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

Bread Dahi Bhalla – Dahi Vada Recipe – Dahi Bada Recipe – Dahi Bhalla Recipe
A tangy snack prepared using Bread and Yoghurt/Curds. This is served as Chaats in India. Time Required: 30 Minutes Ingredients: 6 Bread slices 2tsp Meethi/Sweet Chutney 3 Cups … [Read More...]

Steamed Corn – Corn on the Cob –
Steamed Corn is a very healthy snack and also very tempting for children. Time Required: 15 Minutes Ingredients: 2 American sweet Corn cobs or any ordinary Corn cobs Butter Chili … [Read More...]

Special Pakoda – Pakora Recipe – Onion Pakora Recipe
The rains bring in so much cheer and the Monsoon has visited South India on time this year. The temperature has come down and isn’t it a perfect time to have Pakodas / fritters and hot tea listening … [Read More...]

Baby Potato Salad
Tangy and spicy Baby Potato Salad, this can be served as a started or as an accompaniment. Time Required: 45 Minutes Ingredients: 20 Baby Potatoes 1 tbsp Oil 2 - 3 Green Chilies, Chopped … [Read More...]

Purple Cabbage and Apple Salad
Red Cabbage and Apple Salad is a delicious and healthy salad. Great for summer. Ingredients: 1 Bowl Purple Cabbage, Sliced thinly 1 Carrot, Peeled and sliced Few Beetroot Leaves or Spinach 1 Apple, … [Read More...]

Peas Soup
Time Required: 20 minutes Serves: 6 Ingredients: 2 Stalks Leek or 3 or 4 Spring Onion, Chopped 1 Potato, Peeled and Chopped and Boiled 2 Cups Shelled Peas, Boiled 1 Bunch Spinach 6 Cups … [Read More...]

Quinoa Soup
As the title suggests, the soup is prepared using Quinoa. Healthy and wholesome food and great when it is a wet and cold evening. Time required: 30 Minutes Ingredients: 2 Glasses of … [Read More...]

Thambittu
Thambittu is a sweet is prepared using fried gram flour and is prepared on Nagara Panchami festival. Cuisine: Karnataka Time Required: 15 Minutes Ingredients: 1 Cup Hurigadale Powder / … [Read More...]
Travel

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...]

Bhagamandala
Bhagamandala is famous for the confluence of the 3 sacred rivers, Cauvery, Sujyothi and Kanike and also for the Kerala style temple dedicated to Bhagandeshwara / Lord Shiva. Cauvery flows at this … [Read More...]

Jain Temple, Sultan Bathery
A Jain temple known as Ananthanatha Swami temple is situated in Sultan Bathery, Wayanad district. The history of this Jain Temple, Sultan Bathery was narrated to us briefly by the caretaker of … [Read More...]

Kabini Wildlife Sanctuary
Jungle book was one of my favorite books and the movie by Disney bought this book alive. I think the makers of the movie toured Kabini Wildlife Sanctuary before making the movie. I am stating this … [Read More...]

Lotus Temple, New Delhi
The Baha’i house of worship known as Lotus temple was built in 1986 and is situated in Bahapur village in New Delhi. The temple with its unique architectural design and a complementing … [Read More...]

Amber Fort, Jaipur
Amber also known as Amer was the former capital of the Kachhwahas. The majestic fort built on Cheel ka Teela (Hill of Eagles) in the Aravalli range of hills above the Maota Lake is visible from far … [Read More...]

Pookode – Pookot Lake
Pookot Lake is a perennial freshwater lake in Wayanad district of Kerala. Forests around the lake enhance the beauty of the lake making it the most popular destination in Wayanad. Panamaram stream, … [Read More...]
Festivals

Christmas
"Jingle bells Jingle bells Jingle all the way Oh what fun it is to ride on a one horse open sleigh…" This is a Christmas song that everyone loves to hear and sing not only during Christmas season … [Read More...]

Saraswathi Prarthane – Prayer to Goddess Saraswathi
Today is Saraswathi Pooja, which is part of Navrathri celebrations. This is a prarthane (prayer) to Goddess Saraswathi written by my grandfather Sri M.M.Patil in 1969. ಸರಸ್ವತಿ ಪ್ರಾರ್ಥನೆ ಕಂದ … [Read More...]

Significance of Diwali festival in different religions
Jainism Diwali is celebrated by Jains with devotion, on this day Lord Mahavira the 24th Thirthankara achieved Nirvana on Amavasya of Ashvina masa in 527 B.C. The Lord left the body and achieved … [Read More...]

Gowri Aarathi Song
ಗೌರಿ ಆರತಿ ಹಾಡು ಮಂಗಳ ಜಯ ಗಿರಿಜಾತೆ ಮಾತೆ ।।ಪ|| ಪರಮಾಯುಧ ಕರ ದುರುಳ ಸುರಾರೆ । ಪರಮ ತೇಜ ಮೃಗರಾಜ ವಿಹಾರೆ ।।೧।। ರತ್ನ ಮುಕುಟ ಮಣಿ ಹಾರ ಕುಂಡಲ ಶೋಭೆ | ರವಿಕೋಟಿ ತೇಜ ವಿರಾಜ ಮುಖಿಯೇ ।।೨।। ಜಗದಾಧಾರೆ ಜಗದಾದಿ … [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...]

Kiratha Arjuna – Shabara Shankara
One of Lord Shiva’s statues in Nanjanagud is Kiratha Arjuna – Shabara Shankara statue. The character of KiraAthaArjuna is introduced in the Aranya Parva (forest section) of the great epic … [Read More...]

Vata Savitri Vrata
Vata Savitri Vrata / ritual is observed by married women on Hunnime / Poornima / full moon day in the Hindu month of Jyeshtha, May – June in Gregorian calendar. This year (2016) it falls on 18th … [Read More...]
