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

Onion Dosa
South Indian pancakes with Onion toppings. The aroma that arises while preparing this Dosa is sure to increase the hunger pangs of everyone at home. Time Required: 20 Minutes + Soaking and … [Read More...]

Mango Coriander Chutney
Mango Coriander Chutney is a delicious accompaniment with Dosas and Indian Bread. Cuisine: Karnataka Time required: 10 Minutes Ingredients: 6 - 7 sprigs of Coriander 1/2 Raw Mango, Peeled … [Read More...]

Bonda Soup Recipe – Medhu Vada in Soup – Black Lentil Fritter in Lentil Soup
Bonda Soup is a delicacy served only in Bangalore and Mysore restaurants. If the Vadas are served laced with spicy tangy curds as Dahi Bhallas in North India, the Vadas here are drowned in a … [Read More...]

Kathal Kofta Curry – Jackfruit Balls in Gravy Recipe
Kathal Kofta Curry is a dish with deep-fried raw Jackfruit balls cooked in a spicy gravy. Cuisine: North India Time required: 1 hour Ingredients: For the Kofta: 1 Small Raw Jackfruit, … [Read More...]

Kodabale Method 2 – Ring Murukku Recipe – Crispy Rice Flour Rings – Kodubale
I have already posted the recipe for Kodabale, here is another method to make Kodabale. Hope you like Kodabale Method 2 and make it for this Dasara to distribute among friends and relatives. … [Read More...]

Soppina Kadalekayi Kosambari – Green Chickpea Salad Recipe
Green tender Chickpea salad. The tender Chickpea is available during December - January in South India. The plants are sold along with the pods. It is fun to shell the pods to make a … [Read More...]

Akki Thambittu
Akki Thambittu is a sweet dish is prepared using rice flour. This is usually prepared during festivals and especially on Mangala Gowri Vrata and Nagara Panchami. Time Required: 15 Minutes + … [Read More...]

Menasalu – Pepper Rasam – Malnad Rasam Recipe
Menasalu is a pepper curry with Milk. This is a typical dish from the region of Shimoga, Karnataka. Time Required: 10 Minutes Ingredients: 2tbsp Menasina Saarina Pudi / Pepper Masala … [Read More...]
Travel

Yennehole
Yennehole is a lake situated in Dadadahalli village in Mysore. This lake is surrounded by non-irrigated fields and fallow land. You can find many villagers grazing their livestock in these … [Read More...]

Mangalore – Mangaluru
My headmistress in school was from Mangalore. She scowled at us all the time and disapproved everything we did. It was very rare to see her smile and though I have seen her appreciate, it was never … [Read More...]

Bhadra Dam – Lakkavalli Dam
Bhadra Dam also known as Lakkavalli Dam is built over the Bhadra River in Chikkamagaluru district in 1965. Bhadra River is a tributary of Tungabhadra River. The height of the dam is 59.13 metres … [Read More...]

Tirupati
Tirupati does not need any introduction to the readers. Yet, as I have visited this place many times, this write-up is a humble offering to the gateway to the richest temple in the world: Lord Balaji … [Read More...]

Birds of Markonahalli Dam
Marconahalli Dam is built across Shimsha River by Sir M Visweswraiah and Ganesh Iyer in 1938-40 incurring a cost of 29 Lakhs. It is a picturesque place with abundant flora and birds. We spotted … [Read More...]

Churches of Goa
The first thing that comes to mind when you plan on a trip to Goa, is the beaches, sun, food, paddy fields and beautiful white washed churches standing out in the fields surrounded by palm and betel … [Read More...]

Mekedatu
Mekedatu, in Kannada means Goat’s leap, which is situated 98kms south of Bangalore. River Cauvery flows into a deep and narrow gorge, so narrow, that a goat could leap over it and that is how it got … [Read More...]
Festivals

Sri Krishna Song – Arathi Song
Happy Sri Krishna Janmashtami dear readers. Like Sri Krishna heard Draupadi's cries for help, let us hope and pray that he comes down to earth and help us by getting rid of the pandemic very … [Read More...]

Makara Sankranti
Sankranthi is a harvest festival and “Sankranthi” means movement. It is a celebration of the sun entering from the zodiac sign Dhanur/Sagittarius into Makara/Capricorn. So this Makara Sankranti … [Read More...]

Dasara Gombe – Dolls Arrangement 2023
The best part of Navratri / Dushehra / Dasara celebrations in Mysuru was visiting neighbour's homes for the Gombe Arathi (doll arrangement / Golu) and enjoying the traditional and delicious sweets and … [Read More...]

Aanai Pandige – Aane Habba – Karthika Deepotsava
Aanai Pandige Karthikai also known as Karthika Deepotsava, Aane / Elephant Habba is an important festival of Iyengars (Vishishtha Advaitha sect) of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. It is … [Read More...]

Story of Tripurasura Dahana – End of Tripurasura – Introduction to Baudha Avatara
Demon Taraka had 3 children namely, Tarakaksha, Kamalalochana, and Vidyunmaali. The three together performed deep penance and Brahma pleased with their devotion appeared before them. They … [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...]

Gowri and Ganesha Festival Platters – Festival Food – Habbada Adige
Wish you all a very happy Gowri - Ganesha festival! Shopping, mantapa decorations, and preparing delicious festival food mark the Gowri - Ganesha festival celebrations. Gowri … [Read More...]
