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

Crispy Croutons
Crispy Croutons are bread croutons toasted with herbs. This aromatic croutons goes well when served with soup. Time Required: 20 minutes Ingredients: Few pieces of Bread Sunflower … [Read More...]

Godi Laddoo – Wheat Flour Laddoo Recipe – Atta Laddoo Recipe – Pinni Recipe
Godi Laddoo is a sweet prepared using wheat flour. This is great to carry while traveling to satisfy the Indian sweet tooth. It just melts in the mouth. Time Required: 25 … [Read More...]

Hot Chocolate Fudge
It is hard to resist hot chocolate fudge! And it is so easy to prepare it. Without much ado here is the recipe. Who can resist hot chocolate fudge! Can you? Time Required: 10 … [Read More...]

Tomato Onion Uthappam
Thick Crepe/Pancakes with Tomatoes and Onion. Tomato Onion Uthappam is a very tasty breakfast and popular in South India. Time Required: 20 Minutes + Soaking time + Fermenting … [Read More...]

Masala Bhath – Spicy Rice with vegetables Recipe
Masala Bhath is usually prepared on festivals and occasions using a unique masala powder and vegetables. Cuisine: North Karnataka and Maharashtra Required Time: 25 Minutes Serves: … [Read More...]

Chocolate Burfi
Cook up this chocolate burfi / squares on Valentine’s Day and surprise your valentine. Time Required: 20 Minutes Ingredients: 1 Cup Sugar 3 tsp Butter 2tsp Cocoa powder 1 Cup Milk … [Read More...]

Rasavangi Powder – Palya Powder – Side Dish Masala Powder – Subzi Masala
Rasavangi is a dish prepared using vegetables like Ridge Gourd, Brinjal, or Okra. If you make the masala powder before hand, it becomes easy to prepare this dish. Cuisine: … [Read More...]

Gorikayi Palya – Cluster Beans Stir Fry Recipe – Gawar Subzi Recipe
Gorikayi palya is a side dish prepared using Cluster Beans. This is a very common dish prepared in Mysore and Bangalore region. Tastes very good with Rice and Rasam. Time Required: 20 … [Read More...]
Travel

Moti Dungri Fort, Jaipur
Moti Dungri means Hills of Pearls and Moti Dungri Fort, Jaipur forms the backdrop for the beautiful Birla Mandir. The fortress was called Shankargarh (Shiva’s Home). Sawai Man Singh II … [Read More...]

Gyudmed Monastic School, Gurupura
Gyudmed Monastic School is situated in Gurupura near Hunsur, Karnataka. It is a center for study of tantra established in 1972. The founder of Gyudmed monastery was Lama Je Sherab Senge in … [Read More...]

Sri Siddhivinayaka Temple – Hattiangadi
Sri Siddhivinayaka Temple – Hattiangadi attracts thousands of visitors around the year from all parts of the world. Hattiangadi is a village in Udupi district and was the capital of Alupa Kings. The … [Read More...]

Shetty Kere – Mysore
On the Kozhikode-Mysore-Kollegal Highway, a small lake known as Shetty Kere attracts a lot of bird life. Though Lake Dalvoy next to this lake is 10 times bigger, it does not attract any birds … [Read More...]

Pushkar
I had great expectations from one of the oldest cities of India – Pushkar, but was a wee bit disappointed as the holy Pushkar lake, which is the highlight of this pilgrimage center was almost … [Read More...]

Cubbon Park – Bangalore
In 1870, 100 acres of land in Bangalore was shaped into a park and hence the city came to be known as Garden city. It was named as Meade’s Park as Sir John Meade was the Commissioner of … [Read More...]

Bagore Ki Haveli, Udaipur
When we visited Bagore Ki Haveli / Bungalow, it was late in the evening and the live music and the subdued lights in the Haveli on the banks of Lake Pichola, Udaipur took us back to few centuries. … [Read More...]
Festivals

Dasara – Celebration of Dussehra in different regions of India – Navratri Celebrations
In Mysore, we always looked forward to Dasara, which is the Nada Habba (festival of Karnataka state) and it is not only celebrated in homes but the whole city seems to wake up from the slumber to 10 … [Read More...]

King Raghu and Vijayadashami – Importance of Banni Tree – English Version
King Raghu of Raghuvamsha fame was a brave, generous, humble, and sensible ruler of Ayodhya. He had won many battles and his treasury was filled to the brim. On the behest of his guru Vashishta, he … [Read More...]

Narasimha Jayanthi
Ugram Viram Maha-Vishnum Jvalantam Sarvato Mukham | Nrisimham Bhishanam Bhadram Mrityur Mrityum Namamy Aham || “I bow down to the ferocious and heroic like Lord Vishnu. He is burning from every … [Read More...]

Hanuman Jayanthi
"Manojavam Maruthathulya Vegam Jitendriyam Budhdhi Mathaam Varishtam Vaathathmajam Vaanarayutha Mukhyam Srirama Dootham Sharanam Prapadye" The above sthotra/chanting, is part of the Sri … [Read More...]

Mangala Gowri Vratha
Mangala Gowri Vratha / religious observance is mentioned in the Bhavishyoththara Purana / Hindu religious texts and is performed by newly married girls for the first five years of their married … [Read More...]

Song in the glory of Lord Shiva
This devotional song on Lord Shiva sung during the Aarathi. ಶಿವನ ಆರತಿ ಹಾಡು ಆರುತಿ ಎತ್ತಿರೆ । ಮಾರಾನಮರ್ದನಾಗೆ ಆರುತಿ ಎತ್ತಿರೆ । ನಂದೀ ವಾಹವಗೆ। ರಂಭೆಯೇರು ಚಂದದಿಂದ|| ಮುಂಗುರುಳಿನಲ್ಲೆ ಚಂದ್ರನ್ ಧರಸೀದವಗೇ … [Read More...]

21 Pushpa 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. There are 21 mantra chanted … [Read More...]
