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
Kadalebele Uddinabele Chutney Powder
Kadalebele Uddinabele Chutney Powder is prepared using Split Bengal Gram and Split Black Gram. It is a spicy powder used as an accompaniment with Dosa, Idli or plain Rice. Cuisine: … [Read More...]
Sesame Seeds Squares
Sesame Seeds Squares is a crunchy sweet is prepared in North India during Sankranthi festival. It is believed that if you consume Sesame seeds during winter, it keeps you warm. Time Required: … [Read More...]
Gooseberry Honey Candy
Indian Gooseberry slices are preserved in Sugar and Honey. Time Required: 30 Minutes + 4 days for drying Ingredients: 10 Indian Gooseberries 3 Cups Sugar 1 Cup Honey Method: Chop … [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...]
Sagu – Vegetable gravy side dish – Kurma Recipe
Sagu is a side dish very popular in Karnataka, which is served along with Poori/deep fried bread or Dosa/Crepe. This is a dish wherein an assortment of … [Read More...]
Palak Paratha – Spinach Flat Bread – Palak Chapathi Recipe – Palak Roti Recipe
Indian bread prepared used Spinach. Popeye would certainly love it. Time Required: 30 Minutes Ingredients: 1 bunch Palak / Spinach 1 - 2 tbsp Green Chilies paste 3 Cups of Wheat … [Read More...]
Beetroot Raitha – Beetroot in Yogurt – Beetroot Mosaru Bhajji Recipe
Boiled Beetroot in spiced yogurt makes this yummy Beetroot Raitha. Cuisine: Mysore and Bangalore Time required: 10 minutes Ingredients: 1 Medium Size Beetroot 2 Cups Yogurt / Curds 2 … [Read More...]
Aam Ka Meetha Achar – Raw Mango Sweet Pickle Recipe – Mavinakayi Sihi Uppinakayi
Aam Ka Meetha Achar is a pickle prepared using Raw Mangoes and Jaggery. It is that time of the year to start celebrating Mangoes! Time Required: 15 Minutes Ingredients: 2 Cups finely … [Read More...]
Travel
Bangalore Fort – Bengaluru Fort
It took me few years to realize that Bangalore has an ancient fort, which was open to public. Bangalore fort was built by the founder of Bengaluru Kempe Gowda I in 1537 using mud. Kempe Gowda was a … [Read More...]
Ramdevra, Rajasthan
While driving to Jaisalmer, our driver Navalji asked us whether we would like to visit Ramdevra temple. We immediately agreed thinking it would be yet another ancient temple dedicated to Rama Devaru / … [Read More...]
Amruteshwara Temple, Annigeri
Annigeri is the birth place of one of the greatest poets (Adi Kavi) of Kannada, Pampa. It is also famous for the ancient temple dedicated to Amruteswara / Lord Shiva built by Kalyani Chalukyas in 1112 … [Read More...]
Yercaud Botanical Garden
A visit to the Botanical Garden in hill stations is top on my to-visit list. And off we went to explore the Botanical Garden in Yercaud. The garden though small is interesting as it is tucked on a … [Read More...]
Panch Prayag, Uttarakhand
The place where two rivers meet is known as Prayag or Sangam. There are panch prayag (five)in Uttarakhand, which are popular among pilgrims and is considered auspicious to take a dip in the prayags. … [Read More...]
Bikaner
I was very excited that I would be traveling to Bikaner. Other than Bikaner Bhujia and other savories made famous by Haldirams, I had limited knowledge about the city. Bikaner was beyond my … [Read More...]
Meenakshi Amman Temple
Meenakshi Amman Temple is an ancient and popular temple in Madurai. The sheer size of the temple overwhelms you and the magnificent gopurams (towers) will make you gasp with awe. The main deity … [Read More...]
Festivals
Song in the glory of Lord Shiva
This devotional song on Lord Shiva sung during the Aarathi. ಶಿವನ ಆರತಿ ಹಾಡು ಆರುತಿ ಎತ್ತಿರೆ । ಮಾರಾನಮರ್ದನಾಗೆ ಆರುತಿ ಎತ್ತಿರೆ । ನಂದೀ ವಾಹವಗೆ। ರಂಭೆಯೇರು ಚಂದದಿಂದ|| ಮುಂಗುರುಳಿನಲ್ಲೆ ಚಂದ್ರನ್ ಧರಸೀದವಗೇ … [Read More...]
Madhwa Navami
Prathoma Hanumanamah| Dwithiyo Bheemayevacha| Poornaprajna Thrithyasto| Bhagavatkarya Sadhakaha|| The above shloka/chanting is all about the three avatars/incarnations of Sri Madhwacharya. … [Read More...]
Habbada Adige – Festival Food Recipes
Festivals are time for a variety of food to be cooked and relished by one and all at home. The Habbada Adige (festive food) is prepared without Onion and Garlic. In Karnataka, the following dishes are … [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...]
Sri Raghavendra Swamy Aradhane
Picture1 - Sri Raghavendra Swamy Pujyaya Raghavendraya | Satyadharma Ratayacha | Bhajatam Kalpavrikshaya | Namathaam Kamadhenave || O divine Sri Raghavendra Swamy I salute you - the one who … [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...]
Budha Brihaspathi Vratha
Budha Brihaspathi Vratha is observed on Wednesdays and Thursdays during the Hindu month of Shravana, August-September in the Gregorian Calendar. Once Budha and Brihaspathi (Budha is planet Mercury … [Read More...]
