days), i.e, … [Read More...]
Teej Festival
Teej festival is celebrated in Rajasthan, Punjab, Gujarat, and Nepal. This festival is commemorating the day when Goddess Parvathi reunited with Lord Shiva after 108 births. In her 108th birth, Lord … [Read More...]
Habbada Adige – Festival Food Recipes
Festivals are time for a variety of food to be cooked and relished by one and all at home. The Habbada Adige (festive food) is prepared without Onion and Garlic. In Karnataka, the following dishes are … [Read More...]
Ritu – Indian Seasons – Rithu
Ritu means "season" in ancient Indian calendars used in India, Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka. There are six ritus or seasons. The word is derived from the Vedic Sanskrit word Ṛtú. Every season, … [Read More...]
