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
Maida Chakkali – Chakkali with refined flour
Maida Chakkali savory is prepared using refined flour. Children love Chakkali and usually put it on their finger and pretend that it is the Sudarshana chakra. This also shows how Mahabharatha … [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...]
Carrot and Ginger Soup
Winter is here and soups are a great way to keep you warm. Carrot and Ginger Soup is mild and complete meal when served with bread toast or Garlic bread. Time required: 35 … [Read More...]
Thothapuri Mavinakayi Churmuri – Raw Mango Churmuri – Raw Mango Chat – Mango Bhel
Thothapuri Mavinakayi Churmuri is a spicy tangy snack salad prepared using Thothapuri Mango. This salad is very popular in Mysore-Bangalore regions. Ingredients: 1 Big Thothapuri … [Read More...]
Vendekayi Mor Thalippu – Okra simmered in yogurt and spices
Vendekayi in Tamil means Lady;s Finger/Okra, Mor means yoghurt and Thalippu means seasoning. So it is basically Okra simmered in yoghurt and a sesoning added to it in the end. Cuisine: Tamil … [Read More...]
Cottage Cheese and Lettuce Salad
Time Required: 10 Minutes Ingredients: 20 Paneer / Cottage Cheese Cubes 1 bunch Lettuce, Chopped or roughly torn 1/2 Yellow Pepper, Sliced 1 small Onion, Chopped finely 1 Big Red Chili, … [Read More...]
Mysore Set Dosa Recipe – Set Dose Recipe
The crepes/pancakes are served in sets. Earlier a Mysore Set Dosa consisted of 4 Dosas, now it is 3 Dosas in a set. It is a filling breakfast served with Chutney and Sagu or Kurma. Time … [Read More...]
Crispy Calocassia
This is a shallow fried snack using Calocassia tuber. This dish is also known as Podi in coastal regions of Karnataka. Time Required: 25 Minutes Serves: 2 Ingredients: 6 – 8 Calocassia / … [Read More...]
Travel
Rose Garden, Ooty
The poem “Roses” by George Eliot comes to mind while strolling in the Rose garden, Ooty. You love the roses - so do I. I wish The sky would rain down roses, as they rain From off the shaken bush. … [Read More...]
Kalapathar Beach – Havelock Island
If you want an example of a breath-taking beach, it is Kalapathar Beach – Havelock Island. Kalapathar means Black Rocks and an adjoining village is also known as Kalapathar. Emerald … [Read More...]
Temples of Goa
You will be surprised to know that there are some beautiful and ancient temples dedicated to Hindu gods in Goa. Not so surprising either as the residents of Goa before the Portuguese came in were all … [Read More...]
Brahma Jinalaya – Jain Basadi – Lakkundi
Brahma Jinalaya is a Jain Basadi / temple built in the 11th century by Attimabbe mother of Ahniga Masavadi the ruler of Lakkundi. Queen Attimabbe was generous and a benefactor of Kannada … [Read More...]
Amruteshwara Temple, Annigeri
Annigeri is the birth place of one of the greatest poets (Adi Kavi) of Kannada, Pampa. It is also famous for the ancient temple dedicated to Amruteswara / Lord Shiva built by Kalyani Chalukyas in 1112 … [Read More...]
Kolluru Mookambika Temple
Amongst the hills of Kodachadri and on the bank of river Sourpanika is the 1200 years old temple of Kolluru Mookambika in Udupi district. The presiding deity of this Shree Kshetra is Mookambika who is … [Read More...]
Mini Forest in J.P.Nagar Bangalore – Bengaluru
At a walkable distance from our house is a Mini forest maintained by the forest department. Picture1 - Mini Forest An early morning walk inside the mini forest delighted us with sights and … [Read More...]
Festivals
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...]
Dasara Gombe – Dolls Arrangement 2023
The best part of Navratri / Dushehra / Dasara celebrations in Mysuru was visiting neighbour's homes for the Gombe Arathi (doll arrangement / Golu) and enjoying the traditional and delicious sweets 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...]
ಸರಸ್ವತಿ ಆರತಿ ಹಾಡು – Aarathi Song
During Dasara, Saraswathi is worshiped and on this day few people choose to arrange the dolls. For the festival date click here. The below song dedicated to Goddess Sarawathi is written by my … [Read More...]
Song to Goddess Lakshmi – Varamahalakshmi Arathi Haadu
My mother had written this song in the praise of Goddess Mahalakshmi in 1996. This song can be sung on festivals like Varamahalakshmi, Diwali Lakshmi Pooja, Shravana Shukravara Pooja, Ashada … [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...]
Siriyala Shashti
Shiva Shiva endare bhayavilla Shiva namake sathi berilla (2) The above lyrics is a famous song from the movie Bhaktha Siriyala starring Lokesh, Aarathi, and Ashwath. The meaning of the … [Read More...]
