Add baking soda while washing fruits and vegetable, this will remove any type of contamination. Add sparkling water to Pani puri dough. The Puris will turn out crisp. Add oil while boiling … [Read More...]

Malnad Style Beetroot Kayi Chutney
I tasted this Beetroot chutney at Sridhara Paduka Mandira in Bengaluru. The saying that god prasada is divine and satisfying is so true. The humble lunch comprising to Rice huli, saru, and … [Read More...]

Lord Jaganath Rath Yatra
The famous Chariot festival of Orissa state falls in the month of Ashada (June - July). The Rath Yatra is one of the oldest and biggest festival of India held in Puri, Odisha … [Read More...]

Festival dates in Ashadha month – July and August 2026
Festival dates in Ashadha month – July and August 2026 Āshādha (July - August) - From 15 July to 12 August 2026 Ashada Shukravara Lakmi Pooja - 17 July, 24 July, 31 July, … [Read More...]

Flower Arrangement – Peaced
Who better than Gautham Buddha to represent Peace? This arrangement using Bamboo and Buddha bust gives out the most peaceful oriental vibe. The famous Three Refuges (or Triple Gem) in … [Read More...]

Water Apple Salad Recipe
Water Apple in White and Red are available in plenty during May End to June End. This fruit though tasteless is considered good for health. I tried this recipe and the fruit became a bit … [Read More...]

July 2026 Hints
When using Banana leaves as a wrap, iron using an electric ironing machine iron and then use them. Add a pinch of salt at each stage of cooking, for example, add a pinch when sautéing Onions, … [Read More...]

Flower Arrangement – Rock Solid
In nature, wild flowers gently peep out from rocks and its crevices. This looks very beautiful. We can introduce rocks in our gardens for an aesthetic look. Similarly, rocks can be … [Read More...]

Yoga Narasimha and Saint Ramanujacharya temple, Todanur
The Yoga Narasimha and Saint Ramanujacharya temple is on a hillock and has been renovated recently and was sporting a fresh coat of paint. This temple , which is 1000 years old is built in the Chola … [Read More...]

Festival dates in Jyaishtha month – June and July 2026
Festival dates in Jyaishtha month – June and July 2026 Adhika Jyaishtha (17th May - 15th June) Vata Savitri Vratha / Phala Poornima - 29 June 2026 Kara Hunnime / Bhoomi Hunnime … [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...]

Neeru Dosa – Thin Rice Dosa
"Neeru" in Kannada means water. Neeru Dosa is prepared with a batter as thin as water and hence the name. Cuisine: Udupi Time Required: 20 Minutes + Soaking Time Serves: … [Read More...]
Vegetarian Recipes

Sugar Snap Peas Stir Fry Recipe
I was delighted to find Sugar snap peas in the grocery store and they are so easy to use. The whole pod can be eaten. They are sweet and crisp. You can add them to salads or eat them as is … [Read More...]

Eggless Orange Cup Cake
Eggless Orange Cup Cake is a favorite at home and I made this batch to usher in the New Year! Type: Tea cakes Time Required: 45 Minutes Ingredients: 30 gms Butter 75 gms (1/3 cup + 1tbsp) … [Read More...]

Kurtkoti Chakkali – Spicy Chakkuli Recipe – Chakli Recipe – Murukku Recipe – North Karnataka style Chakli
Fritters in the shape of concentric circles. These were our favorite snack during summer at my maternal grandparents house in Kurtkoti in North Karnataka. The color and taste differed from the one's … [Read More...]

Jeegujje Bonda – Breadfruit Fritters Recipe
Bread fruit dipped in spicy batter and deep fried makes for a very tasty snack in the evening with hot coffee or tea. Time Required: 20 Minutes Ingredients: 1 Jeegujje / Breadfruit Oil for … [Read More...]

Dal Methi
Dal Methi is a nutritious side dish prepared using Split Red Gram and Fenugreek leaves. Cuisine: North Indian Time Required: 25 Minutes Ingredients: 1 Cup Tuvar Dal / Split Red Gram 1 … [Read More...]

Garlic Chutney
Garlic Chutney known as Lasun Chutney is very popular in Gujarat. Time Required: 25 Minutes Ingredients: 10 Dry Red Chilies or 1tbsp Red Chili Powder 10 Flakes of Garlic Salt to … [Read More...]

Sauthekayi Hesarubele Kosambari – Split Green Gram Cucumber Salad
Raw Cucumber and soaked gram mixed with seasoning. This is prepared in Karnataka especially during festivals. During Rama Navami festival, Kosambari is offered to god as Naivedya / Blessed … [Read More...]

Paneer Kabab
Shallow fried Spicy Cottage Cheese slices. Time Required: 25 Minutes Ingredients: 10 square pieces of Paneer / Cottage Cheese 10 square pieces of Capsicum or 10 square pieces of Onion 10 … [Read More...]
Travel

Coorg
South Indian heroine Suhasini wearing coorgi style saree and crooning the song “Madikeri sepoyi…” (Madikeri soldier) on mist covered hills of Madikeri / Coorg in the Kannada movie Muththina Hara is … [Read More...]

Shimoga
Shimoga now known as Shivamogga and its beautiful Malanad (male nadu means land of the hills) region is vividly captured in writer Kuvempu’s Novel Kanooru Subbamma Heggadithi. Also, known as … [Read More...]

Kodandarama Temple, Hiremagalur
Hiremagalur means the town of the eldest daughter. This town is situated 4 Km from Chikkamagalur, Karnataka. Hiremagalur was a thriving town in the 9th and 11th centuries. Nine siddhas … [Read More...]

Big Banyan Tree
Known as “Dodda Aalada Mara” in Kannada, this big banyan tree is 380 to 400 years old. It is situated in Kethohalli village, 25 Kms from Bangalore city. Dodda Aalada Mara is one of the biggest … [Read More...]

Birds of Maravanthe Coast
A trip to Maravanthe, coastal Karnataka was full of surprises. We went on a boat trip to an island that was submerged during the monsoons with great anticipation to spot Dolphins. We spotted only … [Read More...]

Lepakshi
Lepakshi means “rise o bird” in Telugu and this place is situated in Ananthpur district of Andhra Pradesh. The legend says that Jatayu the mythical bird was injured by Ravana at this very place when … [Read More...]

Devarakolli Waterfall
It is now the time of the season when Waterfalls are the happiest and tumble in full glory. The perennial waterfalls are happy at the increase in volume and the annual waterfalls are more than … [Read More...]
Festivals

Independence Day
On August 15th, 1947, India got Independence from British rule. Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of independent India, addressed the Constituent Assembly and citizens to recognize the … [Read More...]

Sri Ramanujacharya Jayanthi
“O Nityam Achyuta Padambuja Yukma Rukma Vyamohataha Tad Itaraani Trinaaya Mene Asmad Guroha Bhagavathosya Dayaika Sindhoho Ramanujasya Charanou Sharanam Prapadye” The meaning of the above … [Read More...]

Bhagvad Gita Jayanti – Bhagvad Gita Birthday – Srimad Bhagvad Gita Jayanti
During Corona time, my quest to listen and understand the Srimad Bhagvad Gita started. My mother patiently read the Bhagvad Gita shlokas and explained each of them in Kannada. I was in awe … [Read More...]

Prayer to Parvathi
This prayer was chanted by Chandrahasa to goddess Parvathi/Chamundi/Amba/Gowri. Extracted from the Gemini bharatha. ಚಂದ್ರಹಾಸನ ಪ್ರಾರ್ಥನೆ - ಜೈಮಿನಿ ಭಾರತ ತಾಯೆ ಪಾರ್ವತಿ ಪರಮ ಕಲ್ಯಾಣಿ … [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...]

Shravana Shukravara Pooja
Shravana Shukravara Pooja is also known as Sampath Shukravara vratha. This is performed in the Hindu month of Shravana, July – August in Gregorian calendar dedicated to Goddess Lakshmi / Gowri. … [Read More...]

Hanuman Jayanthi
"Manojavam Maruthathulya Vegam Jitendriyam Budhdhi Mathaam Varishtam Vaathathmajam Vaanarayutha Mukhyam Srirama Dootham Sharanam Prapadye" The above sthotra/chanting, is part of the Sri … [Read More...]