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

Pathrode Gasi – Colocasia Leaves Recipe – Pathrode Recipe
Pathrode Gasi is a gravy based side dish prepared using Pathrode. Cuisine: Udupi - Mangalore Time Required: 30 Minutes Time Required: 20 Minutes + to prepare Patrode Ingredients: 2 Cups … [Read More...]

Black Rice Tomato Soup Recipe
It is that time of the year when the cold bites even in South India! Steaming hot Black Rice Tomato Soup would be so ideal for the evening with a Bread infused with herbs! Time required: 30 … [Read More...]

Lemony Saru
A lemony flavored thin curry/soup. Lemony Saru is ideal to sip it hot along with roasted Papad/Flat dried bread on a cold winter evening. Cuisine: Karnataka Time Required: 10 … [Read More...]

Mavinakayi Hasi Gojju Recipe – Raw Mango Sweet and Sour Curry Recipe
Mavinakayi Hasi Gojju is prepared using Raw Mango. Except for the cooked Mango, the rest of the ingredients used is raw. Cuisine: Karnataka Time required: 10 Minutes Ingredients: 1 … [Read More...]

Puttu – Steamed rice flour and coconut
Puttu is a dish from Kerala, South India. Rice flour and Coconut layers are steamed in a Puttu maker called as Puttu Kutti. Time Required: 15 Minutes Ingredients: 2 Cups Rice 1 Cup Grated … [Read More...]

Peach Salsa recipe – Peach Salad recipe
Peach season is round the corner and an evening spent with the spicy Peach salsa and chips will surely be unforgettable. Ingredients: 4 Peaches, peeled and chopped 1 Onion, chopped 1 … [Read More...]

Rawa Dosa – Semolina Crepe
Rawa Dosa are crepes prepared using Semolina. These take a while to cook. The end result is a crispy, golden colored, lacy dosa, which melts in your mouth. Very good for … [Read More...]

Pudina Coconut Chutney – Mint Coconut Chutney Recipe
Pudina Coconut Chutney is prepared using Mint and fresh Coconut. Cuisine: Karnataka Time Required: 10 Minutes Ingredients: 1 Cup fresh Pudina/ Mint ½ Cup fresh Coconut, Grated 2 Green … [Read More...]
Travel

Pillar Rocks, Kodaikanal
Pillar Rocks as the name suggests is a place in the Kodaikanal hills where three giant rock pillars stand tall kissing the clouds. You can view the pillars from an observation deck built on the … [Read More...]

Mushrooms in Kukkarahalli Kere
When I was walking in Kukkarahalli Kere last Sunday, I got to see many varieties of Mushrooms growing in the thicket. Not a surprise as Mysore has received copious rains this … [Read More...]

Holenarasipura, Karnataka
Holenarasipura is situated in Hassan district, Karnataka. Nayakas ruled this place from 1547 to 1667. Kanteerava Narasaraja Wodeyar, the king of Mysore defeated Narasimha Nayaka and Holenarasipura … [Read More...]

Daily routine in Sri Ramana Maharshi Ashram
Visitors from around the globe visit Sri Ramana Maharshi Ashram and few stay back to know more about the teachings of the guru. A pamphlet printed in Ramana Maharshi Ashrama, Thiruvannamalai … [Read More...]

Lambs rock, Coonoor
Lamb’s rock is a view point in Coonoor named after the collector Captain Lamb. The view point was made accessible by the effort and interest of Captain Lamb. Lambs rock is situated on the way … [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...]

Joshimath
Joshimath is a small town buzzing with pilgrims and tourists who are heading towards the char dham, Hem Kund, Auli, Kuari Pass treks, or Valley of flowers. It is at a height of 6150 feet above sea … [Read More...]
Festivals

Mannethithina Amavasya
Manneththina Amavasya, “mannu” means mud; “yeththu” in Kannada means bullocks and “Amavasya” means no moon day. This festival is celebrated in North Karnataka, and bullocks made of mud are worshiped … [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...]

Visarjana Manthra
The following manthra is chanted while performing the visarjana / send off to god. In Kannada Script: ವಿಸರ್ಜನಾ ಕ್ರಮ ಯಜ್ಞೇನ ಯಗ್ನಮಯಜಂತ ದೇವಾಃ | ತಾನಿ ಧರ್ಮಾಣಿ ಪ್ರಥಮಾನ್ಯಾಸನ್ || ತೇಹ ನಾಕಂ … [Read More...]

Mahavir Jayanti
Mahavir Jayanti is also known as Mahavir Janma Kalyanak and signifies the birth anniversary of the last and 24th Jain thirthankara Lord Mahavira. Lord Mahavira was born in 599 BCE on the thirteenth … [Read More...]

Lord Vishnu Arathi Song – Lord Hari Arathi Song
This is a song in praise of Lord Vishnu also known as Hari. My mother had learnt this song from her late aunt few decades back. Tomorrow is Vaikunta Chaturdashi vratha (observance) and … [Read More...]

ಸರಸ್ವತಿ ಆರತಿ ಹಾಡು – Aarathi Song
During Dasara, Saraswathi is worshiped and on this day few people choose to arrange the dolls. For the festival date click here. The below song dedicated to Goddess Sarawathi is written by my … [Read More...]

Gowri Aarathi Song
Gowri is the consort of Lord Shiva and during Ganesha-Gowri Festival, songs are sung in glory of her during Arathi. Lyrics in Kannada: ಗೌರಿ ಆರತಿ ಹಾಡು ಜಯ ಮಂಗಳವೆನ್ನಿರೆ ಗೌರಿಗೆ| ಜಯ ಭವ ಹರ … [Read More...]
