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
Sweet Potato Soup
Time Required: 20 Minutes Ingredients: 2 Cups peeled and diced Sweet Potatoes 1 Onion, Chopped 3 Pods Garlic 1 Carrot peeled and diced 1 Cup Orange Juice 1tbsp Butter or Oil Coriander … [Read More...]
Madki Kaalina Usali – Matki Chi Usal Recipe – Moth Beans Stir Fry Recipe
My mami used to prepare this dish for breakfast when we visited them for summer vacations in North Karnataka. The dish is rich in protein and is good for growing children and also keeps them from … [Read More...]
Masala Gawar – Cluster Beans Stir Fry Recipe – Gorikayi Palya Recipe
Masala Gawar is a side dish prepared suing cluster beans and Indian spices. Time Required: 20 Minutes Ingredients: 2 Cups Gawar / Gorikayi / Cluster Beans, Chopped finely 1 Onion, diced 4 … [Read More...]
Schezwan Sauce
Schezwan sauce is the main ingredient for Schezwan recipes. Cuisine: Chinese Time Required: 10 Minutes + Soaking time Ingredients: 15 Red Chilies, soaked in water 1 Onion, Chopped … [Read More...]
Fajita
Fajita is a grilled tortilla stuffed with condiments like lettuce, sour cream, guacamole, salsa, pico de gallo, cheese, and tomato. Cuisine: Mexican Time required: 20 … [Read More...]
Ghama Ghamalu
Ghama Ghamalu are Cardamom flavored cookies. Time Required: 40 Minutes Ingredients: 150gms/5 Ounce Maida (Refined Flour) 100gms/3.5 Ounce Butter 125gms/4.4 Ounce Sugar ½ tsp Ammonia Bi … [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...]
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...]
Travel
Rose Garden, Ooty
The poem “Roses” by George Eliot comes to mind while strolling in the Rose garden, Ooty. You love the roses - so do I. I wish The sky would rain down roses, as they rain From off the shaken bush. … [Read More...]
Muddenahalli
Muddenahalli is situated in Chikkaballapur district and is popular because Sir Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya (Sir MV) was born on 15th September 1860 to parents Mokshagundam Srinivasa Shastry and … [Read More...]
Mysore Paintings Museum Mysore – Ramsingh Museum of Mysuru Paintings – Ramsons Museum Mysuru
Most of the houses and temples in Mysore will have a frame of Mysore painting. Kodandarama painting was the most famous adorning the walls of Rama Mandira and would be the centre piece during the Rama … [Read More...]
Pondicherry – Puducherry
After learning most of the computer languages, I enrolled myself for French language lessons and imagined myself traveling to France and speaking in French but could not go beyond pronouncing Merci … [Read More...]
Channapattana – Channapatna
Have you ever played with a Channapattana toy? I have, and there are many children in South India who have grown up playing with Channapattana toys. During Dasara, 70 percent of the doll arrangements … [Read More...]
Lord Shiva Statues in Nanjanagud Temple
Ramayana and Mahabharatha are famous for the narration of Indian culture (Samskrithi). There are very few who have not heard about these two great epics. The different events of the epic are painted … [Read More...]
Doddabetta Peak, Ooty
“Dodda” means big and “Betta” means hill in Kannada language spoken by the Badaga tribe of Ooty. Doddabetta is situated 10 Km from Ooty at 2,623 meters above sea level and it is the highest peak in … [Read More...]
Festivals
Aanai Pandige – Aane Habba – Karthika Deepotsava
Aanai Pandige Karthikai also known as Karthika Deepotsava, Aane / Elephant Habba is an important festival of Iyengars (Vishishtha Advaitha sect) of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. It is … [Read More...]
Guru Poornima
Guru Poornima is the auspicious day of worshiping the Guru/Master falls on Poornima, which is the full moon day in the Hindu season of Ashada. July - August in the Gregorian calendar. This … [Read More...]
Adhik Maas – Adhika Masa – Purushotham Maas – Maal Maas
Adhik Maas is an extra month added to the Lunar Calendar to be in sync with the Solar Calendar. This period is also known as Adhika Masa in Kannada, Malimmacha (Maal), and Purushotham (Lord … [Read More...]
Ritu – Indian Seasons – Rithu
Ritu means "season" in ancient Indian calendars used in India, Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka. There are six ritus or seasons. The word is derived from the Vedic Sanskrit word Ṛtú. Every season, … [Read More...]
Aarathi
Items Required: Camphor or Cotton Wicks soaked in Ghee Aarathi Plate Flower Petals and Manthrakshathe (Rice smeared with Ghee and Kumkum or Ghee and Turmeric Powder) Definition: Aarathi is a … [Read More...]
Song to Goddess Lakshmi – Varamahalakshmi Arathi Haadu
My mother had written this song in the praise of Goddess Mahalakshmi in 1996. This song can be sung on festivals like Varamahalakshmi, Diwali Lakshmi Pooja, Shravana Shukravara Pooja, Ashada … [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...]
