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
Groundnut Dip
Here is a nutty dip prepared using Groundnut. Time Required: 5 Minutes Ingredients: Half Cup Roasted Groundnuts, Crushed 1 Cup Hung Yoghurt / Curds 2 tbsp Chopped Coriander Leaves 2 - 3 … [Read More...]
Falooda
Falooda is a traditional Dessert prepared using Basil seeds, Milk, Vermicelli, Nuts, Cardamom, and a syrup like Pistachio, Almond, Rose, and so on. Cuisine: North India Time Required: 30 Minutes … [Read More...]
Sihi Kootu – Sweet Vegetable Curry – Sweet Sambar
Sihi means sweet in Kannada. Sihi Kootu is a sweet curry served with plain Rice. We were served this Kootu in Kalasa, Chikkamagalur district in one of our friend’s house. Cuisine: South … [Read More...]
Leek and Potato Soup
Time Required: 30 Minutes Ingredients: A bunch of Leek 2 Potatoes 1 Ripe Red Chili 3 Bay Leaves 1tsp Ground White Pepper 1tsp Butter 1tsp Olive Oil Celery for garnishing Salt to … [Read More...]
Gud Papdi – Aate Ki Barfi Recipe – Sukhdi Recipe – Wheat Burfi – Gur Papdi Recipe
Gud Papdi is a sweet dish prepared using Wheat Flour and Jaggery. Time Required: 15 Minutes Ingredients: 1 Cup Wheat Flour 1/2 Cup Ghee/Clarified Butter 1 Cup Grated Jaggery 1tsp … [Read More...]
Kadalebele Usali
Kadalebele Usali is prepared using Channa Dal or Split Bengal Gram was distributed as prasada / blessed food in a Srinivasa temple, which was opposite to our house. Time Required: 30 Minutes + … [Read More...]
Fattoush
Fattoush is a salad using Pita bread and vegetables. Cuisine: Lebanese Time required: 20 Minutes Ingredients: 1 Pita Bread 1 cup Cucumber cubes 1 cup Tomato cubes 1/2 cup Capsicum … [Read More...]
Imli Saunth Chutney – Sweet Chutney – Tamarind Ginger Chutney
Imli Saunth Chutney is prepared using Tamarind and Ginger. It is a sweet and sour chutney, which is used in prepared all kinds of Chaats. This is the main ingredient that makes Chaats so … [Read More...]
Travel
Shetty Kere – Mysore
On the Kozhikode-Mysore-Kollegal Highway, a small lake known as Shetty Kere attracts a lot of bird life. Though Lake Dalvoy next to this lake is 10 times bigger, it does not attract any birds … [Read More...]
Jain Temple, Sultan Bathery
A Jain temple known as Ananthanatha Swami temple is situated in Sultan Bathery, Wayanad district. The history of this Jain Temple, Sultan Bathery was narrated to us briefly by the caretaker of … [Read More...]
Mangalore – Mangaluru
My headmistress in school was from Mangalore. She scowled at us all the time and disapproved everything we did. It was very rare to see her smile and though I have seen her appreciate, it was never … [Read More...]
Kukkarahalli Lake – Mysore
My sister and me always had an extended summer holidays, as my uncle’s family from Delhi would be visiting Mysore every year for their summer holidays. Our holidays would end in May and their holidays … [Read More...]
Nimishamba Temple
“Nimisha” means a minute, and the presiding goddess of this temple is believed to grant your wish in a minute. Nimishamba is none other than Goddess Parvathi, consort of Lord Shiva. This … [Read More...]
Regional Museum of Natural History, Mysore
The Regional Museum of Natural History in Mysore was established in 1995. Information on nature and its conservation is exhibited using photographs, models, charts, stuffed artifacts, and so … [Read More...]
Colonel Bailey’s Dungeon, Srirangapatna
The word Dungeon is morbid and imagination conjures up of prisoners suffering in the dark dungeons. To see it for real, travel to Srirangapatna and visit the Dungeon built during the rule of Tipu … [Read More...]
Festivals
Varamahalakshmi Vratha
Sarvamangala Mangalye| Shive Sarvarthaka Sadhike| Sharanye Thriyambake Devi/Laksmi| Narayani Namosthuthe|| The above shloka is in praise of goddess Lakshmi and offering … [Read More...]
Saraswathi Prarthane – Prayer to Goddess Saraswathi
Today is Saraswathi Pooja, which is part of Navrathri celebrations. This is a prarthane (prayer) to Goddess Saraswathi written by my grandfather Sri M.M.Patil in 1969. ಸರಸ್ವತಿ ಪ್ರಾರ್ಥನೆ ಕಂದ … [Read More...]
Ugadi, Hindu New Year
Ugadi, the name is split into Uga + Adi = Ugadi. Uga means Year and Adi means first in Sanskrit as well as in Kannada. The first day of the year is Ugadi, Hindu New Year. This falls in the Hindu month … [Read More...]
Hoovilya
Hoovilya is an auspicious ritual conducted just before major celebrations like Marriage or Upanayana / Sacred thread ceremony in Karnataka. It is more like an all women’s party, where at least 5 or … [Read More...]
Traditional Dolls Arrangement
Here are some Dolls that are handed over from generations to generations for arranging during Dasara. Traditional Dolls Arrangement includes Dolls in a marriage party complete with the bride / groom … [Read More...]
New Year Celebrations
Communities following Gregorian calendar celebrate New Year on 1st January every year. The year counter also gets incremented on this day. Though people following different calendars celebrate New … [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...]
