The most awaited festival of the year is today! and it is definitely a double dhamaka as both Swarna Gowri Vratha and Ganesh Chathurthi are celebrated on the same day. The flower decorations, … [Read More...]
Festival dates in Bhadrapada month – September and October 2026
Festival dates in Bhadrapada month – September and October2026 are as follows: Bhādrapad (August – September) Ganesh Chaturthi - 14 September 2026 Ganesha aarathi song Why Ganesha … [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...]
Gowri Aarathi Song
ಗೌರಿ ಆರತಿ ಹಾಡು ಮಂಗಳ ಜಯ ಗಿರಿಜಾತೆ ಮಾತೆ ।।ಪ|| ಪರಮಾಯುಧ ಕರ ದುರುಳ ಸುರಾರೆ । ಪರಮ ತೇಜ ಮೃಗರಾಜ ವಿಹಾರೆ ।।೧।। ರತ್ನ ಮುಕುಟ ಮಣಿ ಹಾರ ಕುಂಡಲ ಶೋಭೆ | ರವಿಕೋಟಿ ತೇಜ ವಿರಾಜ ಮುಖಿಯೇ ।।೨।। ಜಗದಾಧಾರೆ ಜಗದಾದಿ … [Read More...]
21 Pushpa Pooja to Lord Ganesha
21 types of Patra (leaves), 21 types of Pushpa (flowers), and 21 Kadabu or Modaka (sweets) are offered to Lord Ganesha during Ganesha Chathurthi and Sankashta Chaturthi. There are 21 mantra chanted … [Read More...]
21 Patra Pooja to Lord Ganesha
21 types of Patra (leaves), 21 types of Pushpa (flowers), and 21 Kadabu or Modaka (sweets) are offered to Lord Ganesha during Ganesha Chathurthi and Sankashta Chaturthi. Just before the festivities … [Read More...]
Habbada Thindi and Panaka – Festival Snacks and Juice Recipes
Food and festival go hand in hand in India. Special dishes are prepared on festivals and during vratha (observance). Habbada Adige / festival food is prepared on all festivals. But … [Read More...]
Ganesha Aarathi Song
This is a aarathi song dedicated to Lord Ganesha. Kannada Script: ಮಂಗಳ ಗಣರಾಯ ಜಯ ಜಯ ಮಂಗಳ ಗಣರಾಯ ಜಯ ಜಯ ಚಂದದ ಆರತಿ ತಂದು ಬೆಳಗುವೆ ಸುಂದರ ನಿನ್ನಯ ಚರಣ ಕಮಲಕೆ ವಂದಿಸಿ ಬೇಡುವೆ ಸಿಂದೂರ ವದನ ಬಂದು ಕರುಣಿಸೋ … [Read More...]
Gowri Aarathi Song
Gowri is the consort of Lord Shiva and during Ganesha-Gowri Festival, songs are sung in glory of her during Arathi. Lyrics in Kannada: ಗೌರಿ ಆರತಿ ಹಾಡು ಜಯ ಮಂಗಳವೆನ್ನಿರೆ ಗೌರಿಗೆ| ಜಯ ಭವ ಹರ … [Read More...]
Ganesh Chathurthi – Ganesha Festival
I have extremely fond memories of Ganesha-Gowri festival. It was one of the grand festivals of the year for the family and for Mysore city itself. Our road would be decorated with serial lights, as … [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...]
Vegetarian Recipes
Pudina Poori
A crispy snack prepared using Mint leaves. Cuisine: Indian Time Required: 30 Minutes Ingredients: 1 bunch Pudina / Mint leaves, Minced 1 Cup Wheat Flour ½ Cup Maida / Refined … [Read More...]
Ambe Upakari – Sweet and Spicy Mango Dish
Ambe Upakari is a side dish from Uttara Kannada district. Sakkarekaati or Shakkargutli type of Mangoes is used to prepare this dish. If this is not available, you can use any other variety of Ripe … [Read More...]
Paneer Stuffed Bhindi – Cottage Cheese stuffed Okra Recipe – Ladies Finger Recipe
Paneer Stuffed Bhindi dish is Cottage Cheese stuffed Ladys finger/Okra. Time Required: 30 Minutes Serves: 4 Ingredients: 15 tender Bhindi/Lady's Finger/Okra 1 Cup Paneer/Cottage Cheese, … [Read More...]
Thovve – Dal Recipe
Cooked split Red Gram with seasoning. This is a very auspicious dish among the Brahmin community and is prepared during festivals and all auspicious occasions. When the food is served … [Read More...]
Apple-Cinnamon Wontons
Baked packets filled with Cinnamon flavored Apple. Time Required: 30 minutes Ingredients: 1 cup chopped Apple 1tbsp Brown Sugar 1ts Lemon Juice ½ tsp Cinnamon powder 2 tbsp Sugar … [Read More...]
Sesame Seeds Squares
Sesame Seeds Squares is a crunchy sweet is prepared in North India during Sankranthi festival. It is believed that if you consume Sesame seeds during winter, it keeps you warm. Time Required: … [Read More...]
Chili Sauce Recipe – Red Chili Sauce Recipe – Sriracha Recipe
Red Chilies are available during the winters in India. Various varieties can be seen in the market. The heat of Chili Sauce adds the much needed zing to any dish. Ingredients: 1 Cup Raw … [Read More...]
Halasinakayi Sonte – Raw Jackfruit Chips
Halasinakayi Sonte - Raw Jackfruit Chips is known as Chakkavaruthathu in Malayalam. This is served during Onam Sadya / lunch. A favorite purchase during a visit to Kerala or … [Read More...]
Travel
Bhadravathi
I remember visiting Bhadravathi in 1979 as part of our school education trip. We visited Vishweshwaraya Iron and Steel Limited (VISL) factory and all I can remember is that it was very hot and noisy … [Read More...]
Sowkoor Durgaparameshwari Temple
A temple dedicated to goddess Sri Durgaparameshwari is situated in Sowkoor, Kundapur taluk. This unknown temple is tucked away in the gorgeous hills of the Western Ghats. But the people who … [Read More...]
Yercaud Botanical Garden
A visit to the Botanical Garden in hill stations is top on my to-visit list. And off we went to explore the Botanical Garden in Yercaud. The garden though small is interesting as it is tucked on a … [Read More...]
Muddenahalli
Muddenahalli is situated in Chikkaballapur district and is popular because Sir Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya (Sir MV) was born on 15th September 1860 to parents Mokshagundam Srinivasa Shastry and … [Read More...]
Kavadi Kere
A beautiful lake spread over 62 acres shines like glass reflecting the blue sky and the hills all around it. The floating dried leaves along with lily leaves creates a lovely pattern over it. Beside … [Read More...]
Muthanga Wildlife Sanctuary
Muthanga wildlife sanctuary was established in 1973 and adjoined to the protected forest network in the Nilgiri Biosphere comprising of Nagarhole, Bandipur, and Madumalai. Rich in … [Read More...]
Port Blair
Almost at the same elevation as the sea at 52 feet lies the gateway to the Union territory Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Port Blair is located on the east coast of South Andaman. This city is the … [Read More...]
Festivals
Akshaya Tritiya
Akshaya means infinite or never ending. Akshaya Trithiya festival falls on the third day of the Hindu month Vaishakha, April-May in Gregorian calendar. This festival is also known as Akha … [Read More...]
Christmas
"Jingle bells Jingle bells Jingle all the way Oh what fun it is to ride on a one horse open sleigh…" This is a Christmas song that everyone loves to hear and sing not only during Christmas season … [Read More...]
Aarathi Song to Sri Rama
Here is an Aarathi song in praise of Lord Rama. This is sung during Rama Navami festival and can also be sung on any other festival during Aarathi. Kannada Script: ರಾಮನ ಆರತಿ … [Read More...]
Oiling ritual song – ಎಣ್ಣೆ ಹಚ್ಚುವಾಗ ಹೇಳುವ ಹಾಡು
This is a beautiful song written by Sri Purandara Dasaru to sing during the head oiling ritual, which is the beginning of auspicious occasions like festivals, weddings, upanayana (sacred thread … [Read More...]
Basava Jayanthi
Kalabeda, kola beda, husiya nidiyalu beda Muniya beda, anyarige asahya padabeda Thanna bannisabeda, idira aliyalu beda Ide antaranga shuddhi, ide bahiranga shuddhi Ide namma koodala … [Read More...]
Mysore Dasara – Mysuru Dasara Celebrations – Mysuru Dussehra – Mysuru Navratri
Mysore looks its best during the 10-day Dasara celebration where all the major roads in the city, heritage buildings, palaces, historical monuments, ancient temples and shops are … [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...]
