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
Masala Puri – Street Style Masala Puri Chat Recipe – Crispy Puri with Masala Gravy
Masala Puri is a favorite evening street food among Mysoreans and Bangaloreans. The gravy is prepared using Peas and spices and the snack is arranged in layers, with crushed crispies as the … [Read More...]
Alugadde Patchadi – Alu Raitha Recipe – Aloo Raitha Recipe – Potato in Yogurt
A dish using Potatoes and Yoghurt prepared in South Indian style. Alugadde Patchadi is also called as Alu Raitha in North India and is prepared with a slight variation. This dish is also … [Read More...]
Mosaru Avalakki
Yoghurt and beaten rice mixed together with seasoning. This dish is very soothing and a perfect way to detoxify. When Avalakki / beaten rice is offered to any Hindu, he/she will not refuse it. This is … [Read More...]
Plum Panna – Plum Juice
My taste buds were bowled over when I tasted Plum Panna in Coonoor. The freshly picked Plums tasted great in this refreshing drink. Ingredients: 10 - 12 Plums 1 tsp Roasted … [Read More...]
Jhal Muri Recipe – Spicy Crunchy Puffed Rice Recipe – Chat Recipe – Kolkata Chat Recipe
Jhal Muri is a popular street food from Kolkata. As the winter evening turn chilly, Jhal Muri is the preferred snack with Masala Tea. Ingredients: 4 Cups Murmura / Kadalepuri / Puffed Rice 1 … [Read More...]
Gojjambode – Fritters in Gravy – Dal Vada – Puruppu Vadai in Kutsu
Gojju + Ambode = Gojjambode. Deep fried crispy lentil dumplings in a tangy sweet curry. This is a very authentic dish of South Karnataka. Time Required: 40 Minutes + Soaking … [Read More...]
Hari Makai Ki Subzi – Sweet Corn and Spinach Gravy Recipe
Sweet corn kernels cooked in Spinach puree. Cuisine: North Indian Time Required: 20 minutes Ingredients: 1 Cup Makai / Sweet Corn Kernels, Boiled 1 Bunch Spinach, Blanched and pureed 2 … [Read More...]
Ksheeranna
A sweet dish prepared using milk and rice. My grandmother used to prepare this often on festival days. This is also a temple recipe as the temples in Karnataka offer this dish as Prasada / blessed … [Read More...]
Travel
Bikaner
I was very excited that I would be traveling to Bikaner. Other than Bikaner Bhujia and other savories made famous by Haldirams, I had limited knowledge about the city. Bikaner was beyond my … [Read More...]
Goa
Goa is the smallest state in terms of area located in the west coastal region of India referred to as 'Goa Dourada' in the local dialect, which means 'Golden Goa'. Capital of Goa is … [Read More...]
Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Puducherry
Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus was sanctified in 1895 by Archbishop Mgr. Gandy in Pondicherry. The church started functioning in 1908. This ancient church is 50 meters long and 48 meters … [Read More...]
Temples in Pondicherry
There are many temples in Pondicherry. Many of them were built during the reign of Cholas in the 10th Century AD. Manakula Vinayagar Koil The strinking gopuram painted with bright colors greet you … [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...]
Railway Museum Mysore
Dasara festival is the time when tourists make a beeline to visit the royal city of Mysore. All the tourist spots are swarmed by people enjoying their holidays. Not many people are aware of the … [Read More...]
Halebidu – Halebeedu
The city Dwarasamudra meaning “the door to the sea” was the capital city of the Hoysala Empire in the 12th century. In the 14th century the city was vandalized by Malik Kafur and since then has been … [Read More...]
Festivals
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...]
Vaikunta Ekadasi
"Shaantaakaaram Bhujanga Shayanam Padmanaabham Suresham Vishvaadhaaram Gagana Sadrisham Meghavarnam Shubhaangam Lakshmiikaantam Kamalanayanam Yogibhidhyaarnagamyam Vande Vishhnum Bhavabhayaharam … [Read More...]
Deepavali Song – Diwali Song – Deepavali Haadu
Deepavali song is written by my mother in Kannada script to be sung anytime during the Deepavali festival. The lyrics cover the importance and joy of celebrating Deepavali / Diwali … [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...]
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...]
Kojagari Lakshmi Puja
Kojagari Lakshmi Puja is perfomed in West Bengal, Orissa, and Assam. It falls on the full moon day in the Hindu month Ashwin, September – October according to Gregorian calendar. For the festival date … [Read More...]
Hanuman Jayanthi
"Manojavam Maruthathulya Vegam Jitendriyam Budhdhi Mathaam Varishtam Vaathathmajam Vaanarayutha Mukhyam Srirama Dootham Sharanam Prapadye" The above sthotra/chanting, is part of the Sri … [Read More...]
