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
Vanilla Cake with Chocolate Icing
Wish you all a Merry Christmas and very Happy New Year! This is a simple eggless sponge cake with flaky chocolate icing. I always feel like baking during Christmas and New Year time. Time … [Read More...]
Beetroot Saaru – Beetroot thin soup
Beetroot Saaru is a thin curry prepared using Beetroot. When the usual Tomato Saaru or Rasam becomes a bit mundane, you can add Beetroot for a new taste. Time Required: 30 … [Read More...]
Coconut Laddoo Recipe – Nariyal Laddoo Recipe – Kayi Unde – Khobbari Unde Recipe
Coconut is an integral part of Indian cooking. Dried or fresh, it winds its way into the dishes. Coconut Oil is also used in certain cuisines. This sweet is prepared using desiccated … [Read More...]
Mango Rice – Mavinakayi Chitranna
It is locally called as Mavinakayi Chitranna, it is a spicy rice prepared using raw mangoes and spices. This is usually prepared during Ugadi festival along with Huranada Holige/Sweet … [Read More...]
Alu Paratha – Aloo Paratha Recipe – Potato stuffed flat bread Recipe
Indian bread stuffed with Potatoes and spices. Time Required: 30 Minutes Makes: 6 Ingredients: 2 Cups Wheat Flour Oil for roasting Salt to taste For the stuffing: 1 Cup cooked and … [Read More...]
Banana Halwa
Pudding prepared using ripe Banana. Time Required: 30 Minutes Ingredients: 3 Ripe Robust Bananas 3tbsp Ghee / Clarified Butter 1 Cup Sugar 1/2 tsp Cardamom Powder Few Cashew Nuts for … [Read More...]
Vegetable Khichdi
A Rice dish prepared using split Green Gram and assorted vegetables. A very healthy and complete meal. Time Required: 40 Minutes Serves: 4 Ingredients: 2 Cups Rice 1 Cup Hesarubele/Moong … [Read More...]
Uppesaru
Uppesaru means boiled with Salt. This is a tasty curry, which is popular among the Gowda community of south Karnataka. I learnt to prepare this from our tenant Mrs. Pankaja at Mysore. Either the … [Read More...]
Travel
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...]
Madumalai
Picture1 - Madumalai Forest Madumalai means “first hills” and it is the one of the most beautiful wildlife sanctuary and it is also a tiger reserve established in 1940. The park is spared over 321 … [Read More...]
Jantar Mantar Jaipur
Jantar Mantar Jaipur in Rajasthan, is the Largest Stone Astronomical Observatory in the World. It was built by Jaipur Maharajah, Jai Sawai Singh II during 1727 to 1733. Jantar Mantar Jaipur is one of … [Read More...]
Wellington Coonoor
Wellington, as the name suggests was the British cantonment area of the Nilgiris. It continues to be the Regimental Centre for the Madras Regiment of the Indian Army. Wellington Coonoor is a … [Read More...]
Karni Mata Temple
An unusual temple in Deshnoke is dedicated to Karni Mata and attracts many devotees and curious tourists. Karni Mata temple is situated in Deshnoke, 30 Kms from Bikaner. Karni Mata is … [Read More...]
Devil’s Kitchen, Kodaikanal
Per our itinerary we headed off to the Devil’s Kitchen in Kodaikanal not knowing what to expect. After parking the car and a short hike uphill are caves and tranches that is mysterious and dangerous. … [Read More...]
Notre Dame des Anges Church, Puducherry
Notre Dame des Anges (Our Lady of Angels Church) in Puducherry is a historic Greco-Roman style church built in 1855. It is known for its distinctive orange-pink facade, limestone interior, and … [Read More...]
Festivals
Pattada Gombe Alankara
Pattada Gombe in Kannada means, the royal dolls and Alankara means decoration. Many households have a custom of arranging dolls during Dasara festival in Mysore and distribute sweet and savories to … [Read More...]
Song on Lord Shiva – Devotional Song
Wish you all a very happy Mahashivarathri. My mother has written this song in praise of Lord Shiva in Kannada Script. ಶಿವನ ಮಹಾತ್ಮೆ ಹಾಡು ಜಯತು ಜಯತು ಶ್ರೀಮಹಾದೇವಾ ಪರಮೇಶ್ವರ ದೇವಾ ಪರಮೇಶ್ವರ ।।ಪ।। ಜಗವ … [Read More...]
Happy Vijayadashami 2024
Why in North India, Ravana is burnt on Vijayadashami day? This is done to symbolize Lord Rama killing the 10 headed demon Ravana. Good over evil! What does the 10 heads of Ravana stand … [Read More...]
Valentine’s Day
Congratulations and Celebrations When I tell everyone that you're in love with me Congratulations and Jubilations I want the world to know I'm happy as can be…. This popular love song is written … [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...]
Bhagvad Gita Jayanti – Bhagvad Gita Birthday – Srimad Bhagvad Gita Jayanti
During Corona time, my quest to listen and understand the Srimad Bhagvad Gita started. My mother patiently read the Bhagvad Gita shlokas and explained each of them in Kannada. I was in awe … [Read More...]
Satyanarayana Aarathi Song
It is a must to read the story of Satyanarayana at the end of Satyanarayana pooja. Here is a song covering all the stories that has to be read. You can sing this while doing the final … [Read More...]
