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

Masala Vada – Channa Dal Vada – Dal Vada – Paruppu Vadai
Masala Vada are fritters prepared using lentils, chilies and onions. The aroma that arises while preparing this increases your hunger pans. I love to prepare this on a rainy cold evening … [Read More...]

Makki Ki Roti
Indian bread prepared using Corn meal. Makki Ki Roti is a favorite among Punjabis along with Sarson Ka Saag/side dish. Time Required: 20 Minutes Serves: 2 Ingredients: 1½ Cups Makai Ki … [Read More...]

Cucumber Churmuri – Cucumber Salad – Street Food
A tasty evening snack prepared using raw vegetables like Cucumber, Raw Mangoes and Tomato. Cucumber Churmuri is also a great snack for calorie watchers. Cuisine: Karnataka Time … [Read More...]

Stuffed Capsicum Bonda – Potato Stuffed Capsicum Fritters
Small Capsicums are stuffed with Potatoes and dipped into a fritter batter and deep fried. Tiny Capsicums are available during December in Bangalore/Mysore. Cuisine: South … [Read More...]

Shrikhand – Sweet Flavored Greek Yogurt Recipe – Indian Greek Yogurt Recipe – Kesar Shrikhand Recipe
Shrikhand is a sweet dish prepared using curd cheese. This dish is very popular in North Karnataka, Maharashtra and Gujarat. The procedure shown here is how traditionally Shrikhand is made in North … [Read More...]

Badam Milk – Flavored Almond Milk Recipe
When growing up having Badam Milk in the evening was a rare treat! Krishna Bakery in Mysore used to serve delicious cold Badam Milk with slivers of Badam (Almond) floating on top. Time … [Read More...]

Navanakki Payasa – Foxtail Millet Pudding – Foxtail Millet Payasam – Navane Payasa
Happy Ugadi dear readers and the celebration feels complete with a cup of Payasa. The recipe for this Ugadi is a very unique and authentic recipe, prepared using Navani / Indian barnyard millet or … [Read More...]

Hurali Pudi – Hurali Chutney Powder Recipe – Horse Gram Chutney Powder Recipe
Hurali Pudi is spicy powder prepared using Horse Gram. Time required: 10 Minutes Cuisine: Karnataka Ingredients: 1 Cup Hurali / Horse Gram 10 - 12 Red Chilies 1 Bengal Gram size Hing / … [Read More...]
Travel

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...]

Gyudmed Monastic School, Gurupura
Gyudmed Monastic School is situated in Gurupura near Hunsur, Karnataka. It is a center for study of tantra established in 1972. The founder of Gyudmed monastery was Lama Je Sherab Senge in … [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...]

Coonoor
Coonoor is situated at the head of the Hulikal ravine at 6,235 feet above sea level in Ooty district. Surrounded by tea plantations, grasslands, pine forests, shola, green meadows, tree factories, … [Read More...]

Kodachadri
I cannot keep away from my beloved Western Ghats for long. The hills beckoned and we readily drove to explore Kodachadri hill ranges. Words fail to explain the enchanting beauty of Kodachadri. The … [Read More...]

Jayamangali Blackbuck Reserve
Jayamangali Blackbuck Conservation Reserve is in Tumakuru district close to Maidenahalli. The reserve is spread over 798 acres of grassland and trees like Acacia and Eucalyptus. The forest … [Read More...]

Someshwara Temple – Byndoor Someshwara Temple
Byndoor is situated on the coastal belt of Karnataka. It is the most beautiful and pristine place with beaches, hills, estuaries, and temples. Someshwara temple is a small ancient temple in … [Read More...]
Festivals

Ananthapadmanabha Swamy Vratha
"Kaayena Vaachaa Manasendriyairvaa Buddhyaatmanaa Vaa Prakriteh Svabhaavaatah Karomi Yadhyadh Sakalam Parasmai Naaraayanaayeti Samarpayaami" The meaning of the above shloka is: "I offer … [Read More...]

Ganesha Aarathi Song
This is a aarathi song dedicated to Lord Ganesha. Kannada Script: ಮಂಗಳ ಗಣರಾಯ ಜಯ ಜಯ ಮಂಗಳ ಗಣರಾಯ ಜಯ ಜಯ ಚಂದದ ಆರತಿ ತಂದು ಬೆಳಗುವೆ ಸುಂದರ ನಿನ್ನಯ ಚರಣ ಕಮಲಕೆ ವಂದಿಸಿ ಬೇಡುವೆ ಸಿಂದೂರ ವದನ ಬಂದು ಕರುಣಿಸೋ … [Read More...]

Gangaur, Festival of Rajasthan
Gangaur is a popular festival of Rajasthan. This festival is also celebrated in parts of Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh. The name of the festival is resultant of two words “Gan” and “Gauri”, which are … [Read More...]

Ashada Shukravara
Lakshmi (goddess of wealth) pooja / ritual is performed on all the Fridays of the Hindu month of Aashada, July-Aug in Gregorian calendar. This year (2020) Aashada starts on 22nd June and the … [Read More...]

Bharat Hunnime
Bharat Hunnime is a festival celebrated by the devotees of Lord Mailaralinga (Shiva). The festival falls on the full moon day of the Hindu month Magha, which is around December-January according … [Read More...]

Aarathi Song – Lakshmi Arathi Song – Goddess Lakshmi Pooja Song
This is a song written by my mom and we sing this song alternatively with other songs on Friday evening while we perform aarathi to goddess Lakshmi. It can be sung to any tune that you are … [Read More...]

Bheemana Amavasya – Gandana Pooje – Gandana Habba
This festival is also known as Jyothirbheemeshwara Vrata and Pathi Sanjeevini Vratha and it is mentioned in Skaanda Purana (Skanda Purana, one of the major eighteen Puranas, a Hindu religious text, is … [Read More...]
