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
Dragonkhand – Dragon Fruit Shrikhand Recipe – Dragon Fruit Greek Yogurt Recipe
You must be wondering about this khand that you had not heard till now. You have heard of Uttarakhand, Jharkhand, Baghelkhand, Bundelkhand, and now Dragonkhand! No, not made in China, made right … [Read More...]
Paper Dosa Recipe – Paper Thin Crepes – South Indian Dosa Recipe
Paper Dosa is thin as paper crepes prepared in most of the restaurants in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. Whenever you order this in the restaurant, you are sure to catch the attention as it makes the … [Read More...]
Balehannina Kayi Rasayana – Banana with Coconut Milk – Balehannu Kayi Sheekarane
Today is the commencement of Shravana Masa. There are many festivals lined up during this Hindu month. Let us start this month by making a sweet dish using Bananas and Coconut milk, which … [Read More...]
Potato Chips
The ubiquitous and quintessential Potato wafers. One is not enough...Potato Chips finds their way into our diet while enjoying a movie or as a crispy side dish during a meal. Many disappear … [Read More...]
Kadalebele Payasa Recipe – Chana Dal Payasa Recipe – Kadalai Paruppu Payasam – Senaga Pappu Payasam
Payasa is a type of South Indian pudding prepared using split Bengal Gram / Chik Pea. Kadalebele Payasa is a favourite among Kannadigas during festivals. Wish you all a very happy Gowri and … [Read More...]
Mavinakayi Gojju – Mango Rasa – Mango Gotsu Recipe – Mango Menaskai Recipe
Yay! Yay! It is Mango season again. There are so many dishes that you can churn out using Mangoes, and one such dish is the ubiquitous Gojju. Kannadigas love Gojju as a side dish. Time Required: 15 … [Read More...]
Eggless Macademia Nuts Brownie
Tucking in warm Eggless Macademia Nuts Brownie is a great way to end a dinner. Type: Tea Cakes Makes: 250 gms Time Required: 1 Hour Ingredients: 60 gms Dark chocolate 40 gms / ¼ Cup … [Read More...]
Lotus Stem Chips
Yummy crispy chips prepared using Lotus stems. Lotus stems is known as Kamal Ki Kakadi in Hindi. Cuisine: North India Time Required: 20 Minutes Ingredients: Few Lotus Stems Oil for deep … [Read More...]
Travel
Tipu Sultan Summer Palace
A palace for different seasons could only be afforded by the kings and queens. Every historic place you visit, you will have palaces built on hills or lakes to beat the summer heat, on flat lands to … [Read More...]
Nanneshwara Temple, Lakkundi
The Nannesvara temple is located to the west of Kasivisvesvara temple in Lakkundi. This 11th century Hindu temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva. Adam Hardy, architecture scholar and … [Read More...]
Wayanad – Kerala
Wayanad district is the hilly, picturesque part of North East Kerala at altitudes ranging from 700 to 2100 meters above sea level. The hills spread over 2,132 square kilometers are part of the Western … [Read More...]
Bandipur Wild Life Sanctuary
Picture1 - Bandipur Another favorite getaway of ours is Bandipur. I have lost count the number of times we have visited this place. Between the Western Ghats and Niligiri Mountains lies … [Read More...]
Colonel Bailey’s Dungeon, Srirangapatna
The word Dungeon is morbid and imagination conjures up of prisoners suffering in the dark dungeons. To see it for real, travel to Srirangapatna and visit the Dungeon built during the rule of Tipu … [Read More...]
Lotus Temple, New Delhi
The Baha’i house of worship known as Lotus temple was built in 1986 and is situated in Bahapur village in New Delhi. The temple with its unique architectural design and a complementing … [Read More...]
Auroville Beach Pondicherry
The Auroville Beach is very near Auroville and is situated 12 Kms from Pondicherry. Pondicherry is now known as Puducherry. An ideal place to spend time with family and friends. The … [Read More...]
Festivals
Prayer to Parvathi
This prayer was chanted by Chandrahasa to goddess Parvathi/Chamundi/Amba/Gowri. Extracted from the Gemini bharatha. ಚಂದ್ರಹಾಸನ ಪ್ರಾರ್ಥನೆ - ಜೈಮಿನಿ ಭಾರತ ತಾಯೆ ಪಾರ್ವತಿ ಪರಮ ಕಲ್ಯಾಣಿ … [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...]
Paryaya of Sri Krishna Matha (Krishna Temple) of Udupi
Paryaya is a ritualistic system by which the pontiffs of the eight muttts of Udupi, by turn, take up the responsibility of worshipping the deity at the Sri Krishna temple. The ceremony of the handing … [Read More...]
Krishna Janmashtami – Gokulashtami – Birth of Lord Krishna
"Yathra Yogeeshwara Krishno | Yathra Partho Dhanurdharaha | Thathra Shree Vijayo Bhuthir | Dhruvaneethirmimathirmama ||" The meaning of the above extract from the Gita is “wherever Krishna … [Read More...]
Shivana Bhajane – Shiva Bhajan – Jagratha Bhajan
Happy Maha Shivaratri! Here is an easy Bhajan (devotional song) on Lord Shiva. We used to sing this every evening during our Summer break. Hey Shiva Shankara Namami Shankara Shiva Shankara … [Read More...]
Ayudha Puja
Ayudha Pooja is a celebration during Dasara. On this day the weapons used during war were worshiped in the palace. The common people worship machines, implements and vehicles at home, factories and … [Read More...]
Oiling ritual song – ಎಣ್ಣೆ ಹಚ್ಚುವಾಗ ಹೇಳುವ ಹಾಡು
This is a beautiful song written by Sri Purandara Dasaru to sing during the head oiling ritual, which is the beginning of auspicious occasions like festivals, weddings, upanayana (sacred thread … [Read More...]
