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
Peas and Potato Soup
Time Required: 25 minutes Serves: 4 Time Required: 40 Minutes Ingredients: 1 tbsp Butter 4 Potatoes, diced 1 Cup Shelled Peas 1 large Onion, chopped 2 Garlic cloves, crushed 1tsp … [Read More...]
Huli Avalakki – Sweet and Sour Poha – Sweet and Sour Beaten Rice
Huli Avalakki is a dish prepared using beaten rice. The taste is sweet, sour and spicy. This dish is prepared during festivals as offerings to gods. Cuisine: Karnataka Time Required: 30 … [Read More...]
Gooseberry Honey Candy
Indian Gooseberry slices are preserved in Sugar and Honey. Time Required: 30 Minutes + 4 days for drying Ingredients: 10 Indian Gooseberries 3 Cups Sugar 1 Cup Honey Method: Chop … [Read More...]
Godambi Thondekai Palya – Cashew Nut Ivy Gourd Stir Fry
Godambi Thondekai Palya is a side dish prepared using Cashew nuts and Ivy gourd. This dish is very popular in coastal regions of Karnataka, as Cashew nuts are grown abundantly in these … [Read More...]
Chocolate Tea
Chocolate flavored Tea. Time Required: 10 Minutes Serves: 6 Ingredients: 3tsp Tea Powder 1 Cup Milk 1 Cup Water Few chunks of dark Chocolate with 1tbsp Milk or 2 tbsp Drinking Chocolate … [Read More...]
Lotus Stem Chips
Yummy crispy chips prepared using Lotus stems. Lotus stems is known as Kamal Ki Kakadi in Hindi. Cuisine: North India Time Required: 20 Minutes Ingredients: Few Lotus Stems Oil for deep … [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...]
Chakkali
A salty fritter in the shape of concentric circles, which is commonly prepared in South Indian homes and a favorite among children. Chakkali is compared to the Moon and a rhyme goes like this "Chanda … [Read More...]
Travel
Andaman and Nicobar Islands
The largely uninhabited archipelago located south of Burma and northwest of Malaysia is the Andaman and Nicobar islands on the waters of Bay of Bengal. Nearer to Thailand than to mainland India, it is … [Read More...]
Rajas Tomb – Gaddige – Coorg
Gaddige or Gadduge is a place towards the north of Coorg with tombs of Kodava royalty, court dignitaries, royal priest and the royal bulls. It is situated on a hillock with a good view of the city. … [Read More...]
Hyderabad
Hyderabad is the capital of Andhra Pradesh and is the fifth largest metropolitan city of India. It is popularly known as the City of Pearls, Lakes and Nizams. Hyderabad has developed into a major hub … [Read More...]
Pondicherry – Puducherry
After learning most of the computer languages, I enrolled myself for French language lessons and imagined myself traveling to France and speaking in French but could not go beyond pronouncing Merci … [Read More...]
Hogenakkal Waterfalls
Hogenakkal in Kannada means Smoking rocks, but the name that is apt for this place is Yennekal meaning Oily rocks. This place is best avoided by one and all and it is a failure and shame on the … [Read More...]
Vani Vilas Water Works, Mysore
100 years ago history was made when Mysore city got drinking water from the Cauvery River flowing 12 Kms away from the city. To manage the drinking water, two pumping stations were set, one at … [Read More...]
St. Stephen’s Church Ooty
St. Stephen’s church Ooty is one of the oldest churches in the Nilgiris district. Situated in Ooty, it was built exclusively for the British settled there. On April 23, 1829, the birthday of King … [Read More...]
Festivals
Vaikunta Chathurdashi Vratha
Vaikunta Chathurdashi Vratha is a religious practice that people vow to perform in the Hindu month of Karthika, which is October – November in the Gregorian calendar. It is performed for 14 years and … [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...]
Mysore Dasara – Mysuru Dasara Celebrations – Mysuru Dussehra – Mysuru Navratri
Mysore looks its best during the 10-day Dasara celebration where all the major roads in the city, heritage buildings, palaces, historical monuments, ancient temples and shops are … [Read More...]
21 Patra Pooja to Lord Ganesha
21 types of Patra (leaves), 21 types of Pushpa (flowers), and 21 Kadabu or Modaka (sweets) are offered to Lord Ganesha during Ganesha Chathurthi and Sankashta Chaturthi. Just before the festivities … [Read More...]
Habbada Thindi and Panaka – Festival Snacks and Juice Recipes
Food and festival go hand in hand in India. Special dishes are prepared on festivals and during vratha (observance). Habbada Adige / festival food is prepared on all festivals. But … [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...]
Festival dates in Pushya month – December and January 2026
Festival dates in Paush/Pushya (December – January) Dhanurmasa Pooja – Starts on 16 December 2025 and ends on 14 January 2026 Vaikunta Ekadasi – 30 December 2025 … [Read More...]
