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
Hagalkayi Palya – Sweet and Sour Bitter Gourd
Hagalkayi Palya is a side dish prepared using Bitter Gourd. It is a dry side dish and goes will when served with Indian Bread or Rice and Saaru. Time Required: 30 Minutes Serves: … [Read More...]
Gud Papdi – Aate Ki Barfi Recipe – Sukhdi Recipe – Wheat Burfi – Gur Papdi Recipe
Gud Papdi is a sweet dish prepared using Wheat Flour and Jaggery. Time Required: 15 Minutes Ingredients: 1 Cup Wheat Flour 1/2 Cup Ghee/Clarified Butter 1 Cup Grated Jaggery 1tsp … [Read More...]
Rose Tea Recipe
This aromatic tea is prepared using dry aromatic rose petals. Time required: 5 minutes Ingredients: 1tbsp Tea Powder 1tbsp Aromatic dried rose petals Method: Add Tea Powder and the … [Read More...]
Avalakki Panch Kajjaya – Panchakajjaya Recipe – Flattened Rice Prasad
Avalakki Panch Kajjaya is a sweet powdery dish is prepared as prasada / blessed food in temples and at home during festivals. Panch means five and five ingredients go into preparing this dish. Time … [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...]
Cucumber Hasi Gojju – Sweet and Sour Cucumber Salad
Cucumber Hasi Gojju is a sweet and sour salad and is prepared in South Karnataka households during auspicious occasions. If you are bored of the usual Kosambari (salad), you can try this recipe for a … [Read More...]
Sweet and Sour Sauce
Serve sweet and sour sauce with Spring rolls or Money bags. Cuisine: Chinese Time Required: 5 Minutes Ingredients: 3tbsp Vinegar 2 Red Chilies, Chopped finely 1 Green Chili, Chopped … [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...]
Travel
Gadag-Betageri
Gadag-Betageri is a town and district headquarters in the state of Karnataka, India. Gadag and its sister city Betageri (or Betgeri) have a combined city administration. It is 80 km from Dharwad and … [Read More...]
Maddur
Maddur is a town situated on the banks of River Shimsha in Mandya district, Karnataka. Paddy and coconut growing is the main occupation of the people living here. It is now known as … [Read More...]
Basillica of Bom Jesus, Goa
I had read and heard a lot about St. Francis Xavier’s mortal remains enshrined in the oldest church in India, the Basillica of Bom Jesus in Goa. When I got the opportunity to visit 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...]
Kanthanpara Waterfalls – Wayanad
Kanthanpara Waterfalls - Wayanad is a beautiful waterfall situated about 22 km away from Kalpetta. Smaller than the Sentinel Rock waterfalls, the Kanthanpara Falls and its surroundings make an … [Read More...]
Nathdwara Shrinathji Temple
Nathdwara means gateway to god and this divine place is situated in the Aravalli hills on the banks of Banas River 48 Km from Udaipur, Rajasthan. The place is popular for Nathdwara Shrinathji / … [Read More...]
Lalgarh Palace, Bikaner
An architect’s delight, the Lalgarh palace in Bikaner was built between 1902 and 1926. Built in Rajput, Mughal, and European architectural styles, the building was custom-built by Maharaja Ganga Singh … [Read More...]
Festivals
Visarjana Manthra
The following manthra is chanted while performing the visarjana / send off to god. In Kannada Script: ವಿಸರ್ಜನಾ ಕ್ರಮ ಯಜ್ಞೇನ ಯಗ್ನಮಯಜಂತ ದೇವಾಃ | ತಾನಿ ಧರ್ಮಾಣಿ ಪ್ರಥಮಾನ್ಯಾಸನ್ || ತೇಹ ನಾಕಂ … [Read More...]
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...]
Significance of Diwali festival in different religions
Jainism Diwali is celebrated by Jains with devotion, on this day Lord Mahavira the 24th Thirthankara achieved Nirvana on Amavasya of Ashvina masa in 527 B.C. The Lord left the body and achieved … [Read More...]
Adi Shankaracharya Jayanthi
Guru Brahma, Guru Vishnu, Guru Deva Maheshwara Guru Sakshath Parambrahma, Tasmai Shri Gurave Namaha|| Adi Shankaracharya the founder of the Advaita philosophy begins his Gurustotram or … [Read More...]
Shravana Shukravara Pooja
Shravana Shukravara Pooja is also known as Sampath Shukravara vratha. This is performed in the Hindu month of Shravana, July – August in Gregorian calendar dedicated to Goddess Lakshmi / Gowri. … [Read More...]
Ayudha Puja
Ayudha Pooja is a celebration during Dasara. On this day the weapons used during war were worshiped in the palace. The common people worship machines, implements and vehicles at home, factories and … [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...]
