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
Apple Date Nut Halwa
Apple Date Nut Halwa is pudding prepared using Semolina, Apple and Nuts. Time Required: 20 Minutes Cuisine: North Indian Ingredients: 1 Cup Sugar 1 Cup Suji/Rawa/Semolina 1 Cup … [Read More...]
Leek and Potato Soup
Time Required: 30 Minutes Ingredients: A bunch of Leek 2 Potatoes 1 Ripe Red Chili 3 Bay Leaves 1tsp Ground White Pepper 1tsp Butter 1tsp Olive Oil Celery for garnishing Salt to … [Read More...]
Malai Kofta Curry Recipe – Creamy Balls in Tomato Gravy
Malai Kofta Curry is a rich creamy side dish with deep fried Potato and Cottage Cheese balls. It is served with Roti, Kulcha, or Naan. Ingredients: For the gravy: 2 tbsp Khova / Khoya / … [Read More...]
Kharjoor Yellu Holige – Dates and Sesame Seeds Stuffed Bread – Kharjoor Till Poli
Kharjoor Yellu Holige is prepared using dates and sesame seeds. A stuffing is prepared using dates and sesame seeds and this is stuffed inside the dough and rolled out. A very tasty and … [Read More...]
Alu Tikki – Potato Patties
Boiled potatoes mashed and shaped into cutlet and shallow fried. The street food in North India is incomplete without Alu Tikki. You can see huge thick griddles outside chaat shops with mouth watering … [Read More...]
Aralina Unde – Puffed Paddy Laddoo Recipe – Kheel Laddoo Recipe
A sweet prepared using aralu, which is type of puffed rice. This is prepared during all auspicious occasions like Upanayana, Marriage, and so on. Time Required: 30 … [Read More...]
Purple Yam Raita – Ratalu Raitha Recipe – Yam with Yogurt
Winter is the time when Purple Yam arrives in the market in Gujarat to make the elaborate Undhiyo. I got the vegetable from Amazon and was able to make Undhiyo and this tasty raitha. Cuisine: … [Read More...]
Avarekayi Idli – Flat Winter Beans Steamed Cakes – Papdi Lilva Idli Recipe
Avarekayi Idli is steamed rice cakes with flat beans also known as winter beans. Cuisine: South Karnataka Time required: 10 minutes + soaking and fermenting time Ingredients: 1 Cup Urad … [Read More...]
Travel
Koliwada
Koliwada is a remote village tucked away in a non-descript area of North Karnataka. The village is one of the most neglected and basic needs like water, electricity, drains, roads, and toilets are … [Read More...]
Sharada Devi Temple, Sringeri
Namaste Sharada Devi| Kashmira Puravasini| Tvamaham Prarthaye Nithyam| Vidya Danam Chadehimi|| Sharada Devi Temple, Sringeri is one of the main temples in Sringeri Matha (monastery) … [Read More...]
Kudremukh
I have a hazy memory of me standing at one of the view points in Chikkamagalur holding my sister’s hand and the elders identifying a faraway hill as Kudremukh from the shape of the hill. When … [Read More...]
Doddabetta Peak, Ooty
“Dodda” means big and “Betta” means hill in Kannada language spoken by the Badaga tribe of Ooty. Doddabetta is situated 10 Km from Ooty at 2,623 meters above sea level and it is the highest peak in … [Read More...]
Nilgiri Mountain Railway
A ride on one the heritage mountain railways transports you back to an era gone by. Nilgiri Mountain Railway in Ooty was built by the British in 1908. It was operated by then Madras Railway, … [Read More...]
Catigao Wildlife Sanctuary
Picture1 - On the way to Catigao Established in 1969, Catigao Wildlife Sanctuary is located in Canacona Taluk, South east of Goa. It is on NH – 17 bordering Goa – Karnataka border. The sanctuary … [Read More...]
Madikeri Fort – Coorg
Madikeri or Mercara is the headquarters of Coorg or Kodagu District. It was founded by Prince Mudduraja of Haleri Dynasty in 1681 A.D and was named after him as Muddurjanakeri. With the passage of … [Read More...]
Festivals
Buddha Poornima – Vesak
Buddham Sharanam Gatchami|| The above verse is a chant of Buddhists meaning "I take refuge in Lord Buddha". Buddha Poornima is celebrated by Buddhists all over the world. It is celebrated on … [Read More...]
Rathasapthami Rangoli
Rathasapthami is a festival in honor of Sun god. On this day a Rathasapthami rangoli / kolam (patterns drawn using chalk powder) of ratha / chariot is drawn inside the shrine of … [Read More...]
Deepavali Song – Diwali Song – Deepavali Haadu
Deepavali song is written by my mother in Kannada script to be sung anytime during the Deepavali festival. The lyrics cover the importance and joy of celebrating Deepavali / Diwali … [Read More...]
Ugadi, Hindu New Year
Ugadi, the name is split into Uga + Adi = Ugadi. Uga means Year and Adi means first in Sanskrit as well as in Kannada. The first day of the year is Ugadi, Hindu New Year. This falls in the Hindu month … [Read More...]
Lord Ganesha Arathi Song
Tomorrow is Ganesh Chathurthi. Wish you all a very happy festival. My mother has written the below arathi song praising Lord Ganesha. This is in Kannada script. ಗಣೇಶನಿಗೆ ಆರತಿ ಹಾಡು ಆರುತಿ … [Read More...]
Goddess Sharadamba Utsava
Happy Saraswathi Pooja 2014. In Sringeri, Karnataka, during Dasara festival, the utsava murthy (procession idol) of Goddess Sharadamba (Saraswathi) is taken in a small chariot around the temple … [Read More...]
Festival dates in Chaitra month – March and April 2026
Festival dates in Chaitra month – March and April 2026 are as follows: Chaitra (March - April) Ugadi/Gudi Padwa - Sri Parabhava Nama Samvatsaram - 19 March 2026 Gangaur - 4 March … [Read More...]
