Wish you all a very happy Onam! It is time for Onam Sadya and Pookalam across Kerala and rest of the country and world where people from Kerala reside. … [Read More...]
Onam Sadya – Plantain leaf Onam Thali – Onasadya
Onam is celebrated for 10 days. During these days women wear Mudum Neriyathum/Mundu and make designs on the floor using flowers known as Pookalam. Around the Pookalam women perform … [Read More...]
Labneh Dip Recipe
Labneh is prepared from hung curds/yogurt. This recipe is from the Middle East. The thick hung curds is whisked with herbs, cucumber, zatar, olive oil, and chili flakes. You can also add Olives, … [Read More...]
Festival dates in Shravana month – August and September 2026
Festival dates in Shravana month – August and September 2026 are as follows: Shrāvana (August - September) - From 13 August to 11 September (2026) Shravana Shanivara - 15 August, 22 … [Read More...]
August 2026 Hints
Add baking soda while washing fruits and vegetable, this will remove any type of contamination. Add sparkling water to Pani puri dough. The Puris will turn out crisp. Add oil while boiling … [Read More...]
Malnad Style Beetroot Kayi Chutney
I tasted this Beetroot chutney at Sridhara Paduka Mandira in Bengaluru. The saying that god prasada is divine and satisfying is so true. The humble lunch comprising to Rice huli, saru, and … [Read More...]
Pookalam Art – Flower Carpet Making – Flower Rangoli
Pookalam (Flower Rangoli / Pattern), the art of designing floral carpets on the day of Onam festival in Kerala welcome their beloved king Mahabali. Pookalam Art can be made on … [Read More...]
Pookalam
Flower arrangement of Indian origin is Pookalam. “Poo” means flower and “kalam” design in Malayalam. The flowers are laid out in beautiful patterns on the floor. Traditionally laying out Pookalam is a … [Read More...]
Onam
Onam is celebrated in Kerala with a lot of enthusiasm. It is their biggest harvest festival and it falls in the Malayali (Malayalam is the language spoken in Kerala and hence the people of Kerala are … [Read More...]
Melukote Srivaishnava Piligrimage Center
Melukote is a famous piligrimage center situated in Mandya district, Karnataka. This place is also known as Thirunarayanapuram, Yadavagiri or Yadugiri nestled in the Cauvery river valley. From Mysore … [Read More...]
Wood Arrangement
"Wood Arrangements" include arrangements with driftwood or even roots and stumps of trees. Coffee roots are very popular in wood arrangements. The roots and the wood when combined with bright flowers … [Read More...]
Vegetarian Recipes
Noodles and Vegetable Soup
Cuisine: Chinese This soup is extremely filling and is a complete meal by itself. Perfect for winter. Time Required: 25 Minutes Ingredients: 1 Cup boiled Noodles 1tbsp Oil 1 Cup … [Read More...]
Shukto – Vegetables in spicy gravy
This is a Bengali dish with lots of vegetables. This is prepared on weddings and other celebrations like Durga Pooja during Dasara. Time Required: 30 Minutes + Soaking Time Ingredients: 1 … [Read More...]
Grape Jam
I could not resist buying bunches of grapes on the way to Nandi Hills and my mom was more than willing to prepare the Grape Jam. Time Required: 40 Minutes Ingredients: 1 Cup Grape Crush ½ … [Read More...]
Vendekayi Mor Thalippu – Okra simmered in yogurt and spices
Vendekayi in Tamil means Lady;s Finger/Okra, Mor means yoghurt and Thalippu means seasoning. So it is basically Okra simmered in yoghurt and a sesoning added to it in the end. Cuisine: Tamil … [Read More...]
Balehannina Payasa Recipe – Banana Payasa Recipe – Plantain Pudding Recipe
Tomorrow is Hindu New Year - Ugadi. This festival is celebrated by worshiping god and eating Neem flowers mixed with Jaggery signifying the bitter-sweet experiences of life. Festival food … [Read More...]
Seared Bean Sprout Salad
Seared Bean Sprout Salad is tasty served as a side dish or can be served as a meal with some garlic bread. A very interesting salad with crunchy Sesame Seeds and Orange flavor. Time Required: 20 … [Read More...]
Missi Roti
Missi Roti is the bread that the Rajsthanis break in their meal. It is prepared using a mixture of Bengal Gram and Wheat flour. Cuisine: Rajasthan Required Time: 20 … [Read More...]
Alu Palak – Aloo Palak Recipe – Potato Spinach Gravy Recipe
A side dish with gravy using Spinach and Potatoes. Alu Palak is a very popular dish of North India. Cuisine: North India Time Required: 30 Minutes Serves: 4 Ingredients: 2 Big … [Read More...]
Travel
Gomatagiri
Gomatagiri is situated in Bettadoor in Mysore district. Gomatagiri is a major Jain center. In the 11th Century, a 10-meter-tall granite statue of Gometeshwara also known as Bahubali is installed on … [Read More...]
Forts of Goa
Most of the forts built in Goa are high up on the hills and offer a grand view of the Arabian Sea. The forts of Goa are dotted from Tiracol Fort, which is at the northernmost tip of Goa to Cabo da … [Read More...]
Nrityagram Dance Village, Hessarghatta and Taj Kuteeram
We planned for a weekend getaway to Nrityagram, which turned to be a unique experience. The dance village is situated on a 10 acre land near Hessarghatta, 30 Km from Bangalore. This was founded in … [Read More...]
Veeranarayana Temple Gadag
Sri Vanitheyarasane Vimala Raa Jeeva Peethana Pithane Jagakathi Paavanane Sanakaadi Sajjana Nikara Daathaara Raavaanaasura Mathana Shravana Sudhaa Vinoothana Kathana Kaarana Kaavudaanatha Janava … [Read More...]
St. Lawrence Church
Churches built by the Portuguese dot the Goan landscape and St. Lawrence Church is one of them. Located on a hill and built in Portuguese style of architecture, this white church was built in 1565 for … [Read More...]
Yediyur Siddhalingeshwara Swamy Temple
Yediyur Siddhalingeshwara Swamy Temple is a very famous pilgrimage center situated in Kunigal Town, Karnataka. It is actually a Samadhi (tomb) of the great Veerashaiva sect saint Sri … [Read More...]
Birds spotted in KR Nagar, Chunchanakatte and Hosa Agrahara – Krishna Raja Nagara
KR Nagar also known as Yedathore is situated 57 Km from Mysore. The ancient Arakeshwara temple is situated in KR Nagar. The small yet beautiful Chunchanakatte waterfalls is very near to … [Read More...]
Festivals
Holi – Festival of Colors
I remember Holi being celebrated on the streets of Mysore, where the kids from the neighborhood would go begging from house to house collecting discarded things that can be burnt like mats, brooms, … [Read More...]
Celebration of Makara Sankranthi in different regions of India
Makara Sankranthi is celebrated in various styles in different regions of India. Andhra Pradesh In Andhra Pradesh this festival is called as “Pedda Panduga” meaning “big festival”. It is … [Read More...]
Festival dates in Ashwin month – September and October 2025
Āshwin (September – October) Dasara - Navaratri - 22 September to 2 October 2025 Saraswathi Pooja - 29 September 2025 Durgashtami - 30 September 2025 Ayudha Pooja - 1 October … [Read More...]
Dasara Procession in Mysore
Vijayadashami being the last day of the celebrations, a grand Jamboo Savari/procession passes through the streets of the city. The main attraction here is the idol of the goddess Chamundeshwari placed … [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...]
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...]
Kadalekayi Parishe – Festival of Groundnuts – Groundnuts Fair in Bengaluru – Peanuts Festival
Festival of Groundnuts known as Kadalekayi Parishe is held in Bangalore every year on the last Monday of the Hindu month Karthika, November – December in Gregorian calendar. For the festival … [Read More...]
