Avocados are available in the South Indian market from April onwards. There is an abundance of desi Avocados in the market. Apart from making Guacamole, you can make many types of … [Read More...]
Flower Arrangement – Solitaire
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
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...]
Sukkina Unde – Sukrunde Recipe – Boorelu Recipe
Tomorrow is Mahalaya Amavasya and Sukkina Unde is usually prepared on this occasion. Cuisine: Karnataka Time required: 30 Minutes + Soaking time Ingredients: 1 Cup Urad Dal / Uddinabele / … [Read More...]
Panch Phoran – Spices of Bengal – Five Spices
Bengali, Assamese and Oriya cuisine is tempered with Panch phoran, which is a combination of 5 spices - Fennel Seeds / Saunf, Cumin Seeds / Jeera, Fenugreek Seeds / Methi, Nigella Seeds / Kalonji, … [Read More...]
Eggless Strawberry Sponge Cake
As usual I was very enthusiastic to bake a cake for Christmas. First I baked a Strawberry Sponge Cake and then converted that to a lovely celebration Strawberry pastry. A perfect way to end the … [Read More...]
Banana Raitha Recipe – Banana in Yoghurt – Kela Raitha
Banana Raitha is a dish prepared using Banana and Yoghurt. It is a no fuss dish, can be made in a jiffy! Time required: 5 Minutes Ingredients: 2 Small Ripe Bananas 1/4 tsp Chili … [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...]
Modaka
Modaka is a sweet dish, which is a favorite of Lord Ganesha. This is prepared on festivals or rituals dedicated to Lord Ganesha like Ganesh chathurthi, Sankanshti, Gana Homa/Havan etc. Time … [Read More...]
Mango Banana Smoothie Bowl
Mango Banana Smoothie Bowl is summerly delicious and a fantastic way to start the day. Time required: 10 minutes Ingredients: 2 Mangoes, sliced 2 Bananas, sliced 2 tbsp Sugar … [Read More...]
Travel
Ooty
Whether you call this place Ooty, Ootacamund, Udhagai or Udaghamandalam the title best suited for this place is “Queen of hill stations”, which is the capital of Nilgiris district. Picture1 - … [Read More...]
Rajasthan
The meaning of the name of the largest state of India, Rajasthan is “land of the kings”. It is also the land of sun, sand, songs and dance. The history, culture, art, landscapes and cuisine are rich … [Read More...]
Chittaranjan Palace Mysuru – The Green Hotel Mysuru
Chittaranjan Palace was built by H.R.H.Krishanaraja Wadiyar for the Mysore Princesses in 1916. It is built in the Indo-Saracenic style of architecture. The ceilings are high with majestic masonry … [Read More...]
Kaikondarahalli Lake Bengaluru
Kaikondarahalli Lake is situated near Sarjapur road. Thanks to active citizens who identified the dumping yard to be a dying lake and decided to rejuvenate the lake along with the help of the … [Read More...]
Shopping in Ooty and eating out in Ooty
Ooty has come a long way, from a quaint hill station to a bustling commercial and tourist destination. Apart from trekking, boating, horse riding, visiting places of interest, shopping in Ooty and … [Read More...]
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...]
Daria Daulat Bagh
Daria Daulat is the summer palace of Tipu Sultan, situated in Srirangapattana, 15 Kms from Mysore. The Indo-Sarcenic style palace was built by Tipu Sultan in 1784. The two storeyed palace is … [Read More...]
Festivals
Manmatha or Kama – the god of love
Another interesting statue in Nanjanagudu is that of Manmatha or Kama - the god of love (Kama Samhara (killing) Murthy (idol)). During Holi festival, effigy of Manmatha or Kama is burnt, which is … [Read More...]
Festival dates in Kartik month – October and November 2025
Kārtik (October – November) Diwali /Balipadyami/New Year in Gujarat - 22 October 2025 Karthika Somawara - 27 October, 3 November, 10 November, and 17 November 2025 Uttandwadashi - 2 … [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...]
Satyanarayana Aarathi Song
It is a must to read the story of Satyanarayana at the end of Satyanarayana pooja. Here is a song covering all the stories that has to be read. You can sing this while doing the final … [Read More...]
Prayer to Parvathi
This prayer was chanted by Chandrahasa to goddess Parvathi/Chamundi/Amba/Gowri. Extracted from the Gemini bharatha. ಚಂದ್ರಹಾಸನ ಪ್ರಾರ್ಥನೆ - ಜೈಮಿನಿ ಭಾರತ ತಾಯೆ ಪಾರ್ವತಿ ಪರಮ ಕಲ್ಯಾಣಿ … [Read More...]
Mysore Dasara Procession in Black and White
Wish you all a very happy Dasara! This Dasara procession photograph was part of my grandfather's collection. The photograph was probably taken between 1930 - 1935. … [Read More...]
Lohri festival in Punjab – Makara Shankranthi – Harvest Festival
Makara Shankranthi is called as Lohri in Punjab. It is one of the major festivals of Punjab. It is celebrated with great pomp and show. This festival falls on Chaturdashi i.e., the 14th day in the … [Read More...]
