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
Navanakki Payasa – Foxtail Millet Pudding – Foxtail Millet Payasam – Navane Payasa
Happy Ugadi dear readers and the celebration feels complete with a cup of Payasa. The recipe for this Ugadi is a very unique and authentic recipe, prepared using Navani / Indian barnyard millet or … [Read More...]
Pomelo Coconut Salad
This salad has an unusual combination of Pomelo and Coconut. Time Required: 15 Minutes Ingredients: 5 - 6 segments of Pomelo 2 tbsp Coconut, Chopped and roasted 1 Onion, thinly sliced, … [Read More...]
Stuffed Red Chili Pickle
This pickle from Uttar Pradesh looks hot but tastes cool. Time Required: 30 Minutes + Maturing time Ingredients: 20 large Red Chilies 2 Cups Mustard Oil or Sunflower Oil For the … [Read More...]
Cheese Straw
Cheese Straw is great to serve with tea in the evening. This can be part of a picnic basket and great to munch as you drive. Time required: 1 Hour Cookie method: Bread Crumbs … [Read More...]
Capsicum Peanuts Masala
This side dish is prepared in North Karnataka and Maharashtra. Capsicum with the nutty flavor of peanuts makes this dish very tasty and unique. Time Required: 20 Minutes Ingredients: 1 Cup … [Read More...]
Pakadagina Chiroti – Deep fried layered sweet pastry – Padhir Pheni
Pakadagina Chiroti is deep fried layered pastry dipped in Sugar Syrup. This dish is prepared during festivals in North Karnataka. “Paka” means sugar syrup in Kannada and “Chiroti” is a … [Read More...]
Spring Onion Cheese Paratha
Spring Onion Cheese Paratha is Indian bread stuffed with Spring Onion and Mozzarella cheese. Time Required: 20 Minutes Makes: 4 Ingredients: 1½ Cups of Wheat Flour 1 Cup Spring Onion … [Read More...]
Oriental Rice
Oriental Rice is a delicious main course prepared using various vegetables and Bean Sprouts. Cuisine: Orient Time Required: 30 Minutes Ingredients: 3 Bowls Cooked Rice 1 Cup Green, … [Read More...]
Travel
Jaisalmer Fort
Sonar Quila / Golden fort, the living fort of Jaisalmer is fascinating and exotic. Memories of time spent here will be etched forever. Jaisalmer fort was built by Bhati Rajput ruler Jaisal in … [Read More...]
Mavinakere
I had a strong desire to visit our family deity Sri Ranganatha Swamy also known as Mavinakere Ranga in Mavinakere and I could fulfill this desire last year. I had heard that we have to trek on a … [Read More...]
Forts of Goa
Most of the forts built in Goa are high up on the hills and offer a grand view of the Arabian Sea. The forts of Goa are dotted from Tiracol Fort, which is at the northernmost tip of Goa to Cabo da … [Read More...]
Mysore Paintings Museum Mysore – Ramsingh Museum of Mysuru Paintings – Ramsons Museum Mysuru
Most of the houses and temples in Mysore will have a frame of Mysore painting. Kodandarama painting was the most famous adorning the walls of Rama Mandira and would be the centre piece during the Rama … [Read More...]
Lambs rock, Coonoor
Lamb’s rock is a view point in Coonoor named after the collector Captain Lamb. The view point was made accessible by the effort and interest of Captain Lamb. Lambs rock is situated on the way … [Read More...]
Museums, Armory, and Galleries of Mehrangarh Fort – Jodhpur
Apart from the grand rooms, a visit to Museums, Armory, and Galleries of Mehrangarh Fort - Jodhpur is a must. Museum: Palanquins, howdahs, royal cradles, miniatures, costumes and furniture are … [Read More...]
Pashchima Vahini, Sangama and Gosai Ghat at Srirangapatna
These three places form a part of places of interest around the historic town of Srirangapatna on the banks of river Cauvery. Sangama and Gosai Ghat are located in a place called Ganjam. Yes, the … [Read More...]
Festivals
Dasara Gombe – Doll arrangement – Golu – 2025
Dasara is celebrated in different ways in various regions of our country. The celebration is of goddess Durga and her various avatars. Each day the goddess is decorated in a different way … [Read More...]
Rathasapthami Rangoli
Rathasapthami is a festival in honor of Sun god. On this day a Rathasapthami rangoli / kolam (patterns drawn using chalk powder) of ratha / chariot is drawn inside the shrine of … [Read More...]
Vasant Panchami
"Yaa Kundendu tushaara haaradhavalaa, Yaa shubhravastraavritha Yaa veenavara dandamanditakara, Yaa shwetha padmaasanaa, Yaa brahmaachyutha shankara prabhritibhir Devaisadaa Vanditha … [Read More...]
ಜೋ ಜೋ ಹಾಡು
Jo Jo Hadu is a lullaby sung to Lord Krishna while putting the Lord to sleep. ಜೋ ಜೋ ಶ್ರೀ ಕ್ರಿಹ್ಸ್ನ ಪರಮಾನಂದ ಜೋ ಜೋ ಗೋಪಿಯ ಕಂದ ಮುಕುಂದ ಜೋ ಜೋ ಪಾಲಗಡಲೊಳು ಪವಡಿಸಿದವನೆ ಆಲದೆಲೆಯ ಮೇಲೆ ಮಲಗಿದ … [Read More...]
Why Lord Ganesha is also known as Ekadantha / single tusk
The most popular narration on how Lord Ganesha lost his tusk is penned in the Skanda Purana / tales of gods and goddesses. Lord Ganesha was a patron of good food with a healthy appetite. Once … [Read More...]
Habbada Adige – Festival Food Recipes
Festivals are time for a variety of food to be cooked and relished by one and all at home. The Habbada Adige (festive food) is prepared without Onion and Garlic. In Karnataka, the following dishes are … [Read More...]
Ganesh Chathurthi – Ganesha Festival
I have extremely fond memories of Ganesha-Gowri festival. It was one of the grand festivals of the year for the family and for Mysore city itself. Our road would be decorated with serial lights, as … [Read More...]
