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

Uppesaru
Uppesaru means boiled with Salt. This is a tasty curry, which is popular among the Gowda community of south Karnataka. I learnt to prepare this from our tenant Mrs. Pankaja at Mysore. Either the … [Read More...]

Carrot-Cucumber Clear Vegetable Soup
Time Required: 15 Minutes Ingredients: 1 Carrot cut into roundels 1 Cucumber cut into roundels 5-6 Spring Onion Bulbs 2tbsp Spring Onion Scallions, Chopped 2” Ginger, Chopped 2 Green … [Read More...]

Karela Alu Subzi – Karela Aloo Subzi Recipe – Bitter Gourd Potato Recipe
A side dish prepared using Bitter Gourd and Potatoes. This dish is very popular in West Bengal. Time Required: 20 Minutes Ingredients: 2 Alu / Potatoes 1 Karela / Bitter Gourd 2tbsp … [Read More...]

Noodle Peanut Salad
This dish is a complete and wholesome meal. Cuisine: Chinese Time Required: 30 Minutes Ingredients: 2 Cups of cooked Noodles 1 Cucumber, Sliced 1 Tomato, Chopped ½ of Green, Yellow, … [Read More...]

Sihi Tovve – Meethi Dal Recipe – Sweet Lentils Recipe – Thovve Recipe
Sometimes when the children make a fuss eating the everyday cuisine, moms add few children favorite ingredients to coax them to eat healthy food. One such is a sweet lentil dish, which is … [Read More...]

Curd Rice
Cooked rice and yogurt is mixed along with seasoning and fruits. Curd rice is a must have in any of the South Indian homes. A favorite and easy to digest dish. Cuisine: South … [Read More...]

Salad Platter
Salad is nutritious and good for health. A portion of salad eaten during one of the meals helps the body get some fiber for easy absorption of food. Time Required: 15 … [Read More...]

Sunrise Smoothie – Orange Banana Mango Smoothie Recipe
If you have Orange Banana Mango Smoothie for breakfast, I am sure you will not need a snack before lunch. Time required: 10 Minutes Ingredients: 1 Banana, peeled and diced 1 Cup ripe Mango slices … [Read More...]
Travel

Lalith Mahal Palace, Mysore
Whenever we drove to Chamundi hills, Lalith Mahal palace would never fail to get its share of attention. The palace built on a small hillock near the foothills of Chamundi hill is so beautiful and eye … [Read More...]

Bhadra Dam – Lakkavalli Dam
Bhadra Dam also known as Lakkavalli Dam is built over the Bhadra River in Chikkamagaluru district in 1965. Bhadra River is a tributary of Tungabhadra River. The height of the dam is 59.13 metres … [Read More...]

Kurtakoti
Kurtakoti is a small village situated 16 Kms from Gadag and every single summer holidays of mine was spent here. My Grandfather was the zamindar and the police Patil. The main occupation of the … [Read More...]

Tyavarekoppa Lion Safari
Tyavarekoppa Lion and Tiger Safari was established in 1988 and is located 15 Kms north-west of Shimoga on the way to Sagar. It is a wild life park with wild animals like tigers, lions, … [Read More...]

Hubli
Hubli is my birth place and it was initially known as Hubballi meaning flowering creeper in Kannada. This is one of the major cities of Karnataka. The twin cities of Hubli and Dharwad are the second … [Read More...]

Jayamangali Blackbuck Reserve
Jayamangali Blackbuck Conservation Reserve is in Tumakuru district close to Maidenahalli. The reserve is spread over 798 acres of grassland and trees like Acacia and Eucalyptus. The forest … [Read More...]

North Goa Beaches
The 131 Kms of Goa coastline is dotted with beautiful beaches fringed by palm trees, carpeted by soft sand and soaked by the Arabian Sea. It is an ideal destination for beach lovers. Picture1 - … [Read More...]
Festivals

Naga Rangoli – Snake Floor Design
The Naga rangolis / patterns shown below are drawn on Nagara Chauthi and Nagara Panchami festivals. Click on the image to see a bigger image. Rangoli drawn on Nagara Chauthi: Rangoli … [Read More...]

Basava Jayanthi
Kalabeda, kola beda, husiya nidiyalu beda Muniya beda, anyarige asahya padabeda Thanna bannisabeda, idira aliyalu beda Ide antaranga shuddhi, ide bahiranga shuddhi Ide namma koodala … [Read More...]

ಕೃಷ್ಣನ್ನ ತೊಟ್ಟಲಿಗೆ ಹಾಕುವ ಹಾಡು (೨೪ ನಾಮಗಳು)
This is song sung to Lord Krishna during the cradle function. On the eleventh day of the baby being born, a ceremony is performed wherein all the womenfolk gather and put the baby into cradle … [Read More...]

Hanuman Arathi Song – Hanumanthana Aarathi Haadu – Devotional Song
Hanuman Jayanthi is celebrated in April in North India and in December in South India. North or South a song is always sung during the Arathi. This song in praise of Lord Hanuman is written by … [Read More...]

Happy Vijayadashami 2024
Why in North India, Ravana is burnt on Vijayadashami day? This is done to symbolize Lord Rama killing the 10 headed demon Ravana. Good over evil! What does the 10 heads of Ravana stand … [Read More...]

Lakshmi Aarathi Song – Devotional Song
Here is a devotional song sung while doing Aarathi to Goddess Lakshmi. May Goddess Lakshmi bless you with health and prosperity. ಲಕ್ಷ್ಮಿ ಆರತಿ ಹಾಡು ಮಂಗಳಾರತಿ ಬೆಳಗುವೆ ರಂಗನಾರ್ಧಾ೦ಗಿಯಳೇ … [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...]
