Festival dates in Phalgun month – February and March 2026 Phālgun (February – March) Sri Raghavendra Swami Jayanthi – 24 February 2026 Holi – 2 to 4 March 2026 … [Read More...]

Happy Shivaratri 2026
As Lord Shiva is Trinetra (3 eyes), Bilva leaves are offered on this auspicious day of Maha Shivaratri. Some devotees feast and few fast on this day. Devotees also do Jagran (wake the … [Read More...]
Flower Arrangement – Tall and strong
Heliconia is best for flower arrangements, as they last for a very long time. When teamed with Philodendron leaves, it makes a striking arrangement. Materials required: 1 Golden torch … [Read More...]

Ulundogare recipe – Urad Dal Rice recipe – Ullandogare – Ulundhorai
Ulundogare is prepared for naivedya (blessed food) in temples. It is a healthy meal with the right amount of carbohydrates and complex carbohydrates. The flavor is derived from roasted … [Read More...]

Ikigai Café
Ikigai is a Japanese concept pronounced as ee-key-guy. It means a sense of purpose to wake up in the morning. This resonates perfectly with Navya, who has conceptualized this unique café “Ikigai” at … [Read More...]

February 2026 Hints
Use an onion to clean the grate on your grill. If your microwave is really dirty, put a damp cloth in there for about 30-45 seconds, let it sit (to cool down) then use it to wipe it down. The steam … [Read More...]

Konkaneshwara Temple, Akkihebbalu
The presiding deity at Konkaneshwara temple in Akkihebbalu, Mandya district is Lord Shiva. This temple is situated next to the Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy temple. Both temples are ancient with no … [Read More...]

Akkihebbalu Lakshmi Narasimha Temple
Akkihebbalu Lakshmi Narasimha Temple is as ancient as our Puranas. Sage Gouthama's penance appeased Lord Vishnu and he appeared before him and asked his wish, the sage asked Lord Vishnu to … [Read More...]
Vegetarian Recipes

Masala Thondekayi Palya Recipe – Masaledar Tindli Recipe – Spicy Ivy Gourd Recipe
Ivy gourd or Thondekayi with masala makes for a great accompaniment with Chapathis or Rotis. This type of side dish is popularly prepared during weddings and festivals. Ingredients: 3 Cups … [Read More...]

Cream Cheese Recipe – Cheese Spread Recipe
Cream Cheese as a spread is great on toasts and Bagels. Very easy to make at home with just three ingredients. Ingredients: 1 Cup Cottage Cheese / Paneer 1/2 Cup Hung yogurt / … [Read More...]

Palada Pal Payasa
Palada Pal Payasa is prepared using Ada. Ada is dried Rice flour flakes, which is available in any of the grocery stores. This is one of the five payasa served during Onam Sadya (festive … [Read More...]

Eggless Walnut Brownie
Brownies are the fastest to get over when served warm with Vanilla Ice cream. Type: Tea Cakes Makes: 250 gms Time Required: 1 Hour Ingredients: 60 gms Dark chocolate 40 gms / ¼ Cup … [Read More...]

Banana Flower Chutney
Banana flower chutney is made often in South and coastal Karnataka. It is served along with plain rice and ghee. Cuisine: Karnataka Time required: 15 Minutes Preparation time: 30 … [Read More...]

Pesto Sauce
Cuisine: Italian Time Required: 5 Minutes Ingredients: ¼ Cup Grated Processed Cheese or Parmesan Cheese 2tbsp Walnuts or Pine Nuts ½ or ¾ Cup Olive Oil 6 – 8 Garlic Cloves, Chopped … [Read More...]

Beans Neeru Palya
This is a side dish with gravy prepared using String beans. Time Required: 15 Minutes Ingredients: 20 String Beans ¼ Cup Grated Fresh Coconut 1 tsp Jeera / Cumin Seeds 3 Peppercorns 3 … [Read More...]

Spinach Cantaloupe Salad with Mint
Summer is the season for Musk Melon and you can find carts loaded with this delicious fruit in every corner of Bangalore. Salad with fruit eliminates the need to add refined sugar to the … [Read More...]
Travel

Bhoga Nandeeshwara Temple
If you want to experience poetry in stone, then you must visit Bhoga Nadeeshwara Temple. A culmination of work on the temple from 5 dynasties is very attractive to tourists and devotees. Bhoga … [Read More...]

Se Cathedral – Goa
Right opposite the Basillica de Bom Jesus, is the Roman Catholic Se Cathedral - Goa. It is the seat of the Archdiocese of Goa and is also a UNESCO heritage site. Built in 1510, but the actual … [Read More...]

Maharaja’s Sanskrit College, Mysore
The Maharaja’s Sanskrit school was started by then Maharaja of Mysuru, H.H.Krishnaraja Wodeyar III in 1868. The Maharaja was an expert in Kannada and Sanskrit languages. He was scholar and a writer … [Read More...]

Statues of Postman Basappa and Commandant Bhujangarao Jagadale
Mysore has endless memories of long drives around the heritage city lined with huge old flowering trees and historical buildings dotted with lakes and the stoic Chamundi Hill. We would never miss to … [Read More...]

Chamundi Hills – Mysore
As you near Mysore city, the first thing that you notice is Chamundi hills standing protectively over the city spread on its foothills. Every Mysorean is fond of this hill and they might have visited … [Read More...]

Udupi
Udupi is synonymous with darshinis (vegetarian eating joints) serving tasty South Indian food. Udupi is also famous for temples and is situated on the coast of Karnataka. Udupi was carved out as a … [Read More...]

Birds of Rajasthan
When we started our trip to Rajasthan in winter, we were looking forward to sighting many migratory as well as resident birds. The drought faced by the state for the past 3 years has resulted in dry … [Read More...]
Festivals

Happy Vijayadashami – Veeragase Folk Dance of Karnataka – Guggla
Veeragase is a folk dance of Karnataka where the participants wear grand makeup, headgear, and costumes and dance to folk music composed on Hindu mythology. The dance movements are intense with … [Read More...]

Kalasha
This is an important arrangement in any of the Hindu rituals/pooja. This occupies a prominent place in the pedestal along with the idols or photographs of gods and goddesses. During marriages the … [Read More...]

Vijayothsava – Vijayadashami – Importance of Banni – Kannada Version
Story of King Raghu (of Raghuvamsha) written by my mother in Kannada script. This story appears in the Ramayana and my mother has written in simple words for easy understanding. Click here for … [Read More...]

Subramanya Shashti
Subramanya Shashti also known as Champa Shashti is celebrated honoring the birth of second son of Shiva named Subramanya / Skanda. It falls on the 6th day of the Hindu month of … [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...]

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...]

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...]
