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
Radish and Onion Salad
When in a hurry to make a side dish, try Radish and Onion Salad. It is quick to make and delicious to have with Indian Bread. Cuisine: Karnataka Time Required: 10 Minutes Ingredients: 4 … [Read More...]
Kurtakoti Saarina Pudi – Rasam Powder Recipe – North Karnataka Rasam Powder
Loved the change in cuisine when I visited my maternal grandfather's house in Kurtakoti. The Saaru prepared there was so different from Mysore Saaru. Hence, I named it Kurtakoti Saaru and here is the … [Read More...]
Mixed Vegetable Kootu – Vegetable Dal Recipe – Vegetable Lentil Curry
Curry prepared using assorted vegetables. It is prepared during auspicious ceremonies like Upanayana / Sacred thread, Weddings etc., Time Required: 30 Minutes Serves: 6 Ingredients: 1 Cup … [Read More...]
Alu Methi – Aloo Methi Recipe – Potato Fenugreek Leaves Recipe
A side dish prepared using Potatoes and Fenugreek leaves. Ingredients: 5 Potatoes, peeled diced 1 bunch Methi / Fenugreek leaves, cleaned and chopped finely 2 tbsp Oil 1tsp Saunf / … [Read More...]
Kurtkoti Chakkali – Spicy Chakkuli Recipe – Chakli Recipe – Murukku Recipe – North Karnataka style Chakli
Fritters in the shape of concentric circles. These were our favorite snack during summer at my maternal grandparents house in Kurtkoti in North Karnataka. The color and taste differed from the one's … [Read More...]
Maida Dosa
Pancakes prepared using refined flour (all purpose flour). Cuisine: Karnataka Time Required: 30 Minutes Serves: 4 Ingredients: 1 Cup Maida/Refined Flour 1 Cup Rice Flour 1/2 Cup … [Read More...]
Thothapuri Mavinakayi Churmuri – Raw Mango Churmuri – Raw Mango Chat – Mango Bhel
Thothapuri Mavinakayi Churmuri is a spicy tangy snack salad prepared using Thothapuri Mango. This salad is very popular in Mysore-Bangalore regions. Ingredients: 1 Big Thothapuri … [Read More...]
Mango Sparkler
Something cool to drink in summer is always welcome, and something with Mango in it is more than welcome. Try this drink and surprise your loved ones! Time required: 10 … [Read More...]
Travel
Basillica of Bom Jesus, Goa
I had read and heard a lot about St. Francis Xavier’s mortal remains enshrined in the oldest church in India, the Basillica of Bom Jesus in Goa. When I got the opportunity to visit the … [Read More...]
Nrityagram Dance Village, Hessarghatta and Taj Kuteeram
We planned for a weekend getaway to Nrityagram, which turned to be a unique experience. The dance village is situated on a 10 acre land near Hessarghatta, 30 Km from Bangalore. This was founded in … [Read More...]
Raja Seat – Coorg
Raja Seat means King’s Seat. It is view point in Coorg, which used to be a favorite place for the royals of Kodagu to hang out and watch the sun setting in the horizon. A small structure is built with … [Read More...]
Jaswant Thada, Jodhpur
Jaswant Thada is situated to the left of the Mehrangarh fort complex in Jodhpur, Rajasthan. This beautiful white marble structure was built in 1899 in memory of Maharaja Jaswant Singh II. Photographs … [Read More...]
Agumbe, Karnataka
Agumbe is known as Chirapunji of South India as this place is next to Chirapunji in receiving a very high rainfall. So, you can just imagine the beauty of this place, rain forests covered hills, … [Read More...]
Vijaynagar Beach, Havelock Island
Vijaynagar Beach is Beach No. 5 on the east coast of Havelock Island. A calm and quiet beach, it attracts people who want to get away from the maddening crowd. It is a white sand beach with … [Read More...]
Himavad Gopalaswamy Betta
Clouds zoom in and around Mesmerizing the soul Hills n’ Valleys rise n' fall Entrenching the mind To the Emerald horizon And the life between I surrender to you O’ Divine Gopala! There is … [Read More...]
Festivals
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...]
Karnataka Rajyotsava
Jai bharata jananiya tanujaate jai he karnataka mathe Jai sundara nadi vanagaLa nade jai he rasa rushigala beede. Bhoodeviya mukutada nava maNiye gandhada chandada honnina ganiye Raghava … [Read More...]
Aarathi
Items Required: Camphor or Cotton Wicks soaked in Ghee Aarathi Plate Flower Petals and Manthrakshathe (Rice smeared with Ghee and Kumkum or Ghee and Turmeric Powder) Definition: Aarathi is a … [Read More...]
Ele Ashtami – Jesta Devi Pooja
This festival is celebrated widely in North Karnataka. This festival falls on the 8th day of the Hindu month Bhadrapada, August – September of Gregorian calendar. For the festival dates click … [Read More...]
Mahalaya Amavasya
15 days of the Hindu month is considered as Pitra Paksha, which are days dedicated to ancestors. It occurs in the Hindu month of Bhadrapada i.e. September-October in the Gregorian calendar. For the … [Read More...]
Tulasi Aarathi Haadu
Aarathi song dedicated to Tulasi devi. In Kannada Script: ತುಳಸಿ ಆರತಿ ಹಾಡು ಶ್ರೀ ತುಳಸಿ ಜಯ ದೇವಪೂಜಿತೆ |ಪ| ಅತುಲ ಸುಗುಣಾ ಕರುಣಾಮಯ ಮಾತೆ || ಅತಿ ಕೋಮಲ ಪಲ್ಲವ ದಳ ಭರಿತೆ ಶ್ರುತ ಭಾವಿಕ ಜನ ವೃಂದ … [Read More...]
Krishna Janmashtami – Gokulashtami – Birth of Lord Krishna
"Yathra Yogeeshwara Krishno | Yathra Partho Dhanurdharaha | Thathra Shree Vijayo Bhuthir | Dhruvaneethirmimathirmama ||" The meaning of the above extract from the Gita is “wherever Krishna … [Read More...]
