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
Mooli Paratha
Indian bread prepared with Radish. A favorite among the people of Punjab. Time Required: 30 Minutes Ingredients: 3 Cups Wheat Flour 3 Radishes / Mooli / Moolangi 1tsp Ajwain / Om Kalu / … [Read More...]
Bamboo Rice Milk Payasa – Mulayari Payasam Recipe – Bamboo Rice Pal Payasam
The much awaited festival is here. The first day of Navratri, which is Padya is celebrated tomorrow. I am sharing this interesting and unique Bamboo Rice Milk Payasa recipe to start off … [Read More...]
Jelly or Jello
Make Jelly or Jello from the various Jelly making packs available in the market. Vegetarians - check for the Green dot on the pack. Follow the instructions and voila Jelly is ready. Cut into … [Read More...]
Tofu Salad
Bean curd Salad is a complete healthy meal. Time Required: 20 Minutes Ingredients: A slab of Tofu, cut into cubes Few tender Spinach leaves Few Spring Onions, Chopped finely 1 Yellow … [Read More...]
Yeriappa Recipe – Kajjaya Recipe – Sweet Appam – Yelappa Recipe
A sweet prepared using Rice and Coconut. Yeriappa is prepared on Saraswathi Pooja during Dasara in Mysore. Cuisine: Mysore (Karnataka) Time Required: 20 minutes + Soaking … [Read More...]
Eggless Wheat Chocolate Apple Muffins
Time Required: 45 Minutes Makes: ½ kg (500 gms) or 9 cups Ingredients: ¾ cup Wheat flour 2tbsp Cocoa powder ¼ cup Sugar Powder ½ + ¼ cup Apple, Peeled and grated 2tbsp Brown Sugar 3tbsp … [Read More...]
Bread Uppittu
Bread Uppittu is prepared using Bread, Onion, and other spices used to make Rawa (Semolina) Uppittu. This is faster and offers a variety in Uppittu also known as Upma. Time Required: 25 … [Read More...]
Cool Cucumber Mint Soup
Healthy soup and perfect while on diet. Time Required: 5 minutes + Chilling time Ingredients: 1 Cucumber 1/2 Cup Mint Leaves 3 Spring Onions or 1 Onion Lemon Juice to taste Salt and … [Read More...]
Travel
Shopping in Rajasthan
Rajasthan is haven for shoppers. Every city in Rajasthan has a buzzing colorful market and visitors throng these places to take back things as a momento. Shopping in Rajasthan is an experience by … [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...]
Bhoga Nandeeshwara Temple
If you want to experience poetry in stone, then you must visit Bhoga Nadeeshwara Temple. A culmination of work on the temple from 5 dynasties is very attractive to tourists and devotees. Bhoga … [Read More...]
Bada Bagh, Jaisalmer
Bada Bagh means big garden. It is a garden of royal cenotaphs or chhatris of the royal family of Jaisalmer. The cenotaphs are worth a visit to marvel at the intricate carvings and the effort … [Read More...]
Sam Sand Dunes, Jaisalmer, Rajasthan
Situated 42 Kms from Jaisalmer is the Sam Sand Dunes and the Kuari dunes on the great Thar Desert of Rajasthan. We chose to visit Sam dunes, pronounced as “Sum”, and the sights of the desert just took … [Read More...]
Cheluvamba Mansion, Mysore
Cheluvamba Mansion was built by Maharaja Krishnaraja Wodeyar IV in 1910. The mansion was built for the third daughter of the Maharaja, Princess Cheluvajammanni. There many other mansions similar to … [Read More...]
Parks of Pondicherry
Pondicherry has many parks, which attracts both local people and tourists. Children’s Park A park near the seaside attracts many children. This park has a statue of Marquis Joseph Francois … [Read More...]
Festivals
Basava Jayanthi
Kalabeda, kola beda, husiya nidiyalu beda Muniya beda, anyarige asahya padabeda Thanna bannisabeda, idira aliyalu beda Ide antaranga shuddhi, ide bahiranga shuddhi Ide namma koodala … [Read More...]
Good Friday
Having studied in a Catholic school, we were shown many movies on Jesus Christ. I remember when I was 6 or 7 yrs old and crying out with all my heart when Jesus was being nailed to the cross and Mary … [Read More...]
Swathi Nakshatra Saraswathi Pooja 2024
As children, we would feel very important on the day of Saraswathi Pooja during Dasara. On this day, our books would be stacked in front of Goddess Saraswathi Photograph and we would all worship … [Read More...]
Upakarma – Janivara Habba
Upakarma festival is solely for the men. The others also join in by preparing delicious food as naivedhyam / blessed food and eating together. This festivals falls on Shravana Nakshatra (a star) on … [Read More...]
Chaitra Poornima
Chaitra Poornima is the first Poornima of the Hindu lunar calendar and falls in the Hindu month of Chaitra, March – April according to Gregorian calendar. It is the Poornima (full moon) after the … [Read More...]
Ashada Shukravara
Lakshmi (goddess of wealth) pooja / ritual is performed on all the Fridays of the Hindu month of Aashada, July-Aug in Gregorian calendar. This year (2020) Aashada starts on 22nd June and the … [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...]
