The ancient temple of Shri Cheluvanarayana Swamy is situated in Melukote, Mandya District, Pandavpura Taluk. The presiding deity of the temple on the foothills is Lord Vishnu known as Thirunarayana or … [Read More...]
Happy Gowri and Ganesha Festival 2026
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...]
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...]
Kodi Beach
Kodi Beach is a pristine beach and a very long one starting somewhere near Hangaluru to Kodi Bengre Beach. The Bengre Beach is an Estuary where River Suvarna meets the Arabian sea. Kodi in … [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...]
Sattu Ki Paratha
Stuffed Indian bread prepared using roasted chik pea (channa) flour. This type of bread is very popular in Bihar. Time Required: 30 Minutes Ingredients: 2 Cups Sattu Ki Atta / Roasted Chik … [Read More...]
Vegetarian Recipes
Sweet Lime Soda
A very good thirst quencher and goes very well with Punjabi food. Time Required: 10 Minutes Ingredients: 500ml Soda Juice of 1 Lemon 8 Spoons Sugar ½ tsp Salt Method: Add Sugar, … [Read More...]
Thondekayi Korma – Ivy Gourd Side Dish Recipe – Tindli Subzi Recipe – Tindora Subzi Recipe
This side dish is prepared using Ivy Gourd. Ingredients: 2 Cups Thondekayi / Tindora / Ivy Gourd, pieces 1 Big Onion, Chopped finely 2 – 3tbsp Oil 1tsp Saunf / Fennel Seeds ¼ tsp Turmeric … [Read More...]
Avarekayi Masala Vada – Flat Beans Fritters
Avarekayi Masala Vada are fritters prepared using winter/flat beans. A tasty snack on a winter evening with a cup of masala tea. Time Required: 40 Minutes Ingredients: 2 Cups fresh … [Read More...]
Batavi Payasa – Rawa Balls Kheer Recipe
Batavi Payasa is a very unique payasa from North Karnataka. Batavi are small balls prepared using Semolina (rawa) and these are cooked in Milk. Why not surprise your folks with this payasa on … [Read More...]
Vaggarane Anna – Onion Tomato Rice
Vaggarane Anna is cooked rice tossed in a seasoning with Onions and Tomatoes. Anytime there would be leftover rice from the previous day would become Vaggarane anna the next day for breakfast! … [Read More...]
Paneer Tikka Masala – Cottage Cheese in spicy gravy
Paneer Tikka Masala is a side dish is prepared with grilled Paneer. Time Required: 45 Minutes Ingredients: For the Tikka: 15 1" square pieces of Paneer/Cottage Cheese 1 Cup Hung … [Read More...]
Peas Pulao
Flavored rice with peas. This recipe is from North India. Time Required: 30 Minutes Ingredients: 2 Cups Basmathi / Long grained Rice 4 Cups Water 1 Cup Shelled Peas 1 Onion, Chopped … [Read More...]
Besan Chila – Gram Flour Omlette Recipe – Besan Dosa Recipe
Besan Chila is known as Puda in Gujrati. This is healthy and tasty dish prepared using Gram flour. Time Required: 20 Minutes Ingredients: 2 Cups Gram Flour 1 Tomato 1 Onion or ½ Cup … [Read More...]
Travel
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...]
Auroville Beach Pondicherry
The Auroville Beach is very near Auroville and is situated 12 Kms from Pondicherry. Pondicherry is now known as Puducherry. An ideal place to spend time with family and friends. The … [Read More...]
Chunchanakatte Kodandarama Temple – Rama Temple Chunchanakatte
Chunchanakatte Kodandarama Temple is situated 57 Kms from Mysore in Krishna Raja Nagar (K.R.Nagar) taluk, Mysore district. The temple right beside the Chunchanakatte waterfalls. This ancient … [Read More...]
Magadi Bird Sanctuary
When I read that a large population of waterfowls migrates to Magadi Lake in Magadi Bird Sanctuary near Kurtakoti, Gadag district, I yearned to visit this place during the migration season. I got the … [Read More...]
Kaudiyala, Uttarakhand
Kaudiyala is situated 37 Km from Rishikesh and it is famous for white water rafting on the Ganges. The flow of Ganges is glorious here. You can see many young people camping here waiting impatiently … [Read More...]
Sri Eklingnath – Kailashpuri – Eklingji
The temple village Kailashpuri is situated 23 Kms from Udaipur, Rajasthan. The place has 108 temples and the 1200 years old temple of Sri Eklingji Prabhu / Lord Shiva is the biggest, oldest and most … [Read More...]
Kalapathar Beach – Havelock Island
If you want an example of a breath-taking beach, it is Kalapathar Beach – Havelock Island. Kalapathar means Black Rocks and an adjoining village is also known as Kalapathar. Emerald … [Read More...]
Festivals
Upakarma – Janivara Habba
Upakarma festival is solely for the men. The others also join in by preparing delicious food as naivedhyam / blessed food and eating together. This festivals falls on Shravana Nakshatra (a star) on … [Read More...]
Mahavir Jayanti
Mahavir Jayanti is also known as Mahavir Janma Kalyanak and signifies the birth anniversary of the last and 24th Jain thirthankara Lord Mahavira. Lord Mahavira was born in 599 BCE on the thirteenth … [Read More...]
Shri Sathyanarayana Swamy Vratha
Narayana Lakshminaryana Narayana Sathyanarayana The above chorus is from a famous Kannada song Kapadu Sri Sathya Narayana. For lyrics please refer the following link - … [Read More...]
Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Karaavalambam Sthotra in Kannada
Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Karaavalambam Sthotra is written by Sri Jagadguru Adi Shankaracharya in Sanskrit, my grandfather Sri M.M.Patil has translated the Sthotra to Kannada. ಶ್ರೀ ಲಕ್ಷ್ಮೀನರಸಿಂಹ … [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...]
Udaka Shanti Pooja
Udaka Shanti Pooja is performed before major events like marriage, upanayana, gruha pravesha, and so on. This pooja is performed for peace and harmony in the house. First, Ganesha is worshiped. … [Read More...]
Lakshmi Devotional Song – Arathi Hymn – Varamahalakshmi Festival
This devotional song was sung by my mother's aunt during arathi to Goddess Lakshmi. You can use any tune suitable to sing this song. In Kannada script: ಲಕ್ಷ್ಮೀ ಆರತಿ ಹಾಡು ಸುಕಾಂತೆರಾರತಿ … [Read More...]
