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

Carrots and Chives
Carrot sticks tossed in Chives. Time Required: 5 Minutes Ingredients: 4 – 6 Carrots, Peeled and Chopped into sticks 2tbsp Dry or Fresh Chives 1tsp Olive Oil 1tsp Crushed … [Read More...]

Sakkare Pongal – Sweet Pongal Recipe – Sakkarai Pongal Recipe – Chakkara Pongal Recipe
Sakkare Pongal is a sweet rice prepared in South India during Makara Sankranti festival. Time Required: 25 Minutes Serves: 4 Ingredients: 2 Cups Raw Rice 1 Cup Hesarubele/Moong Dal/Split … [Read More...]

Balekayi Alasande Huli – Raw Banana and Black Eyed Peas Sambar Recipe
Balekayi Alasande Huli is a South Indian Curry prepared using raw banana and black eyed beans. It is also known as Sambar. Time Required: 30 Minutes Serves: 6 Ingredients: 2 Raw Bananas 1 … [Read More...]

Quinoa Soup
As the title suggests, the soup is prepared using Quinoa. Healthy and wholesome food and great when it is a wet and cold evening. Time required: 30 Minutes Ingredients: 2 Glasses of … [Read More...]

Preservation of Fruits and Vegetables
Two decades ago, Central Food Technology Research Institute (C.F.T.R.I) in Mysore conducted classes for women in Mysore regarding preservation of fruits and vegetables. Mom completed the course and … [Read More...]

Masaledar Corn and Capsicum
This side dish has the taste of sweetness from the Corn, sourness from the Tomatoes and flavor and crunchiness of Capsicum. Time Required: 25 Minutes Ingredients: 1 Cup Sweet Corn … [Read More...]

Avocado Corn Salsa Recipe
Avocado Corn Salsa is a tasty add-on to Tacos, Rice-bowl, or wrap. You can serve along with any crispy treats. Time required: 10 minutes Ingredients: 1 ripe Avocado 1 cup steamed sweet … [Read More...]

Shenga Chutney Pudi – Peanuts and Garlic Chutney Powder – Groundnuts Chutney Powder
This Chutney Powder is prepared using groundnuts in North Karnataka and served with the regional staple diet rotti / sorghum flour bread Time Required: 20 Minutes Ingredients: 1 Cup … [Read More...]
Travel

Saheliyon Ki Bari Udaipur
It took some time for us to pronounce the name (Saheliyon Ki Bari) of this ancient park built by Maharana Sangram Singh II in Udaipur in the 18th Century. He built Saheliyon ki Bari, … [Read More...]

Male Mahadeshwara Hills – M M Hills
During growing up years in Mysore, pilgrims who could not afford the bus fare to Male Mahadeshwara Hills would walk on roads singing in praise of the saint Male Mahadeshwara with a small bhajan cymbal … [Read More...]

Bangalore Fort – Bengaluru Fort
It took me few years to realize that Bangalore has an ancient fort, which was open to public. Bangalore fort was built by the founder of Bengaluru Kempe Gowda I in 1537 using mud. Kempe Gowda was a … [Read More...]

Chain Tree
Chain Tree in Lakkidi, Wayanad was extremely intriguing and many types of trees trained to grow like chains came to my mind. Just before we left the resort for the sightseeing, the manager of the … [Read More...]

Adichunchanagiri
Adichunchanagiri is a town situated on top of a hill in Mandya district, Karnataka. It is the spiritual headquarters of the Vokkaliga community and is also known as Mahasamsthana Matt. The hill … [Read More...]

Kalpetta
We chose to stay at Kalpetta as all the interesting places are around Kalpetta. We were also tempted to stay in far flung places like Rain Country resorts, but the fact that the drive to and from the … [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...]
Festivals

Morada Bagina
Bagina is an offering of everything essential and dear to you. It is believed that you will be blessed with all the things that you desire by performing particular vratas/ vowed religious observance … [Read More...]

Ugadi, Hindu New Year
Ugadi, the name is split into Uga + Adi = Ugadi. Uga means Year and Adi means first in Sanskrit as well as in Kannada. The first day of the year is Ugadi, Hindu New Year. This falls in the Hindu month … [Read More...]

Hanuman Arathi Song – Hanumanthana Aarathi Haadu – Devotional Song
Hanuman Jayanthi is celebrated in April in North India and in December in South India. North or South a song is always sung during the Arathi. This song in praise of Lord Hanuman is written by … [Read More...]

Chhat Pooja
Thou by whose luster all the world of life comes forth, and by thy beams again returns unto its rest, O surya with the golden hair, ascend for us day after day, and still bringing purer innocence – … [Read More...]

Subramanya Shashti
Subramanya Shashti also known as Champa Shashti is celebrated honoring the birth of second son of Shiva named Subramanya / Skanda. It falls on the 6th day of the Hindu month of … [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...]

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...]
