Add baking soda while washing fruits and vegetable, this will remove any type of contamination. Add sparkling water to Pani puri dough. The Puris will turn out crisp. Add oil while boiling … [Read More...]

Malnad Style Beetroot Kayi Chutney
I tasted this Beetroot chutney at Sridhara Paduka Mandira in Bengaluru. The saying that god prasada is divine and satisfying is so true. The humble lunch comprising to Rice huli, saru, and … [Read More...]

Lord Jaganath Rath Yatra
The famous Chariot festival of Orissa state falls in the month of Ashada (June - July). The Rath Yatra is one of the oldest and biggest festival of India held in Puri, Odisha … [Read More...]

Festival dates in Ashadha month – July and August 2026
Festival dates in Ashadha month – July and August 2026 Āshādha (July - August) - From 15 July to 12 August 2026 Ashada Shukravara Lakmi Pooja - 17 July, 24 July, 31 July, … [Read More...]

Flower Arrangement – Peaced
Who better than Gautham Buddha to represent Peace? This arrangement using Bamboo and Buddha bust gives out the most peaceful oriental vibe. The famous Three Refuges (or Triple Gem) in … [Read More...]

Water Apple Salad Recipe
Water Apple in White and Red are available in plenty during May End to June End. This fruit though tasteless is considered good for health. I tried this recipe and the fruit became a bit … [Read More...]

July 2026 Hints
When using Banana leaves as a wrap, iron using an electric ironing machine iron and then use them. Add a pinch of salt at each stage of cooking, for example, add a pinch when sautéing Onions, … [Read More...]

Flower Arrangement – Rock Solid
In nature, wild flowers gently peep out from rocks and its crevices. This looks very beautiful. We can introduce rocks in our gardens for an aesthetic look. Similarly, rocks can be … [Read More...]

Yoga Narasimha and Saint Ramanujacharya temple, Todanur
The Yoga Narasimha and Saint Ramanujacharya temple is on a hillock and has been renovated recently and was sporting a fresh coat of paint. This temple , which is 1000 years old is built in the Chola … [Read More...]

Festival dates in Jyaishtha month – June and July 2026
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...]

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...]

Neeru Dosa – Thin Rice Dosa
"Neeru" in Kannada means water. Neeru Dosa is prepared with a batter as thin as water and hence the name. Cuisine: Udupi Time Required: 20 Minutes + Soaking Time Serves: … [Read More...]
Vegetarian Recipes

Pina Colada
Pina Colada is a delicious drink prepared using Coconut Milk and Pineapple. Time Required: 20 Minutes Ingredients: 1 Coconut 1 Pineapple 4 - 6 tbsp Sugar Method: Grate fresh Coconut … [Read More...]

Jamun Shikanji – Indian Blackberry Juice – Black Plum Juice – Narale Panaka
Come June - July, the markets are filled with these shiny Black-Purple fruit known as Narale Hannu in Kannada and Jamun in Hindi. Apart from eating with a pinch of salt, the fruit tastes great … [Read More...]

Anarasa
Anarasa is a deep fried sweet dish. Though the preparation is very elaborate when you taste the end product it is worth all the trouble. Cuisine: Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh Time Required: … [Read More...]

Shenga Chutney Pudi – Peanuts and Garlic Chutney Powder – Groundnuts Chutney Powder
This Chutney Powder is prepared using groundnuts in North Karnataka and served with the regional staple diet rotti / sorghum flour bread Time Required: 20 Minutes Ingredients: 1 Cup … [Read More...]

Missi Roti
Missi Roti is the bread that the Rajsthanis break in their meal. It is prepared using a mixture of Bengal Gram and Wheat flour. Cuisine: Rajasthan Required Time: 20 … [Read More...]

Pudina Majjige – Pudina Lassi
Pudina Majjige - Pudina Lassi is buttermilk flavored with Mint leaves. Cuisine: Indian Time Required: 5 Minutes Ingredients: 1 Big Bowl Buttermilk 1 Green Chili 1" Ginger 1 Sprig Curry … [Read More...]

Alu Tikki Chaat – Potato Patties with Tangy Spicy Sauce – Aloo Tikki Chat Recipe
Alu Tikki Chaat is a tasty street food available all over North India. It is fast catching up in South India too. A Potato fritter is served layered with spicy, … [Read More...]

Sandesh
Sandesh is a sweet dish prepared using Cottage Cheese a favorite in West Bengal, India. Cuisine: West Bengal Time Required: 1 hour Ingredients: 1 liter Milk Juice of 1 Lemon 7 tbsp … [Read More...]
Travel

Mariapura Lake
Another weekend and another birding trip and off we drove to Mariapura lake. A beautiful serene lake where the wind blows, birds chirp, plants whisper, and fishes swim. This lake has a calming effect … [Read More...]

Kaikondarahalli Lake Bengaluru
Kaikondarahalli Lake is situated near Sarjapur road. Thanks to active citizens who identified the dumping yard to be a dying lake and decided to rejuvenate the lake along with the help of the … [Read More...]

Padukere Beach, Udupi
As we drove down coastal Karnataka, we stopped at the long stretch of Padukere Beach. Every beach though they appear the same have their own characteristics in terms of the trees lining the beach, … [Read More...]

Osian Jodhpur
Having read many books and seen in movies about the hero getting lost in the desert and seeing mirages of an Oasis, I wanted to experience an oasis and I did just that when we visited an ancient town … [Read More...]

Kalpetta
We chose to stay at Kalpetta as all the interesting places are around Kalpetta. We were also tempted to stay in far flung places like Rain Country resorts, but the fact that the drive to and from the … [Read More...]

Shopping in Ooty and eating out in Ooty
Ooty has come a long way, from a quaint hill station to a bustling commercial and tourist destination. Apart from trekking, boating, horse riding, visiting places of interest, shopping in Ooty and … [Read More...]

Notre Dame des Anges Church, Puducherry
Notre Dame des Anges (Our Lady of Angels Church) in Puducherry is a historic Greco-Roman style church built in 1855. It is known for its distinctive orange-pink facade, limestone interior, and … [Read More...]
Festivals

Festival dates in Ashwin month – September and October 2025
Āshwin (September – October) Dasara - Navaratri - 22 September to 2 October 2025 Saraswathi Pooja - 29 September 2025 Durgashtami - 30 September 2025 Ayudha Pooja - 1 October … [Read More...]

Ayudha Puja
Ayudha Pooja is a celebration during Dasara. On this day the weapons used during war were worshiped in the palace. The common people worship machines, implements and vehicles at home, factories and … [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...]

Glory of Lord Mailaralinga – Mailaralinga Mahatme Haadu – Khandoba Mahima Geet
The glory of Lord Mailaralinga's song in Kannada has been sung by my mother's immediate and extended family for decades. This song was taught by a relative called Sri Shankar who lived with my … [Read More...]

Adhik Maas – Adhika Masa – Purushotham Maas – Maal Maas
Adhik Maas is an extra month added to the Lunar Calendar to be in sync with the Solar Calendar. This period is also known as Adhika Masa in Kannada, Malimmacha (Maal), and Purushotham (Lord … [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...]

Dhanur Masa Poojas
Dhanur Masa Pooja as the name implies is to be performed in the Hindu month of Dhanur Masa, December – January according to Gregorian calendar. This year (2017) it is from 16th December to 15th … [Read More...]