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
Digestive Mixture Recipe – Mukhwa – Mouth Freshner
Eating Mukhwa, which is a type of digestive mixture is part of the India Culture. This is usually offered in all restaurants while presenting the bill and also during functions and festivities, … [Read More...]
Gobi Manchurian
Gobi Manchurian is a crispy Chinese starter prepared using Cauliflower. It is a very popular dish in India and hence Indian name to the dish. Time Required: 45 Minutes Serves: … [Read More...]
Shenga Chutney Pudi – Peanuts and Garlic Chutney Powder – Groundnuts Chutney Powder
This Chutney Powder is prepared using groundnuts in North Karnataka and served with the regional staple diet rotti / sorghum flour bread Time Required: 20 Minutes Ingredients: 1 Cup … [Read More...]
Carrot Shavige Payasa Recipe – Carrot Vermicelli Payasa
Carrot Shavige Payasa will be an addition to your festival recipe list and might even top in family ranking as the most delicious. Today is the first day of dasara and very auspicious to Hindus … [Read More...]
Turnip and Apple Salad
Time Required: 20 Minutes Ingredients: 2 Turnips boiled 1 Apple diced ½ Capsicum diced 1tbsp Olive Oil Juice of ½ Lemon ½ tsp Crushed Pepper 1 tsp Sugar 1 tsp Assorted dried herbs like … [Read More...]
Godi Huggi – Ven Pongal Recipe – Khara Pongal – Khichdi
Godi Huggi is a wholesome dish prepared using broken wheat. Usually Huggi is prepared using Rice, you can use Broken wheat for a healthier meal. Time Required: 25 Minutes + Soaking … [Read More...]
Avalakki Payasa – Poha Kheer Recipe – Beaten Rice Pudding Recipe
A pudding prepared using beaten rice. This dish is usually prepared on Rathasapthami. You can prepare this on other festivals and occasions. Cuisine: Karnataka Time Required: 20 … [Read More...]
Bettadanellikayi Uppinakayi – Indian Gooseberry Pickle
Bettadanellikayi Uppinakayi is a pickle prepared using Indian Gooseberry. Indian Gooseberries are available in the Winter just after Diwali festival. People pickle them during this time to … [Read More...]
Travel
Saumyanayaki Temple, Belur
Belur Chennakeshava Temple complex comprises of many temples dedicated to various deities. One such temple is the Saumyanayaki temple. Saumyanayaki is the consort of Lord Vishnu (Chennakeshava). The … [Read More...]
Pashchima Vahini, Sangama and Gosai Ghat at Srirangapatna
These three places form a part of places of interest around the historic town of Srirangapatna on the banks of river Cauvery. Sangama and Gosai Ghat are located in a place called Ganjam. Yes, the … [Read More...]
Someshwara Beach
Someshwara Beach is next to the ancient Someshwara Temple at Byndoor. It is a 1 Km stretch beach, rocky during monsoon, calm in other season. A beach away from crowd and noise, it is a perfect place … [Read More...]
Catigao Wildlife Sanctuary
Picture1 - On the way to Catigao Established in 1969, Catigao Wildlife Sanctuary is located in Canacona Taluk, South east of Goa. It is on NH – 17 bordering Goa – Karnataka border. The sanctuary … [Read More...]
Birds of Masinagudi
Masinagudi hills have always fascinated me. We have passed the tiny town many times on our way to Ooty and many a time have driven there for a day outing to look at the majestic hills, flora, … [Read More...]
Vintage car museum, Udaipur
The Maharanas of Udaipur were connoisseurs of cars. These vintage beauties on wheels like Cadillac, Chevrolet, Morris, Rolls Royce, and so on are displayed within the grounds of the Garden Hotel in … [Read More...]
Birds of Andaman and Nicobar Islands
Andaman and Nicobar islands are home to many species of birds, both aquatic and shore birds. As we traveled across the islands we came across the following birds, which we could photograph. Some birds … [Read More...]
Festivals
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...]
Gowri Aarathi Song
ಗೌರಿ ಆರತಿ ಹಾಡು ಮಂಗಳ ಜಯ ಗಿರಿಜಾತೆ ಮಾತೆ ।।ಪ|| ಪರಮಾಯುಧ ಕರ ದುರುಳ ಸುರಾರೆ । ಪರಮ ತೇಜ ಮೃಗರಾಜ ವಿಹಾರೆ ।।೧।। ರತ್ನ ಮುಕುಟ ಮಣಿ ಹಾರ ಕುಂಡಲ ಶೋಭೆ | ರವಿಕೋಟಿ ತೇಜ ವಿರಾಜ ಮುಖಿಯೇ ।।೨।। ಜಗದಾಧಾರೆ ಜಗದಾದಿ … [Read More...]
Lakshmi Devotional Song – Arathi Hymn – Varamahalakshmi Festival
This devotional song was sung by my mother's aunt during arathi to Goddess Lakshmi. You can use any tune suitable to sing this song. In Kannada script: ಲಕ್ಷ್ಮೀ ಆರತಿ ಹಾಡು ಸುಕಾಂತೆರಾರತಿ … [Read More...]
Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Karaavalambam Sthotra in Kannada
Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Karaavalambam Sthotra is written by Sri Jagadguru Adi Shankaracharya in Sanskrit, my grandfather Sri M.M.Patil has translated the Sthotra to Kannada. ಶ್ರೀ ಲಕ್ಷ್ಮೀನರಸಿಂಹ … [Read More...]
Gombe Arathi Haadu – Dolls Arathi Song – Golu Song – Dolls Arrangement Song
In Mysore, during Dasara festival, there is a tradition of arranging dolls on 7 steps or 9 steps. Various dolls passed on from generations are removed from boxes, dusted, and arranged according to … [Read More...]
Chhat Pooja
Thou by whose luster all the world of life comes forth, and by thy beams again returns unto its rest, O surya with the golden hair, ascend for us day after day, and still bringing purer innocence – … [Read More...]
A thought on Saraswathi Pooja
ವಿದ್ಯೆಯ ಮಹತ್ವ ಒಡಲೊಳಗಿರುವದು ವಿದ್ಯೆಯು ನಡೆದರೆ ತಾಂಬರವಲ್ಲ ಕಳ್ಳರು ಕದಿಯರ್ ಪೊಡವಿಪರು ಕಸಿದು ಕೊಳ್ಳರ್ ವಡಹುಟ್ಟಿದವರು ಪಾಲು ಕೇಳರು ಕೇಳೈ Meaning: Knowledge is something that belong to you. Strangers … [Read More...]
