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
Steamed Nendrabale
Nendrabale is a type of Plantain widely grown in Kerala, South India. The ripe fruit is steamed and served during breakfast or can be eaten as a dessert after lunch or dinner. Time … [Read More...]
Meethi Aam Chutney – Sweet Mango Chutney Recipe – Mango Chutney Recipe
Meethi Aam Chutney is a sweet chutney prepared using raw mangoes. This is a dish from eastern India. Time Required: 20 Minutes Ingredients: 2 Raw Mangoes 1tbsp Panch Phoren / 5 Spices … [Read More...]
Rawe Uppittu – Rawa Upma – Semolina Porridge – Sooji Upma
Rawe Uppittu is a dish prepared using Semolina and is popularly known as Upma. The aroma that arises while preparing this dish is enough to make you hungry and grab a plate. When served … [Read More...]
Uthaththi Payasa – Dry Dates Pudding Recipe – Khajoor Kheer Recipe – Kharjura Payasa Recipe
Uthaththi Payasa is a sweet dish/pudding prepared using dry Dates. Cuisine: Karnataka Time Required: 15 Minutes Serves: 4 Ingredients: 10 Uthaththi/dry Dates 4 Cups Milk ¾ Cup … [Read More...]
Tossed Salad
Tossed salad is easy to make and is extremely healthy. I always make this as everybody in the house likes the colors in the salad. This salad goes well with any of the Indian Bread. Time … [Read More...]
Alu Methi Palak – Aloo Methi Palak Recipe – Potato Fenugreek Spinach Recipe
I learnt to make this dish from my Mami/Aunt, who is a wonderful cook. This North Indian side dish goes very well with all types of Indian Bread and is prepared using Potatoes, Fenugreek and … [Read More...]
Peanuts Salad
Yummy boiled Peanuts. Time Required: 30 Minutes Ingredients: 2 Cups Peanuts with Shells ¼ Cup Pomegranate 1 Small Onion, Chopped Finely 1 Green Chili, Chopped Finely 2 Sprigs Coriander … [Read More...]
Kashaya Powder Recipe – Kadha Powder Recipe – Kashayam Powder Recipe – Herbal Decoction Recipe
Kashaya is a decoction prepared by boiling a powder prepared using herbs and spices. This home remedy when consumed gives relief from common cold and cough. If consumed everyday gives very … [Read More...]
Travel
R.K.Narayan House Mysuru – Heritage site Mysore
All of us have enjoyed Malgudi days episodes on TV and the author behind this enthralling book is Sri R.K.Narayan. His house declared as a heritage site is now preserved as a museum filled with the … [Read More...]
Andaman and Nicobar Islands
The largely uninhabited archipelago located south of Burma and northwest of Malaysia is the Andaman and Nicobar islands on the waters of Bay of Bengal. Nearer to Thailand than to mainland India, it is … [Read More...]
Anthropological Museum in Port Blair
Andaman and Nicobar Islands is intriguing place full of adventure and fun. A visit to the Anthropological Museum in Port Blair throws light on the life and times of the tribes of the islands. As … [Read More...]
Chunnambar Backwater
The rivers crossing Pondicherry / Puducherry forms scenic backwaters and a visit to this place is an amazing experience. The rivers ultimately meet the Bay of Bengal creating vast estuaries. … [Read More...]
Kshanambika Temple, Srirangapattana
Kshanambika temple though less popular than Nimishamba temple in Srirangapattana is no less powerful than Nimishamba. Kshanambika means the goddess who grants the wishes in a Kshana / Second whereas … [Read More...]
Veera Narayana Temple, Belur
Chennakeshava Temple complex in Belur comprises of many temples dedicated to various deities. One such temple is the Veera Narayana temple. The presiding deity Veera Narayana is also known as Lakshmi … [Read More...]
Meenakshi Amman Temple
Meenakshi Amman Temple is an ancient and popular temple in Madurai. The sheer size of the temple overwhelms you and the magnificent gopurams (towers) will make you gasp with awe. The main deity … [Read More...]
Festivals
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...]
Ashada Shukravara
Lakshmi (goddess of wealth) pooja / ritual is performed on all the Fridays of the Hindu month of Aashada, July-Aug in Gregorian calendar. This year (2020) Aashada starts on 22nd June and the … [Read More...]
Independence Day
On August 15th, 1947, India got Independence from British rule. Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of independent India, addressed the Constituent Assembly and citizens to recognize the … [Read More...]
Shravana Shanivara
In Mysore every Saturday during the Hindu month of Shravana, July - August in Gregorian calendar, young boys wearing dhoti with a cotton bag hanging on their shoulders and a prominent naama / tilak on … [Read More...]
Good Friday
Having studied in a Catholic school, we were shown many movies on Jesus Christ. I remember when I was 6 or 7 yrs old and crying out with all my heart when Jesus was being nailed to the cross and Mary … [Read More...]
New Year Celebrations
Communities following Gregorian calendar celebrate New Year on 1st January every year. The year counter also gets incremented on this day. Though people following different calendars celebrate New … [Read More...]
Upanayana
Every male child born in certain Hindu communities has to go through the Upanayana ritual. Upanayana is also known as Munji, Brahmopadesham (supreme teaching), and Sacred thread ceremony. The … [Read More...]
