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
Alasandekayi Palya
Alasande Palya is a side dish prepared using Chinese Long Beans. This is a very common dish prepared in Mysore and Bangalore region. Tastes very good with Rice and Rasam. Time Required: … [Read More...]
Watermelon Soup
Time Required: 20 Minutes + Chilling Time Serves: 2 Ingredients: 4 Cups Watermelon, deseeded and cubed Juice and rind of 1 Orange ½ Cup Yoghurt/Hung Curds A pinch of Nutmeg Powder ½ tsp … [Read More...]
Balehannina Dosa – Banana Dosa Recipe – Banana Pancakes Recipe
Crepe / Pancakes prepared using Banana. Time Required: 10 Minutes + Soaking Time Ingredients: 2 Cups Raw Rice ½ Cup Fresh Coconut 3 Ripe Bananas ¾ Cup Jaggery Salt to … [Read More...]
Vangibhath
"Vangi" means Brinjal/Eggplant in Telugu. Vangibhath is a rice dish prepared using Brinjal/Eggplant and Bhath powder. The eggplant variety Eerangere Badnekayi available in Mysore is very suitable … [Read More...]
Maida Laddoo
Maida Laddoo is prepared using refined flour and lots of desi Ghee. It just melts in your mouth! Wish you all a very happy Swarna Gowri Vratha. Time Required: 30 Minutes Ingredients: 1 … [Read More...]
Hasi Majjige Huli – Pumpkin in Spicy Yogurt Recipe – Mor Kozhambu Recipe
Hasi Majjige Huli is a yogurt and vegetable dish with raw Masala paste. Time Required: 20 Minutes Serves: 2 Ingredients: 1 Cup cooked slices of Ash Pumpkin or Cucumber or Leafy … [Read More...]
Beetroot Sambar – Beetroot Huli Recipe
Beetroot Sambar is prepared using Green Gram Dal and Beetroot. Time Required: 20 Minutes Cuisine: South Indian Ingredients: 1 Beetroot, Peeled and cubed 1 Cup Green Gram Dal / … [Read More...]
Lachha Salad – Sliced Onion Salad – Sliced Vegetable Salad
Lachha Salad is a salad prepared using thinly sliced vegetables. It is usually prepared with only Onions, but I have used other vegetables like Cabbage and Capsicum. This salad is usually … [Read More...]
Travel
Wayanad Heritage Museum
Wayanad Heritage Museum is situated in Ambalvayal, Wayanad, Kerala. A very well maintained museum, it displays the 14th to 16th century artifacts. You can peek into the lifestyle of the different … [Read More...]
Pushkar
I had great expectations from one of the oldest cities of India – Pushkar, but was a wee bit disappointed as the holy Pushkar lake, which is the highlight of this pilgrimage center was almost … [Read More...]
Catherine Falls, Kotagiri
Roads leading to Catherine falls wind through the Nilgiri hills between tea estates and pine forests. The drive offers excellent views with the mist playing hide and seek. The water cascades … [Read More...]
Baba Budangiri Hills
Baba Budangiri Hills is also known as Chandra Drona Parvatha and is situated in Chikmagalur district, Karnataka. The drive up Baba Budangiri hill is very beautiful with stunning visuals of the country … [Read More...]
Sir M Visvesvaraya Memorial, Muddenahalli – Engineer’s Day
In Mysore region it is common among youngsters to quip at a brilliant person as “Visvesvarayyana thale” (brains of Sri Visvesvvaraya). Sir Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya (Sir MV) was born in Muddenahalli … [Read More...]
R.K.Narayan House Mysuru – Heritage site Mysore
All of us have enjoyed Malgudi days episodes on TV and the author behind this enthralling book is Sri R.K.Narayan. His house declared as a heritage site is now preserved as a museum filled with the … [Read More...]
Aloka Palace, Mysore
I visited Aloka Palace near Yelwal, Mysore as part of my son’s summer camp outing few decades back. I visited again to take pictures and to know more about the place. A bit disappointing as there … [Read More...]
Festivals
Independence day memories
My mother remembers and shares her memories on the days before Indian Independence and the joy felt on 15th August 1947. Place: Kurtakoti Script: Kannada ಸ್ವಾತಂತ್ರ ದಿನ ಈ ದಿನ ೭೪ನೆೇಯ (74th) … [Read More...]
Ananthanagantu Rangoli
This Rangoli / pattern is drawn on Ananthapadmanabha Vratha / festival of Vishnu. First draw 15 X 15 dots and join as shown below: The Ananthanagantu rangoli can be filled with colors too. … [Read More...]
Siriyala Shashti
Shiva Shiva endare bhayavilla Shiva namake sathi berilla (2) The above lyrics is a famous song from the movie Bhaktha Siriyala starring Lokesh, Aarathi, and Ashwath. The meaning of the … [Read More...]
Banni Tree
The botanical name of this tree is Prosopis spicigera. In Sanskrit it is known as Shami Vruksha. Banni tree is found in dry and arid regions at low altitudes. This tree is widely grown in … [Read More...]
Festivals in Shravana month – July and August 2025
Shrāvana (August - September) - From 25 July to 22 August (2025) Shravana Shanivara - 26 July, 2 August, 9 August, 16 August (2025) Mangala Gowri Vrat - 29 July, 5 August, 12 August, … [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...]
Madhwa Navami
Prathoma Hanumanamah| Dwithiyo Bheemayevacha| Poornaprajna Thrithyasto| Bhagavatkarya Sadhakaha|| The above shloka/chanting is all about the three avatars/incarnations of Sri Madhwacharya. … [Read More...]
