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

Strawberry Sauce
Strawberry sauce on Vanilla ice cream is a most sought after dessert. Time required: 15 minutes Ingredients: 1 Cup Culled and Diced Strawberries 1/2 Cup Sugar Method: Take … [Read More...]

Fattoush
Fattoush is a salad using Pita bread and vegetables. Cuisine: Lebanese Time required: 20 Minutes Ingredients: 1 Pita Bread 1 cup Cucumber cubes 1 cup Tomato cubes 1/2 cup Capsicum … [Read More...]

Plum Panna – Plum Juice
My taste buds were bowled over when I tasted Plum Panna in Coonoor. The freshly picked Plums tasted great in this refreshing drink. Ingredients: 10 - 12 Plums 1 tsp Roasted … [Read More...]

Schezwan Sauce
Schezwan sauce is the main ingredient for Schezwan recipes. Cuisine: Chinese Time Required: 10 Minutes + Soaking time Ingredients: 15 Red Chilies, soaked in water 1 Onion, Chopped … [Read More...]

Cold Coffee
Time Required: 20 Minutes Serves: 2 Ingredients: 4tbsp Strong Coffee Dicoction 2 Glasses of Milk 4 - 6tbsp Sugar Crushed Ice 2tbsp Grated Chocolate 1 Scoop Vanilla Ice Cream … [Read More...]

Garlic Bread
Making bread at home is an art. I have not perfected it yet, but my attempts to bake continue... Cuisine: European Time Required: 1 hour Ingredients: 250 gms Maida 1tbsp Butter or … [Read More...]

Banana Flower Vada Recipe – Vazhakkai Poo Vada – Aratikaya Poo Vadai – Bale Hoovina Vada
Banana Flower Vada is a delicacy prepared in South India using the tender flowers of the plantain plant. Cuisine: South India Time Required: 45 Minutes Ingredients: 1 Cup Banana … [Read More...]

Halbai
A very tasty and unique sweet dish prepared in Mysore and Bangalore regions using Rice, Coconut and Jaggery. Cuisine: Karnataka Time Required: 45 Minutes + Soaking Time Ingredients: 1 … [Read More...]
Travel

Chhatarpur Temple Complex
Chhatarpur Temple complex is the second largest temple complex in India and is located in South Delhi. 60 acres of land has been converted into gardens and lawns dotted with 20 temples dedicated to … [Read More...]

Kurtakoti
Kurtakoti is a small village situated 16 Kms from Gadag and every single summer holidays of mine was spent here. My Grandfather was the zamindar and the police Patil. The main occupation of the … [Read More...]

Madiwala Lake, Bengaluru
One of the biggest lakes in Bangaluru, Madiwala Lake is spread over an area of 114 hectares. A residential area nearby is known as Madiwala. The Madiwala lake is situated in BTM layout and … [Read More...]

Jaisalmer, Rajasthan
Jaisalmer is a delightful city situated in the middle of the Thar Desert in Rajasthan. This fairy tale city is worth visiting at least once in a lifetime. I enjoyed every minute that we spent in … [Read More...]

Sirimane Waterfalls
When we planned to visit Sringeri again, I was determined to visit Sirimane waterfalls, which is around 20 Kms from Sringeri. So, even before we entered Sringeri we drove to the waterfalls and the … [Read More...]

Chennakesava Temple – Belur
Usually a visit to a temple is to offer prayers and exit. But, there are many ancient temples in India from where you resist exiting and continue to go round in circles admiring the ornate carvings. … [Read More...]

Sam Sand Dunes, Jaisalmer, Rajasthan
Situated 42 Kms from Jaisalmer is the Sam Sand Dunes and the Kuari dunes on the great Thar Desert of Rajasthan. We chose to visit Sam dunes, pronounced as “Sum”, and the sights of the desert just took … [Read More...]
Festivals

Chatti Amavasya Festival – Vishwakarma Festival
Chatti Amavasya is the no moon day in the Hindu month of Kartika, October – November of the Gregorian calendar. For the festival date click here. This festival is celebrated in Karnataka, Andhra … [Read More...]

Kojagari Lakshmi Puja
Kojagari Lakshmi Puja is perfomed in West Bengal, Orissa, and Assam. It falls on the full moon day in the Hindu month Ashwin, September – October according to Gregorian calendar. For the festival date … [Read More...]

ಸರಸ್ವತಿ ಪ್ರಾರ್ಥನೆ – Saraswathi Prarthana
Today is Vasantha Panchami festival celebrated grandly by people of West Bengal. Here is a prarthana/prayer on goddess of education Saraswathi, which was written by my grandfather, M.M.Patil, … [Read More...]

Swathi Nakshatra Saraswathi Pooja 2024
As children, we would feel very important on the day of Saraswathi Pooja during Dasara. On this day, our books would be stacked in front of Goddess Saraswathi Photograph and we would all worship … [Read More...]
Mahalaya Amavasya
15 days of the Hindu month is considered as Pitra Paksha, which are days dedicated to ancestors. It occurs in the Hindu month of Bhadrapada i.e. September-October in the Gregorian calendar. For the … [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...]

21 Patra Pooja to Lord Ganesha
21 types of Patra (leaves), 21 types of Pushpa (flowers), and 21 Kadabu or Modaka (sweets) are offered to Lord Ganesha during Ganesha Chathurthi and Sankashta Chaturthi. Just before the festivities … [Read More...]
