As Lord Shiva is Trinetra (3 eyes), Bilva leaves are offered on this auspicious day of Maha Shivaratri. Some devotees feast and few fast on this day. Devotees also do Jagran (wake the … [Read More...]
Flower Arrangement – Tall and strong
Heliconia is best for flower arrangements, as they last for a very long time. When teamed with Philodendron leaves, it makes a striking arrangement. Materials required: 1 Golden torch … [Read More...]
Ulundogare recipe – Urad Dal Rice recipe – Ullandogare – Ulundhorai
Ulundogare is prepared for naivedya (blessed food) in temples. It is a healthy meal with the right amount of carbohydrates and complex carbohydrates. The flavor is derived from roasted … [Read More...]
Ikigai Café
Ikigai is a Japanese concept pronounced as ee-key-guy. It means a sense of purpose to wake up in the morning. This resonates perfectly with Navya, who has conceptualized this unique café “Ikigai” at … [Read More...]
February 2026 Hints
Use an onion to clean the grate on your grill. If your microwave is really dirty, put a damp cloth in there for about 30-45 seconds, let it sit (to cool down) then use it to wipe it down. The steam … [Read More...]
Konkaneshwara Temple, Akkihebbalu
The presiding deity at Konkaneshwara temple in Akkihebbalu, Mandya district is Lord Shiva. This temple is situated next to the Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy temple. Both temples are ancient with no … [Read More...]
Festival dates in Magh month – January and February 2026
Festival dates in Magh month – January and February 2026 Mouna Gowri Vratha - 21 January 2026 to 27 February 2026 Vasanth Panchami - 23 January 2026 Rathasapthami - 25 January … [Read More...]
Akkihebbalu Lakshmi Narasimha Temple
Akkihebbalu Lakshmi Narasimha Temple is as ancient as our Puranas. Sage Gouthama's penance appeased Lord Vishnu and he appeared before him and asked his wish, the sage asked Lord Vishnu to … [Read More...]
Vegetarian Recipes
Lychee Civeche Recipe – Lychee Salad Recipe – Lychee Recipe – Litchi Civeche
By now you all might know that I love making salads with fruits, which eliminates the need to add sugar or honey to the dressing. Civeche is prepared using raw fish and I have substituted it for … [Read More...]
Fried Wonton Straws
This sweet and crunchy snack is very easy to make and tastes great to munch as a snack or to be served as dessert. Cuisine: Chinese Time Required: 10 Minutes Ingredients: 4 – 5 … [Read More...]
Pudina Raitha
Pudina or Mint is considered to introduce coolness in any dish that it is tossed into. Now, that the summer is here, Pudina Raitha offers the welcome respite from heat. Cuisine: North … [Read More...]
Sweet Lime Soda
A very good thirst quencher and goes very well with Punjabi food. Time Required: 10 Minutes Ingredients: 500ml Soda Juice of 1 Lemon 8 Spoons Sugar ½ tsp Salt Method: Add Sugar, … [Read More...]
Vendekayi Mor Thalippu – Okra simmered in yogurt and spices
Vendekayi in Tamil means Lady;s Finger/Okra, Mor means yoghurt and Thalippu means seasoning. So it is basically Okra simmered in yoghurt and a sesoning added to it in the end. Cuisine: Tamil … [Read More...]
Pindi Chana – Pindi Chole Recipe – Chickpea Stir Fry Recipe
This dish is straight from the kitchens of Rawalpindi, hence known as Pindi Chana. It is prepared using Chickpea. Time Required: 30 Minutes + Soaking Time Ingredients: 1 Cup Chana / … [Read More...]
Mango Milk Shake
Time Required: 10 Minutes Serves: 2 Ingredients: 2 Ripe Mangoes ½ Liter Milk 6 tsp Sugar Method: Scoop out the pulp of the Mangoes and blend along with Milk and Sugar in a liquidizer. … [Read More...]
Brinjal Patchadi
Me and my friend used to swap our lunch packs in school on days when she would get soft Idlis with Brinjal Patchadi/Eggplant side dish and I would have got Chapathi and Palya/Side dish. I think this … [Read More...]
Travel
Kukke Subramanya
Kukke Subramanya lies in the midst of rain forests in Sullia taluk of Dakshina Kannada. Kukke Subramanya temple situated here is dedicated to Lord Subramanya and is situated on the banks of … [Read More...]
Sims Park Coonoor
Sims park is named after J.D.Sim who was the secretary of the Madras Club in 1874. The garden is spread over 12 hectares with more than 1000 plant species at an elevation of 1780 mts above sea … [Read More...]
Shopping and Eating out in Mysore
Shopping in Mysore for souvenir or anything else can be done in plenty. Tourists, locals and rural people living around Mysore make a beeline to the shopping centers like Landsdowne building, … [Read More...]
Birds of Masinagudi
Masinagudi hills have always fascinated me. We have passed the tiny town many times on our way to Ooty and many a time have driven there for a day outing to look at the majestic hills, flora, … [Read More...]
Saheliyon Ki Bari Udaipur
It took some time for us to pronounce the name (Saheliyon Ki Bari) of this ancient park built by Maharana Sangram Singh II in Udaipur in the 18th Century. He built Saheliyon ki Bari, … [Read More...]
Kanva Reservoir
A check dam was built over the Kanva river in 1946 thus forming the Kanva reservoir. It is 15 kilometres long and covers 776 hectares (1,920 acres). Sir M Vishveshwaraiah was the chief advisor while … [Read More...]
Sir M Visvesvaraya Memorial, Muddenahalli – Engineer’s Day
In Mysore region it is common among youngsters to quip at a brilliant person as “Visvesvarayyana thale” (brains of Sri Visvesvvaraya). Sir Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya (Sir MV) was born in Muddenahalli … [Read More...]
Festivals
Shravana Shukravara Pooja
Shravana Shukravara Pooja is also known as Sampath Shukravara vratha. This is performed in the Hindu month of Shravana, July – August in Gregorian calendar dedicated to Goddess Lakshmi / Gowri. … [Read More...]
Rama Navami
Rama Navami is a festival celebrating the birth of Sri Rama, son of King Dasharatha of Ayodhya. “Yada Yadaa hi dharmasya gnanirbhavathi bharatha Abhyuththaana madharmasya thadathmaanam … [Read More...]
Hoovilya
Hoovilya is an auspicious ritual conducted just before major celebrations like Marriage or Upanayana / Sacred thread ceremony in Karnataka. It is more like an all women’s party, where at least 5 or … [Read More...]
Mahalakshmi Ashtakam – Lakshmi Sthotra – Prayer to Goddess Lakshmi
Wish you all a very happy Dasara. Today is the first day of Dasara known as Padya. The nine days during this festival is dedicated to the shakthi devathes (divine power). Here is a prayer to goddess … [Read More...]
Saraswathi Prarthane – Prayer to Goddess Saraswathi
Today is Saraswathi Pooja, which is part of Navrathri celebrations. This is a prarthane (prayer) to Goddess Saraswathi written by my grandfather Sri M.M.Patil in 1969. ಸರಸ್ವತಿ ಪ್ರಾರ್ಥನೆ ಕಂದ … [Read More...]
Panchamrutha Abhishekha
"Panch" means 5 and "Amrutha" means nectar in Sanskrit. Panchamrutha Abhishekha is a Hindu ritual performed at all homes and temples, where the idols are bathed with Milk, Curds, Honey, Sugar and … [Read More...]
Naga Rangoli – Snake Floor Design
The Naga rangolis / patterns shown below are drawn on Nagara Chauthi and Nagara Panchami festivals. Click on the image to see a bigger image. Rangoli drawn on Nagara Chauthi: Rangoli … [Read More...]
