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
Pickle Masala
Pickle Masala is a concoction of various spices. This can be stored and used whenever you want to make pickles. It is also known as Aachar Sambhar Masala. Time Required: 10 … [Read More...]
Sweet Lime Soda
A very good thirst quencher and goes very well with Punjabi food. Time Required: 10 Minutes Ingredients: 500ml Soda Juice of 1 Lemon 8 Spoons Sugar ½ tsp Salt Method: Add Sugar, … [Read More...]
Plum Panna – Plum Juice
My taste buds were bowled over when I tasted Plum Panna in Coonoor. The freshly picked Plums tasted great in this refreshing drink. Ingredients: 10 - 12 Plums 1 tsp Roasted … [Read More...]
Green Chikpea Raitha – Soppina Kadalekayi Mosaru Bhajji Recipe – Hasiru Kadale Raitha Recipe
Winter is the time for tender chikpea to hit the market. I always get it before it disappears from the market and my mom shells them open in record breaking time. In no time I will have a … [Read More...]
Akki Rotti – Rice Flour Bread
Akki rotti is a very tasty bread prepared using Rice flour. This is extremely popular in Bangalore and Mysore regions. Cuisine: South Karnataka Time Required:30 … [Read More...]
Jamun Jam – Jamun Jelly Recipe
Jamun Jam is a preserve prepared using the Jamun fruit. My mother loves to make this as she says the Jamun fruit is best for Jelly as it has the right amount of Pectin. She knows exactly … [Read More...]
Vegetable Khichdi
A Rice dish prepared using split Green Gram and assorted vegetables. A very healthy and complete meal. Time Required: 40 Minutes Serves: 4 Ingredients: 2 Cups Rice 1 Cup Hesarubele/Moong … [Read More...]
Boiled Tapioca
Boiled Tapioca is very popular in Kerala. This is served with different types of chutneys. Time Required: 10 Minutes Ingredients: 3 to 4 pieces of Tapioca / Mara Genasu Salt to … [Read More...]
Travel
Chamundi Hills – Mysore
As you near Mysore city, the first thing that you notice is Chamundi hills standing protectively over the city spread on its foothills. Every Mysorean is fond of this hill and they might have visited … [Read More...]
I live to tell this story…
I was parched and knew I would die a slow and painful death. The stench was unbearable and the plastic was clogging my respiratory organs. Slowly my body was getting filled by … [Read More...]
Kote Venkataramana Temple – Bangalore – Bengaluru
Kote Venkataramana Temple - Bangalore is one of the oldest temples in Bangalore and situated next to Tipu Sultan Summer Palace. Built in 1689 by the Mysore king Chikka Devaraja Wodeyar, it is a fine … [Read More...]
Sam Sand Dunes, Jaisalmer, Rajasthan
Situated 42 Kms from Jaisalmer is the Sam Sand Dunes and the Kuari dunes on the great Thar Desert of Rajasthan. We chose to visit Sam dunes, pronounced as “Sum”, and the sights of the desert just took … [Read More...]
Maravanthe Beach
On our Karnataka coastal temple trip, my husband insisted on driving up to the Maravanthe beach. The drive was spectacular with the Arabian Sea lashing on one side of the road and the Saurpanika River … [Read More...]
Varadahalli
Varadahalli also known as Varadapura is situated 6 Kms from Sagar, Shimoga district of Karnataka. This divine place in the midst of pristine natural surroundings of the Western ghats was the chosen … [Read More...]
Chain Tree
Chain Tree in Lakkidi, Wayanad was extremely intriguing and many types of trees trained to grow like chains came to my mind. Just before we left the resort for the sightseeing, the manager of the … [Read More...]
Festivals
Sampath Shanivara Pooja
The day next to Shravana Shukravara Pooja is Shravana Shanivara Gowri / Lakshmi Pooja also known as Sampath Shanivara Gowri / Lakshmi Pooja. This pooja / vratha / religious observance is … [Read More...]
Sri Krishna Song – Arathi Song
Happy Sri Krishna Janmashtami dear readers. Like Sri Krishna heard Draupadi's cries for help, let us hope and pray that he comes down to earth and help us by getting rid of the pandemic very … [Read More...]
Paryaya of Sri Krishna Matha (Krishna Temple) of Udupi
Paryaya is a ritualistic system by which the pontiffs of the eight muttts of Udupi, by turn, take up the responsibility of worshipping the deity at the Sri Krishna temple. The ceremony of the handing … [Read More...]
Children’s Day
The UN General Assembly suggested that all countries should declare one day in a year as Children’s day. The United Nations declared November 20th as Universal Children’s Day. This day is for the … [Read More...]
Sri Gurubhajane Purnadarathi -Sri Sridhara Swamiji
This bhajan is sung during the Aarathi in Sridhara Ashrama. Sri Sridhara Swamiji is considered the avatar of Dattatreya. His samadhi and ashram is located in Varadahalli, Sagar taluk. There are many … [Read More...]
Makara Sankranti
Sankranthi is a harvest festival and “Sankranthi” means movement. It is a celebration of the sun entering from the zodiac sign Dhanur/Sagittarius into Makara/Capricorn. So this Makara Sankranti … [Read More...]
Happy Vijayadashami – Veeragase Folk Dance of Karnataka – Guggla
Veeragase is a folk dance of Karnataka where the participants wear grand makeup, headgear, and costumes and dance to folk music composed on Hindu mythology. The dance movements are intense with … [Read More...]
