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
Alu Dhania – Aloo Dhania Recipe – Potato Coriander Recipe
Potatoes cooked in North Indian style with Coriander leaves, seeds and powder. Time Required: 40 Minutes Ingredients: 4 Alu / Potatoes 1 Cup Coriander leaves 1tbsp Pista 6 Green … [Read More...]
Sweet Kolkotte – Sweet Steamed Rice Balls Recipe
Sweet Kolkotte is a dish where steamed rice balls are mixed with Coconut and Jaggery mixture. This is prepared as an offering to Lord Ganesha during Ganesha Chaturthi festival. Ingredients: 1 … [Read More...]
Ghugni Recipe – Peas Chat Recipe
For Durga Pooja, Bengali households are sure to prepare Ghugni. This versatile dish can be served as a side dish or relished as a protein rich snack. Ingredients: 1 Cup Dried Yellow Peas / … [Read More...]
Alu Bonda Recipe – Aloo Bonda – Batata Vada Recipe – Potato Bonda – Bonda Recipe
Alu Bonda are balls of mashed Potato and spices that are dipped in batter and deep fried. Alu Bonda is also known as Bombai bonda, Batata Vada, or Alugadde bonda. Time Required: 30 … [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...]
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...]
Orange Vanilla Cookies
This year was the year of Oranges in Bangalore. They were available in abundance and I happily indulged cooking recipes with Oranges. Time Required: 40 Minutes Ingredients: 1¼ Cup … [Read More...]
Badanekayi Gojju
Badanekayi Gojju is a sweet and tangy dish prepared using Brinjal/Egg Plant. Cuisine: Karnataka Time Required: 25 Minutes Serves: 4 Ingredients: ¼ Kg Blue Birnjal/Egg Plant 7 – 8 Green … [Read More...]
Travel
Shore Birds of Kukkarahalli Lake
Busy birds chirping and singing joyfully greets early morning walkers in Kukkarahalli kere/lake. Birds of all sizes both aquatic and land/shore birds have found this lake a very conducive environment … [Read More...]
Birds of Kabini Wildlife Sanctuary
Birds of Kabini Wildlife Sanctuary can drain your Camera batteries in no time, ensure that you have additional batteries! Yes, out of 250 species you can spot at least 50 during a day stay in … [Read More...]
Giri-bettada Kere
As we drove back after visiting the 5 temples at T.Narasipura to Mysore, we took a left at the 16th mile and eagerly drove to Giri-Bettada Kere (Hill Lake). The lake was shimmering and had … [Read More...]
Andhra Pradesh and Telangana
The fourth largest state of India, Andhra Pradesh is situated in South India established on November 1st 1956. It shares its borders with Karnataka, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Orissa and Tamilnadu. … [Read More...]
Kunti Betta
Kunti Betta / hill was the destination for a cycling and rock climbing expedition during my college days. With non gear cycles like BSA-SLR, Hero, Nataraj etc., loads of determination, and … [Read More...]
Annamalaiyar Temple, Thiruvannamalai
The Annamalaiyar temple situated at Thiruvannamalai is dedicated to Lord Shiva known as Sri Arunachalaswarar - Annamaliyar. It is one of the Pancha Bhootha Sthala, the Pancha Bhootha are sky, air, … [Read More...]
Chikmagalur – Chikkamagaluru
Chikmagalur was always mentioned by my dad and his cousins with a lot of affection as they spent all their holidays in their maternal Grandfather’s coffee estate. I have heard many incidents and … [Read More...]
Festivals
Teej Festival
Teej festival is celebrated in Rajasthan, Punjab, Gujarat, and Nepal. This festival is commemorating the day when Goddess Parvathi reunited with Lord Shiva after 108 births. In her 108th birth, Lord … [Read More...]
Why Lord Ganesha is also known as Ekadantha / single tusk
The most popular narration on how Lord Ganesha lost his tusk is penned in the Skanda Purana / tales of gods and goddesses. Lord Ganesha was a patron of good food with a healthy appetite. Once … [Read More...]
Vata Savitri Vrata
Vata Savitri Vrata / ritual is observed by married women on Hunnime / Poornima / full moon day in the Hindu month of Jyeshtha, May – June in Gregorian calendar. This year (2016) it falls on 18th … [Read More...]
Upakarma – Janivara Habba
Upakarma festival is solely for the men. The others also join in by preparing delicious food as naivedhyam / blessed food and eating together. This festivals falls on Shravana Nakshatra (a star) on … [Read More...]
Thanksgiving Day
Thanksgiving Day is a harvest festival celebrated in Canada and United States of America. It is the day when people thank the almighty for a good harvest and for all the good things bestowed on … [Read More...]
Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Karaavalambam Sthotra in Kannada
Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Karaavalambam Sthotra is written by Sri Jagadguru Adi Shankaracharya in Sanskrit, my grandfather Sri M.M.Patil has translated the Sthotra to Kannada. ಶ್ರೀ ಲಕ್ಷ್ಮೀನರಸಿಂಹ … [Read More...]
Bhagvad Gita Aarathi Song – Bhagvad Gita Jayanthi – Bhagvad Gita Birthday
Bhagvad Gita Aarathi Song is a prayer that is sung after reading the Srimad Bhagvad Gita book. Known as Gita Arati, the verses are found at the end of the 18th chapter of the Bhagvad Gita … [Read More...]
