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
Pineapple Salsa
Some Pani Puri shells stuffed with chilled Pineapple Salsa makes for a fantastic snack in the evening. Cuisine: Mexican Time required: 20 Minutes Ingredients: 1 Pineapple, peeled and chopped … [Read More...]
King of Vegetable
Assorted vegetables and cottage cheese cooked with spices. The name is befitting because it is a really rich dish with cream, butter, cottage cheese, saffron and milk added to it. Time … [Read More...]
Gulkand Recipe – Paan Gulkand Recipe – Rose Petal Preserve
Aromatic rose petals are preserved in Sugar and used as an accompaniment with Indian Bread and in Paan. Ingredients: 2 Cups Aromatic Rose Petals (I have used Paneer Rose) 3/4 Cup Sugar 2 … [Read More...]
Gasagase Payasa – Poppy Seeds Payasa Recipe – Khus Khus Kheer Recipe
Gasagase Payasa is a sweet pudding prepared using Poppy seeds. Cuisine: Karnataka Time Required: 25 Minutes + Soaking Time Serves: 4 Ingredients: 1 tbsp Gasagase/Poppy … [Read More...]
Nimbehannina Gojju – Lemon in sweet and sour gravy – Nimbu Ras Recipe – Mensakayi Recipe
You must be wondering that the Gojju might become bitter, but the Gojju is not bitter and there is a twist in the recipe. At my home whenever Huggi/Pongal is prepared, this Gojju is served as an … [Read More...]
Seasoned Raw Mango – Aam Vaghariyalu Recipe – Mavinakayi Vaggarane Recipe
When it is Mango season in India, every household along with having Mangoes as is either Raw or Ripe will also make several dishes using the Mangoes. This is one such Gujarati dish using Raw … [Read More...]
Turmeric Pickle – Arishina Uppinakayi
Raw Turmeric is available during December- January in South India. The Raw Turmeric plant is tied to the Pongal pot during Sankranti (Pongal) festival. Raw Turmeric is pickled to last the … [Read More...]
Cool Cucumber Mint Soup
Healthy soup and perfect while on diet. Time Required: 5 minutes + Chilling time Ingredients: 1 Cucumber 1/2 Cup Mint Leaves 3 Spring Onions or 1 Onion Lemon Juice to taste Salt and … [Read More...]
Travel
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...]
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...]
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...]
Fateh Sagar Lake, Udaipur
Fateh Sagar Lake is an artificial lake situated to the north of Lake Pichola in Udaipur. The lake was built in 1678 by Maharana Jai Singh. Heavy rains damaged the lake bund and the lake was renovated … [Read More...]
Saheliyon Ki Bari Udaipur
It took some time for us to pronounce the name (Saheliyon Ki Bari) of this ancient park built by Maharana Sangram Singh II in Udaipur in the 18th Century. He built Saheliyon ki Bari, … [Read More...]
Soochipara Falls
Soochipara Wateralls is also known as Sentinel Rock Waterfalls situated in the forests of Vellarimala, Wayanad district, Kerala. Soochi in Malayalam means needle and Para means rock and so … [Read More...]
Ooty Lake
Not a single bollywood movie would be complete without a song being picturized with the hero and heroein boating in Ooty Lake. The lake is an artificial lake built by the founder of Ooty John … [Read More...]
Festivals
Mahalakshmi Ashtakam – Lakshmi Sthotra – Prayer to Goddess Lakshmi
Wish you all a very happy Dasara. Today is the first day of Dasara known as Padya. The nine days during this festival is dedicated to the shakthi devathes (divine power). Here is a prayer to goddess … [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...]
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...]
Ganapathi Bappa Morya!
During the Visarjane of Genesha idol after the celebration of Ganesha festival, it is common to hear people hollering “Ganapthi Bappa Morya” in North Karnataka and Maharashtra. In this post the … [Read More...]
Thanksgiving Day
Thanksgiving Day is a harvest festival celebrated in Canada and United States of America. It is the day when people thank the almighty for a good harvest and for all the good things bestowed on … [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...]
Chaitra Gauri Pooja
Sarva Mangala Maangalye Shive Sarvaartha Saadhike| Sharanye Trayambake Gouri Narayani Namosthuthe|| Chaitra Gauri Pooja is also known as Tadigae Gauri Vratha, Ujjale Gauri Vratha, Soubhagya … [Read More...]
