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
Avalakki Dosa – Poha Dosa Recipe – Beaten Rice Pancakes Recipe
Avalakki Dosa are pancakes prepared using Beaten Rice and Rice. This dosa is also known as Bread Dosa because of the sponginess texture of the dosa. Cuisine: South India Time Required: 30 … [Read More...]
Fruit salad with ice cream
In Mysore, our favorite destination for ice cream would be the ice cream shop Phalamruta (Fruit nectar) situated in Lansdowne building. The tiny shop had few wooden benches lined up for the … [Read More...]
Raw Banana Fry
Raw Banana Fry is very easy to make for a tasty accompaniment to serve with Indian Bread or with Rice. Cuisine: South Indian Time Required: 25 Minutes Ingredients: 3 Raw Banana, Peeled and … [Read More...]
Plain Sev
Also known as Om Pudi, Nylon Sev or Thin Sev, this savory looks like a nest and it is prepared using Chick Pea/Bengal Gram flour. Plain Sev adds crunchiness when added to Chaats like Bhel Puri, Papdi … [Read More...]
Pickle Masala
Pickle Masala is a concoction of various spices. This can be stored and used whenever you want to make pickles. It is also known as Aachar Sambhar Masala. Time Required: 10 … [Read More...]
Falafel
Falafel can be compared to Ambode. Fritters prepared using Chik Peas and these can be used in Falafel Pita Bread Sandwich. Cuisine: Mediterranean Time Required: 30 Minutes + Soaking … [Read More...]
Avalakki Payasa – Poha Kheer Recipe – Beaten Rice Pudding Recipe
A pudding prepared using beaten rice. This dish is usually prepared on Rathasapthami. You can prepare this on other festivals and occasions. Cuisine: Karnataka Time Required: 20 … [Read More...]
Radish Salad
This is usually prepared for Dinner in Mysore households using tender white Radish. Radish Salad is tasty and healthy. Cuisine: Karnataka Time Required: 10 Minutes Ingredients: 4 … [Read More...]
Travel
Birds of Puttenahalli Lake
Being a nature loving family, we are always exploring places to trek or bird watch. With hectic work and study schedules, these getaways take a back seat. A visit to Puttenahalli Lake was refreshing … [Read More...]
Eating out in Rajasthan
Rajasthan cuisine is unique to the region. The scarcity of water and the lack of vegetation has made the Rajasthanis adopt to cooking in Oil, Ghee or Milk. After roaming the Palaces and Forts, it is … [Read More...]
Thirunelli Temple
Thirunelli Temple is a 5000 year ancient temple and the presiding deity is Thirunelli Perumal / Lord Vishnu. Legend says that Lord Brahma the creator performed a yagna (an elaborate ritual) and … [Read More...]
Rashtrapathi Bhavan – New Delhi
One of the most majestic residences of India is the Rashtrapathi Bhavan, New Delhi. It is the residence of India’s honorable President. Rashtrapathi Bhavan took 17 years to build and was inaugurated … [Read More...]
Birds of Kabini Wildlife Sanctuary
Birds of Kabini Wildlife Sanctuary can drain your Camera batteries in no time, ensure that you have additional batteries! Yes, out of 250 species you can spot at least 50 during a day stay in … [Read More...]
Pine forests of Kodaikanal
Pine forests in Kodaikanal is a must visit for people who love trees. Pine trees are not native to South India. The British in South India were missing these trees and they started growing them in … [Read More...]
Statues of Postman Basappa and Commandant Bhujangarao Jagadale
Mysore has endless memories of long drives around the heritage city lined with huge old flowering trees and historical buildings dotted with lakes and the stoic Chamundi Hill. We would never miss to … [Read More...]
Festivals
Sheege Hunnime
Sheege Hunnime festival is fondly remembered by my mother. The excerpt follows… My dad seemed to be in a very celebrative mood. He ordered the servants to get the bullock cart ready and also … [Read More...]
Rakhsha Bandhan
Rakhsha Bandhan festival is a celebration of the brother-sister bonding, celebrated mainly in North India. It falls on Poornima / full moon day in the Hindu moth of Shravana. August - September … [Read More...]
Deepavali – Diwali
Deepavali (“avali” means rows and “deepa” means lamp) or Diwali is a festival of lights much loved by one and all. It is the time for sweets, savories, family get-together, new clothes, crackers and … [Read More...]
Varamahalakshmi Vratha
Sarvamangala Mangalye| Shive Sarvarthaka Sadhike| Sharanye Thriyambake Devi/Laksmi| Narayani Namosthuthe|| The above shloka is in praise of goddess Lakshmi and offering … [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...]
Song to Goddess Lakshmi – Varamahalakshmi Arathi Haadu
My mother had written this song in the praise of Goddess Mahalakshmi in 1996. This song can be sung on festivals like Varamahalakshmi, Diwali Lakshmi Pooja, Shravana Shukravara Pooja, Ashada … [Read More...]
Gangaur, Festival of Rajasthan
Gangaur is a popular festival of Rajasthan. This festival is also celebrated in parts of Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh. The name of the festival is resultant of two words “Gan” and “Gauri”, which are … [Read More...]
