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...]

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

Koshimbir – Mixed Vegetable Salad – Maharashtrian Style Salad
This is a salad prepared in Maharashtrian style. Very tasty and nutritious. Time Required: 10 Minutes Ingredients: 1 Cucumber, Peeled and chopped 1 Onion, Chopped 1 Tomato, Chopped 3 … [Read More...]

Thili Saaru – Saaru Recipe – Rasam Recipe
This is a watery curry, which is served with plain rice and popular in South India. Also known as Rasam there is a twist in the recipe. Cuisine: South Indian Time Required: 25 … [Read More...]

Padavalkayi Masala – Snake Gourd Stir Fry Recipe – Chichinda Subzi
Padavalkayi Masala is a side dish prepared using Snake Gourd. A simple, yet tasty dish. Cuisine: Karnataka Time Required: 25 Minutes Ingredients: 1 Padavalkayi / Snake Gourd, … [Read More...]

Eggless Walnut Brownie
Brownies are the fastest to get over when served warm with Vanilla Ice cream. Type: Tea Cakes Makes: 250 gms Time Required: 1 Hour Ingredients: 60 gms Dark chocolate 40 gms / ¼ Cup … [Read More...]

Yennegai Palya – Badanekayi Ennagai Palya Recipe – Stuffed Eggplant Recipe
Yennegai Palya is prepared using Coconut, Onion and Spices stuffed into Brinjals/Eggplant/Aubergine and cooked in oil. This tasty dish is very popular in North Karnataka and served as a side … [Read More...]

Bhajra Jowar Paratha – Sorghum and Black Millet flat Bread – Bajri Bhakri Recipe
Bhajra Jowar Paratha is prepared by mixing Sorghum flour and Black Millet flour with chopped Spring Onions, Ginger and Chilies. Time Required: 25 Minutes Makes: 8 Parathas Ingredients 1 Cup … [Read More...]

Hirwi Mirchi cha Thecha – Green Chili with Peanuts stir fry – Mirchi Subzi
Hirwi Mirchi cha Thecha is also known as Mirchi Kharda and is prepared using Green Chili, Peanuts, and Garlic. Cuisine: Maharashtra Time required: 10 Minutes Ingredients: 15 - 20 Green … [Read More...]

Jackfruit Seeds Vada – Jackfruit Seeds Fritters – Halasina Beejada Vade
After the Jackfruit season, if you have collected the seeds, you can make this crispy and tasty vadas / fritters for a rainy evening with hot filter coffee. Ingredients: 1 Cup Jackfruit seeds, … [Read More...]
Travel

Jain Temple, Sultan Bathery
A Jain temple known as Ananthanatha Swami temple is situated in Sultan Bathery, Wayanad district. The history of this Jain Temple, Sultan Bathery was narrated to us briefly by the caretaker of … [Read More...]

Kemmanagundi
Kemmanagundi was the chosen summer retreat of Maharajah Krishnaraja Wodeyar VI and hence it is still known as K.R.Hills. The place with its beautiful lush green hills, shola forests, waterfalls and … [Read More...]

Bhoga Nandeeshwara Temple
If you want to experience poetry in stone, then you must visit Bhoga Nadeeshwara Temple. A culmination of work on the temple from 5 dynasties is very attractive to tourists and devotees. Bhoga … [Read More...]

Omkareshwar Temple – Madikeri
In Madikeri / Coorg there is an ancient Omkareshwar temple dedicated to Lord Omkareshwara / Shiva which was built by Lingarajendra Wodeyar II in 1820. The Omkareshwar temple is built in Kerala, … [Read More...]

Mekedatu
Mekedatu, in Kannada means Goat’s leap, which is situated 98kms south of Bangalore. River Cauvery flows into a deep and narrow gorge, so narrow, that a goat could leap over it and that is how it got … [Read More...]

Harihareshwara Temple, Harihar
The Harihareshwara temple built in 1223–1224 by Polalva, a commander and minister of the Hoysala Empire King Vira Narasimha II is situated in Harihar / Harihara, Karnataka dedicated to Hari-hara / … [Read More...]

Supra Waterfalls, Kotagiri
As we were driving up the winding hills to Kotagiri from Coonoor we came across this beautiful waterfall cascading from another hill. Stopped and took pictures of Supra waterfalls and just … [Read More...]
Festivals

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...]

Chaitra Gauri Pooja
Sarva Mangala Maangalye Shive Sarvaartha Saadhike| Sharanye Trayambake Gouri Narayani Namosthuthe|| Chaitra Gauri Pooja is also known as Tadigae Gauri Vratha, Ujjale Gauri Vratha, Soubhagya … [Read More...]

Festival dates in Pushya month – December and January 2026
Festival dates in Paush/Pushya (December – January) Dhanurmasa Pooja – Starts on 16 December 2025 and ends on 14 January 2026 Vaikunta Ekadasi – 30 December 2025 … [Read More...]

Shri Sathyanarayana Swamy Vratha
Narayana Lakshminaryana Narayana Sathyanarayana The above chorus is from a famous Kannada song Kapadu Sri Sathya Narayana. For lyrics please refer the following link - … [Read More...]

Prayer to Parvathi
This prayer was chanted by Chandrahasa to goddess Parvathi/Chamundi/Amba/Gowri. Extracted from the Gemini bharatha. ಚಂದ್ರಹಾಸನ ಪ್ರಾರ್ಥನೆ - ಜೈಮಿನಿ ಭಾರತ ತಾಯೆ ಪಾರ್ವತಿ ಪರಮ ಕಲ್ಯಾಣಿ … [Read More...]

Mahalakshmi Ashtakam – Lakshmi Sthotra – Prayer to Goddess Lakshmi
Wish you all a very happy Dasara. Today is the first day of Dasara known as Padya. The nine days during this festival is dedicated to the shakthi devathes (divine power). Here is a prayer to goddess … [Read More...]

Phala Gowri Vratha – Molake Gowri Vratha – Gowri Festival
Phala Gowri Vratha (observance) also known as Molake Gowri (Sprout Gowri) falls on the Sharvana Amavasya day in the Hindu month of Shravana. August – September according to Gregorian calendar. For the … [Read More...]
