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
Red Chili Garlic Chutney
Red Chili Garlic Chutney is prepared using Red Chilies and Garlic. Time Required: 20 Minutes Ingredients: 12 - 15 Red Chilies 4 - 5 Garlic Pods 2tbsp Tamarind Pulp 1 small piece … [Read More...]
Dal Fry
Boiled lentils cooked in a seasoning. Cuisine: Punjab Time Required: 15 Minutes Serves: 4 Ingredients: 1 Cup Tur/Tuvar Dal/Split Red Gram Juice of ½ Lemon 1tbsp Oil ½ tsp Mustard … [Read More...]
Alfalfa Sprouts Salad
Nutritious and healthy Alfalfa Sprouts Salad. Time Required: 10 Minutes Ingredients: 1 Bowl Alfalfa Sprouts (Kudure Menthya in Kannada, Seeds of Lucerne Grass) 1 Carrot, Peeled and Grated 1 … [Read More...]
Methi Muthia – Muthiya Recipe – Wheat Flour and Fenugreek Dumplings
Steamed balls of Fenugreek and Wheat flour mixed with spices. This nutritious dish is from Gujarat. The Muthias can be deep fried and served with Tea. This is added to Undhiyo … [Read More...]
Chennangi Kalina Usali
This is a recipe using whole Masoor Dal. This easy to make and extremely nutritious dish is from North Karnataka. Time Required: 20 Minutes + Sprouting time Ingredients: 2 Cups Sprouted … [Read More...]
Bayisida Mavinakayi Gojju – Mango Curry
Raw mango is cooked, mashed and mixed with spices and seasoning. This is a delicious and authentic dish straight from the kitchens of Udupi in Karnataka. Time Required: 25 … [Read More...]
Jalapeno Poppers
Jalapeno nah! not available in Namma Bengaluru, so prepared the poppers with Shimla Mirch. Cuisine: USA Time Required: 45 Minutes Ingredients: Few Jalapenos or Shimla Mirch 1 Cup … [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...]
Travel
Vasantha Vallabharaya Swamy Temple, Bangalore – Bengaluru
The Vasantha Vallabharaya Swamy Temple is situated on a small hillock in Vasanthapura layout in Bangalore city. This temple is 1,000 years old is dedicated to lord Srinivasa / Balaji / Vishnu and was … [Read More...]
Pushkar
I had great expectations from one of the oldest cities of India – Pushkar, but was a wee bit disappointed as the holy Pushkar lake, which is the highlight of this pilgrimage center was almost … [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...]
Nahargarh Fort – Jaipur, Rajasthan
Nahargarh fort was built in 1734 by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II. It is built on one of the hills of the Aravalli at 600 feet above Jaipur city in Rajasthan. The fort is being renovated and the … [Read More...]
Big Foot Goa
Big Foot Goa also known as ancestral Goa is situated in Loutolim is a center for Art, Culture & Environment started by Maendra in 1995. Big Foot Goa has taken shape on a 9 acres hillock and there … [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...]
Birds of Bandipur
Bandipur is home to 200 species of birds and for bird watchers like us, it is a paradise. Bandipur has the maximum number of Tigers in the reserve forest, but do not be disappointed if you … [Read More...]
Festivals
Aanai Pandige – Aane Habba – Karthika Deepotsava
Aanai Pandige Karthikai also known as Karthika Deepotsava, Aane / Elephant Habba is an important festival of Iyengars (Vishishtha Advaitha sect) of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. It is … [Read More...]
Guru Nanak Jayanthi
The birthday of Guru Nanak who is the founder of Sikhism is celebrated by Punjabis all over the world. Devotees pay obeisance to their Guru in Gurudwaras. Guru Nanak Dev was born in 1469 at … [Read More...]
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...]
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...]
Aarathi song for Lord Rama
On the auspicious day of the birth of Lord Rama (Rama Navami festival), songs praising him are sung while doing the traditional Arathi. ರಾಮನ ಆರತಿ ಹಾಡು ಮಂಗಳಂ ಜಯರಘು ಪುನ್ಗವರಾಘವಾ ಅಂಗದ … [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...]
Christmas
"Jingle bells Jingle bells Jingle all the way Oh what fun it is to ride on a one horse open sleigh…" This is a Christmas song that everyone loves to hear and sing not only during Christmas season … [Read More...]
