Add baking soda while washing fruits and vegetable, this will remove any type of contamination. Add sparkling water to Pani puri dough. The Puris will turn out crisp. Add oil while boiling … [Read More...]
Malnad Style Beetroot Kayi Chutney
I tasted this Beetroot chutney at Sridhara Paduka Mandira in Bengaluru. The saying that god prasada is divine and satisfying is so true. The humble lunch comprising to Rice huli, saru, and … [Read More...]
Lord Jaganath Rath Yatra
The famous Chariot festival of Orissa state falls in the month of Ashada (June - July). The Rath Yatra is one of the oldest and biggest festival of India held in Puri, Odisha … [Read More...]
Festival dates in Ashadha month – July and August 2026
Festival dates in Ashadha month – July and August 2026 Āshādha (July - August) - From 15 July to 12 August 2026 Ashada Shukravara Lakmi Pooja - 17 July, 24 July, 31 July, … [Read More...]
Flower Arrangement – Peaced
Who better than Gautham Buddha to represent Peace? This arrangement using Bamboo and Buddha bust gives out the most peaceful oriental vibe. The famous Three Refuges (or Triple Gem) in … [Read More...]
Water Apple Salad Recipe
Water Apple in White and Red are available in plenty during May End to June End. This fruit though tasteless is considered good for health. I tried this recipe and the fruit became a bit … [Read More...]
July 2026 Hints
When using Banana leaves as a wrap, iron using an electric ironing machine iron and then use them. Add a pinch of salt at each stage of cooking, for example, add a pinch when sautéing Onions, … [Read More...]
Flower Arrangement – Rock Solid
In nature, wild flowers gently peep out from rocks and its crevices. This looks very beautiful. We can introduce rocks in our gardens for an aesthetic look. Similarly, rocks can be … [Read More...]
Yoga Narasimha and Saint Ramanujacharya temple, Todanur
The Yoga Narasimha and Saint Ramanujacharya temple is on a hillock and has been renovated recently and was sporting a fresh coat of paint. This temple , which is 1000 years old is built in the Chola … [Read More...]
Festival dates in Jyaishtha month – June and July 2026
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...]
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...]
Neeru Dosa – Thin Rice Dosa
"Neeru" in Kannada means water. Neeru Dosa is prepared with a batter as thin as water and hence the name. Cuisine: Udupi Time Required: 20 Minutes + Soaking Time Serves: … [Read More...]
Vegetarian Recipes
Adai Dosa – Mixed Lentils Dosa Recipe
Spicy pancakes prepared using a mixture of different lentils. A very popular breakfast dish in Tamil Nadu. Cuisine: Tamil Nadu Time Required: 30 Minutes + Soaking Time + Fermenting … [Read More...]
Money Bags
Minced vegetables filled in wonton wrappers are shaped into money bags and deep fried. Delicious! Cuisine: Chinese Time Required: 30 Minutes Ingredients: ½ Cup Cabbage, Chopped … [Read More...]
Kotte Kadabu Recipe – Gunda Recipe – Idli steamed in Jackfruit Leaves – Halasina Kotte Kadabu
When Idli or Dosa batter is in the refrigerator there is absolutely no worry over fixing a breakfast. This is the mantra in all South Indian households. To break the boredom of this … [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...]
Hesarubele Tovve – Moong Dal – Dal Recipe
Hesarubele Tovve is a curry prepared using split green gram with either Cucumber or Ridge gourd. Cuisine: Karnataka Time Required: 20 Minutes Serves: 4 Ingredients: 2 Cups … [Read More...]
Salad Platter
Salad is nutritious and good for health. A portion of salad eaten during one of the meals helps the body get some fiber for easy absorption of food. Time Required: 15 … [Read More...]
Avocado Pineapple Juice
You will find a bounty of Avocado in the market as it is raining in the coastal and hilly regions. Avocado Pineapple Juice is very easy to make but an unusual refreshing drink. Time Required: 10 … [Read More...]
Sandesh
Sandesh is a sweet dish prepared using Cottage Cheese a favorite in West Bengal, India. Cuisine: West Bengal Time Required: 1 hour Ingredients: 1 liter Milk Juice of 1 Lemon 7 tbsp … [Read More...]
Travel
Meenakshi Amman Temple
Meenakshi Amman Temple is an ancient and popular temple in Madurai. The sheer size of the temple overwhelms you and the magnificent gopurams (towers) will make you gasp with awe. The main deity … [Read More...]
Kudremukh
I have a hazy memory of me standing at one of the view points in Chikkamagalur holding my sister’s hand and the elders identifying a faraway hill as Kudremukh from the shape of the hill. When … [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...]
Jwalamukhi Tripura Sundari Temple
"Kadamba vana vasinim, kanaka vallaki dharinim, Maharha mani harinim, mukasa mulla sad varunim, Daya vibhava karinim vichatha lochamim, charinim, Trilochana Kudimbhineem, Tripura Sundarim … [Read More...]
Byndoor Beach
Byndoor Beach is a beautiful stretch of sand on the Arabian Sea. The place is completely green with hills on one side and long stretches of beach on the other side.Together it is one of the … [Read More...]
Kukkarahalli Lake – Mysore
My sister and me always had an extended summer holidays, as my uncle’s family from Delhi would be visiting Mysore every year for their summer holidays. Our holidays would end in May and their holidays … [Read More...]
Aquatic birds of Hadinaru Kere
Hadinaru Kere is a huge lake near Mysore. The number of birds on and off the lake just blew us away. There were birds everywhere, on the surface of the lake lake, flying overhead, perched on trees … [Read More...]
Festivals
Navaratri Golu – Dolls Arrangement during Dasara
This is in continuation of the post “Traditional Dolls Arrangement”. The custom of arranging dolls during Navaratri / Dasara is also followed in Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Andhra Pradesh. In these states … [Read More...]
Significance of Diwali festival in different religions
Jainism Diwali is celebrated by Jains with devotion, on this day Lord Mahavira the 24th Thirthankara achieved Nirvana on Amavasya of Ashvina masa in 527 B.C. The Lord left the body and achieved … [Read More...]
Rathasapthami Rangoli
Rathasapthami is a festival in honor of Sun god. On this day a Rathasapthami rangoli / kolam (patterns drawn using chalk powder) of ratha / chariot is drawn inside the shrine of … [Read More...]
Ritu – Indian Seasons – Rithu
Ritu means "season" in ancient Indian calendars used in India, Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka. There are six ritus or seasons. The word is derived from the Vedic Sanskrit word Ṛtú. Every season, … [Read More...]
Aarathi Song – Lakshmi Arathi Song – Goddess Lakshmi Pooja Song
This is a song written by my mom and we sing this song alternatively with other songs on Friday evening while we perform aarathi to goddess Lakshmi. It can be sung to any tune that you are … [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...]
Banni Tree
The botanical name of this tree is Prosopis spicigera. In Sanskrit it is known as Shami Vruksha. Banni tree is found in dry and arid regions at low altitudes. This tree is widely grown in … [Read More...]
