The most awaited festival of the year is today! and it is definitely a double dhamaka as both Swarna Gowri Vratha and Ganesh Chathurthi are celebrated on the same day. The flower decorations, … [Read More...]

Festival dates in Bhadrapada month – September and October 2026
Festival dates in Bhadrapada month – September and October2026 are as follows: Bhādrapad (August – September) Ganesh Chaturthi - 14 September 2026 Ganesha aarathi song Why Ganesha … [Read More...]

Festival dates in Shravana month – August and September 2026
Festival dates in Shravana month – August and September 2026 are as follows: Shrāvana (August - September) - From 13 August to 11 September (2026) Shravana Shanivara - 15 August, 22 … [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...]

21 Pushpa 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. There are 21 mantra chanted … [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...]

Ganesha Aarathi Song
This is a aarathi song dedicated to Lord Ganesha. Kannada Script: ಮಂಗಳ ಗಣರಾಯ ಜಯ ಜಯ ಮಂಗಳ ಗಣರಾಯ ಜಯ ಜಯ ಚಂದದ ಆರತಿ ತಂದು ಬೆಳಗುವೆ ಸುಂದರ ನಿನ್ನಯ ಚರಣ ಕಮಲಕೆ ವಂದಿಸಿ ಬೇಡುವೆ ಸಿಂದೂರ ವದನ ಬಂದು ಕರುಣಿಸೋ … [Read More...]

Gowri Aarathi Song
Gowri is the consort of Lord Shiva and during Ganesha-Gowri Festival, songs are sung in glory of her during Arathi. Lyrics in Kannada: ಗೌರಿ ಆರತಿ ಹಾಡು ಜಯ ಮಂಗಳವೆನ್ನಿರೆ ಗೌರಿಗೆ| ಜಯ ಭವ ಹರ … [Read More...]

Ganesh Chathurthi – Ganesha Festival
I have extremely fond memories of Ganesha-Gowri festival. It was one of the grand festivals of the year for the family and for Mysore city itself. Our road would be decorated with serial lights, as … [Read More...]

Swarna Gowri Vratha – Gowri Habba – Gowri Festival
Swarna Gowri Vratha/Pooja is celebrated by girls and women in Karnataka and Andhara Pradesh. Goddess Gowri is the mother of Lord Ganesha. This festival falls in the hindu month of Bhadrapada, August - … [Read More...]
Vegetarian Recipes

Mallige Idli – Soft Steamed Rice Cake
Mallige Idli is steamed rice cake. This is a healthy breakfast served in almost all South Indian households. Mallige means Jasmine flower. The end product of this recipe are Idlis as soft as the … [Read More...]

Shrikhand – Sweet Flavored Greek Yogurt Recipe – Indian Greek Yogurt Recipe – Kesar Shrikhand Recipe
Shrikhand is a sweet dish prepared using curd cheese. This dish is very popular in North Karnataka, Maharashtra and Gujarat. The procedure shown here is how traditionally Shrikhand is made in North … [Read More...]

Mosaru Vada Recipe – South Indian Dahi Vada – Thayir Vadai
Mosaru Vada are fritters prepared using Split Black Gram and soaked in spicy yoghurt/curds. Cuisine: South Indian Time Required: 1 hour Serves: 4 Ingredients: 1 Cup Urad Dal (Split Black … [Read More...]

Kothimbir Vadi
This dish is from the state of Maharashtra. Kothimbir Vadi is prepared using Coriander leaves and Gram Flour. Cuisine: Maharashtra Time Required: 1 hour Ingredients: 2 Cups Coriander … [Read More...]

Kadalebele Mavinakayi Chutney
Bengal Gram and Mango Chutney. Time Required: 5 Minutes + Soaking Time Picture - Chutney served with Guntpongalu Ingredients: 2tbsp Kadalebele/Bengal Gram 4tbsp Grated fresh Coconut 3 … [Read More...]

Mixed Salad
Mixed Salad is a tasty healthy salad, which is enjoyed by both young and old. Time Required: 10 Minutes Serves: 2 Ingredients: Half Cucumber 1 Onion 2 Tomatoes ½ Cup Chopped … [Read More...]

Mavinakayi Gojju – Mango Rasa – Mango Gotsu Recipe – Mango Menaskai Recipe
Yay! Yay! It is Mango season again. There are so many dishes that you can churn out using Mangoes, and one such dish is the ubiquitous Gojju. Kannadigas love Gojju as a side dish. Time Required: 15 … [Read More...]

Amatekayi Uppinakayi – Hog Plum Pickle
Amatekayi Uppinakayi is a pickle prepared using Hog Plums. My mother used to narrate a story regarding a household wherein there would be many jars with Mango / Mavinakayi, Gooseberry / Nellikayi, … [Read More...]
Travel

Turtle Bay Beach Resort, Maravanthe
This is the first ever review of a resort on itslife.in and I promise to write many more that I have visited. I have visited Turtle Bay Beach Resort twice and both the times I have found this resort … [Read More...]

Catherine Falls, Kotagiri
Roads leading to Catherine falls wind through the Nilgiri hills between tea estates and pine forests. The drive offers excellent views with the mist playing hide and seek. The water cascades … [Read More...]

Kavadi Kere
A beautiful lake spread over 62 acres shines like glass reflecting the blue sky and the hills all around it. The floating dried leaves along with lily leaves creates a lovely pattern over it. Beside … [Read More...]

Hanumanagundi Waterfalls
Hanumanagundi Waterfalls figured on the top of our must visit list during our travel to Kudremukh National Park located in Chikkamagaluru district of Karnataka. Also known as Soothanabbe … [Read More...]

Kerala
State of Kerala known as God’s own country is situated to the south west of India. Capital of Kerala is Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum). Kerala with its moderate climate throughout the year is … [Read More...]

Kodaikanal lake
The presence of a lake is always an add-on to the scenic locations especially in hill stations. It is a hub of activities like boating, horse riding, cycling, enjoying street food, and … [Read More...]

Bheemeshwari Fishing & Nature Camp
Picture1 - A Lotus pond on the way to Bheemeshwari On an early morning of July we set off with a lot of enthusiasm to spend a day at Bheemeshwari fishing camp situated 100 kms from Bangalore. … [Read More...]
Festivals

Happy Durgashtami 2024 – Durga Pooja – Dasara Durga Pooja
Ashtami during Dasara was exciting, because Ambode/dal vada/Lentil fritters were offered to Goddess Durga but eaten and savored by us! Dal is full of Shakti and hence might have been offered to … [Read More...]

Galipata Habba – Indian Kite Festival – Festival of Kites
Gone are the days when we used to see people flying colorful and different shape Galipata/Kites. The Kite wars and making our own customized Kites was great fun. To balance the kite a long … [Read More...]

ಸರಸ್ವತಿ ಪ್ರಾರ್ಥನೆ – Saraswathi Prarthana
Today is Vasantha Panchami festival celebrated grandly by people of West Bengal. Here is a prarthana/prayer on goddess of education Saraswathi, which was written by my grandfather, M.M.Patil, … [Read More...]

Festival dates in Magh month – January and February 2026
Festival dates in Magh month – January and February 2026 Mouna Gowri Vratha - 21 January 2026 to 27 February 2026 Vasanth Panchami - 23 January 2026 Rathasapthami - 25 January … [Read More...]

Swathi Nakshatra Saraswathi Pooja 2024
As children, we would feel very important on the day of Saraswathi Pooja during Dasara. On this day, our books would be stacked in front of Goddess Saraswathi Photograph and we would all worship … [Read More...]

Ashada Shukravara
Lakshmi (goddess of wealth) pooja / ritual is performed on all the Fridays of the Hindu month of Aashada, July-Aug in Gregorian calendar. This year (2020) Aashada starts on 22nd June and the … [Read More...]

Panchamrutha Abhishekha
"Panch" means 5 and "Amrutha" means nectar in Sanskrit. Panchamrutha Abhishekha is a Hindu ritual performed at all homes and temples, where the idols are bathed with Milk, Curds, Honey, Sugar and … [Read More...]
