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
Tomato Juice
Tomorrow is Rama Navami and here is a recipe to bring in some change in the celebrations of the festival. Time Required: 10 Minutes Ingredients: 7 - 8 Ripe Tomatoes 4tbsp Sugar 1/4 tsp … [Read More...]
Oats Dosa
Pancakes prepared using Oats and different types of flours. Time Required: 20 Minutes Ingredients: 1 Cup Rice Flour 1 Cup Maida / Plain Flour 1 Cup Rawa / Semolina 1 Cup Oats ½ Cup … [Read More...]
Godi Akki Ganji – Broken Wheat Gruel
Godi Akki Ganji is prepared using Broken Wheat. This Ganji or Gruel is extremely healthy and coming home food. After eating a variety of high calorie food during a travel, you can … [Read More...]
Strawberry Milk Shake
Summer is round the corner and what better way to cool yourself than sipping on ice cold Strawberry Milk Shake. Time Required: 10 Minutes Ingredients: 1 Cup Strawberries 2 - 3 Glasses of … [Read More...]
Mixed Vegetable Kootu – Vegetable Dal Recipe – Vegetable Lentil Curry
Curry prepared using assorted vegetables. It is prepared during auspicious ceremonies like Upanayana / Sacred thread, Weddings etc., Time Required: 30 Minutes Serves: 6 Ingredients: 1 Cup … [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...]
Zafrani Pulao
Zafrani Pulao is part of Awadhi cuisine. Basmati rice is cooked with Saffron, Clarified Butter, and Nuts. The aroma that arises from this dish is heady and the taste is delicious. Time Required: 30 … [Read More...]
Lychee Civeche Recipe – Lychee Salad Recipe – Lychee Recipe – Litchi Civeche
By now you all might know that I love making salads with fruits, which eliminates the need to add sugar or honey to the dressing. Civeche is prepared using raw fish and I have substituted it for … [Read More...]
Travel
Kudremukh
I have a hazy memory of me standing at one of the view points in Chikkamagalur holding my sister’s hand and the elders identifying a faraway hill as Kudremukh from the shape of the hill. When … [Read More...]
Moti Dungri Fort, Jaipur
Moti Dungri means Hills of Pearls and Moti Dungri Fort, Jaipur forms the backdrop for the beautiful Birla Mandir. The fortress was called Shankargarh (Shiva’s Home). Sawai Man Singh II … [Read More...]
Wenlock Downs, Ooty
Wenlock Downs is popularly known as 9th and 6th mile as they are situated exactly at the 9th and 6th mile from Ooty. Innumerable movies have been shot here with the hero and the leading lady singing … [Read More...]
Kadambi Waterfalls
As we drove into Kudremukh National Park mesmerized by the scenic beauty all around, we came across a lovely waterfall known as Kadambi Waterfalls by the roadside. We tumbled out of the vehicle … [Read More...]
Manjusha Art Museum Mysuru
Manjusha Art Museum Mysuru located inside Payana Vintage and Classic Car Museum is an extension to the existing Manjusha museum in Dharmastala. This part of the museum opens to a world of … [Read More...]
Kudupu Sri Ananta Padmanabha Swamy Temple
Kudupu town is situated very close to Mangaluru. The name Kudupu means a basket woven out of dried forest creeper. Sri Ananta Padmanabha Temple is a major temple visited by thousands. The main … [Read More...]
Holenarasipura, Karnataka
Holenarasipura is situated in Hassan district, Karnataka. Nayakas ruled this place from 1547 to 1667. Kanteerava Narasaraja Wodeyar, the king of Mysore defeated Narasimha Nayaka and Holenarasipura … [Read More...]
Festivals
Rathasapthami Rangoli
Rathasapthami is a festival in honor of Sun god. On this day a Rathasapthami rangoli / kolam (patterns drawn using chalk powder) of ratha / chariot is drawn inside the shrine of … [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...]
Sheege Hunnime
Sheege Hunnime festival is fondly remembered by my mother. The excerpt follows… My dad seemed to be in a very celebrative mood. He ordered the servants to get the bullock cart ready and also … [Read More...]
Happy Durgashtami 2024 – Durga Pooja – Dasara Durga Pooja
Ashtami during Dasara was exciting, because Ambode/dal vada/Lentil fritters were offered to Goddess Durga but eaten and savored by us! Dal is full of Shakti and hence might have been offered to … [Read More...]
Swarna Gowri Vratha – Gowri Habba – Gowri Festival
Swarna Gowri Vratha/Pooja is celebrated by girls and women in Karnataka and Andhara Pradesh. Goddess Gowri is the mother of Lord Ganesha. This festival falls in the hindu month of Bhadrapada, August - … [Read More...]
Krishna Janmashtami – Gokulashtami – Birth of Lord Krishna
"Yathra Yogeeshwara Krishno | Yathra Partho Dhanurdharaha | Thathra Shree Vijayo Bhuthir | Dhruvaneethirmimathirmama ||" The meaning of the above extract from the Gita is “wherever Krishna … [Read More...]
Rathasapthami
“Ratha” means chariot and “Sapthami” means the 7th day, it is the day when the Surya/Sun god is believed to ride on the chariot drawn by 7 horses to gift the beautiful season “Spring” to South … [Read More...]
