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
Sprout Spring Rolls
Cuisine: Chinese Time Required: 40 Minutes Ingredients: 10 -12 Readymade Wonton Wrappers (Spring Roll wrappers) 3 tbsp Maida / Refined flour mixed with ¼ Cup of water Oil for … [Read More...]
Palak Paratha – Spinach Flat Bread – Palak Chapathi Recipe – Palak Roti Recipe
Indian bread prepared used Spinach. Popeye would certainly love it. Time Required: 30 Minutes Ingredients: 1 bunch Palak / Spinach 1 - 2 tbsp Green Chilies paste 3 Cups of Wheat … [Read More...]
Tomato Onion Uthappam
Thick Crepe/Pancakes with Tomatoes and Onion. Tomato Onion Uthappam is a very tasty breakfast and popular in South India. Time Required: 20 Minutes + Soaking time + Fermenting … [Read More...]
Kharada Kadelekayi Beeja Masale – Spicy Peanuts with Onions Recipe – Mumphali Masala
The ubiquitous Kharada Kadalkayi Beeja or Congress is mixed with Onions and made into Kharada Kadelekayi Beeja Masale, which is favorite accompaniment with drinks (hic!) Cuisine: Karnataka Time … [Read More...]
Bhojpuri Choka – Mashed Potatoes and Eggplant Recipe
Bhojpuri Choka is a lip-smacking dish prepared using Eggplant, Potatoes, and Tomatoes. Cuisine: Bihar, Orissa Time Required: 45 Minutes Ingredients: 2 medium sized Baingan / Eggplant, … [Read More...]
Red Rice Idli – Red Parboiled Rice Cakes Recipe
Red Rice Idli is a healthy version of the already healthy Idli (steamed cakes). Try this to add variety to the South Indian Breakfast. Cuisine: South India Time Required: 15 Minutes + … [Read More...]
Bandale Dose
Bandale in Kannada means a round bottomed wok/pan. The Dosa/pancake is prepared in these types of pans and hence the name. It is also called as "Dodna" by South Canara residents. I knew … [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...]
Travel
Daria Daulat Bagh
Daria Daulat is the summer palace of Tipu Sultan, situated in Srirangapattana, 15 Kms from Mysore. The Indo-Sarcenic style palace was built by Tipu Sultan in 1784. The two storeyed palace is … [Read More...]
Shri Chamarajendra Zoological Gardens, Mysore Zoo
The other common name is "Mysore Zoo" and it is one of the oldest and well maintained zoos in India. It not only houses a wide range of animals, reptiles and birds but the garden maintained is … [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...]
Uttarakhand
My parents visited Uttarakhand in 1973 and I used to love hearing their experiences and the description of the different places they visited. My dad who was an avid photographer got all the pictures … [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...]
Talakadu – Part I
Picture1 - Talakadu Sand Dunes Talakadu is situated 50 Kms from Mysore and was under the rule of Western Gangas, Tamil Cholas in the 11th and 12th centuries, Hoysalas in the 12th century, … [Read More...]
Gadag-Betageri
Gadag-Betageri is a town and district headquarters in the state of Karnataka, India. Gadag and its sister city Betageri (or Betgeri) have a combined city administration. It is 80 km from Dharwad and … [Read More...]
Festivals
Shri Sathyanarayana Swamy Vratha
Narayana Lakshminaryana Narayana Sathyanarayana The above chorus is from a famous Kannada song Kapadu Sri Sathya Narayana. For lyrics please refer the following link - … [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...]
Sheege Hunnime
Sheege Hunnime festival is fondly remembered by my mother. The excerpt follows… My dad seemed to be in a very celebrative mood. He ordered the servants to get the bullock cart ready and also … [Read More...]
Makara Sankranti
Sankranthi is a harvest festival and “Sankranthi” means movement. It is a celebration of the sun entering from the zodiac sign Dhanur/Sagittarius into Makara/Capricorn. So this Makara Sankranti … [Read More...]
Mahashivarathri – Shivratri
Om Vande Shambhu Umaapatim Surgurum Vande Jagad Kaaranaam | Vande Pannag Bhushanaam Mrigadharam Vande Pashunaam Patim| Vande Surya Shashaak Vahninayanam Vande Mukundapriyam| Vande Bhakta … [Read More...]
Surya Stotra
Today is Rathasapthami and here is a beautiful stotra / hymn in praise of the sun written by Lakshmisha in Jaimini Mahabharatha. Kannada script: ಸೂರ್ಯ ಸ್ತೋತ್ರ ಮಿತ್ರಾಯ ಸೂರ್ಯಾಯ ಹಂಸಾಯ … [Read More...]
Nariyal Poornima
The fisherman of Daman and Kolis of Coastal Maharashtra look forward to celebrate Nariyal Poornima festival as it signifies retreating monsoon and the commencement of their fishing activity. Nariyal … [Read More...]
