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

Methi Mutter Malai – Fenugreek leaves and Peas Recipe – Methi Matar Malai
Methi Mutter Malai is a side dish prepared using Fenugreek leaves, Green fresh Peas and Cream with a dash of spices. Cuisine: North Indian Time Required: 30 Minutes Ingredients: 1 big … [Read More...]

Italian Black Rice
As soon as Black Rice was available in the local store, I bought it and make this delicious Italian Black Rice. A big change from the usual Indian Rice dishes. Cuisine: … [Read More...]

Hagalkayi Kootu – Bitter Gourd Curry – Karela Curry Recipe
Hagalkayi Kootu is a curry prepared using Bitter Gourd. I tasted this for the first time in Ramana Maharshi Ashrama in Thiruvannamalai and it was very good. Time Required: 20 Minutes Serves: … [Read More...]

Carrot-Cucumber Clear Vegetable Soup
Time Required: 15 Minutes Ingredients: 1 Carrot cut into roundels 1 Cucumber cut into roundels 5-6 Spring Onion Bulbs 2tbsp Spring Onion Scallions, Chopped 2” Ginger, Chopped 2 Green … [Read More...]

Tomatillo Verde Salsa
I will call this recipe Tomat illa (illa means "not available" in Kannada) Verde Salsa. As Tomatillo (pronounced “toe-mah-TEE-yo”) is not available in India, I prepared this using Raw Tomato as it … [Read More...]

Black Rice Salad
Black Rice is full of flavor on its own and when teamed with garden fresh vegetables and Lemon seasoning, it becomes a wholesome delicious irresistible dish. The Rice when cooked turns a deep … [Read More...]

Bhendekayi Majjigehuli – Okra in spicy Yogurt Sauce – Bhindi Kadhi Recipe – Mor Kolumbzhu
Okra cooked in a yoghurt based curry. Cuisine: Karnataka Time Required: 30 Minutes Ingredients: 10 - 12 Bhendekayi / Bhindi / Ladies Finger/Okra 2tbsp Oil 3 Cups Curds/Yoghurt 1 tbsp … [Read More...]

Alu Dhania – Aloo Dhania Recipe – Potato Coriander Recipe
Potatoes cooked in North Indian style with Coriander leaves, seeds and powder. Time Required: 40 Minutes Ingredients: 4 Alu / Potatoes 1 Cup Coriander leaves 1tbsp Pista 6 Green … [Read More...]
Travel

Mailara Lingeshwara Temple at Devara Gudda
Palisai Bhandara Ruchiranga Mailara Linga Palisai Bhandara Ruchiranga Yelu Koti Pramatha Sangha Moola Shruthi Vaahana Thuranga Neela Shaila Nivasa Ganga Malasa Hrudayabja Brunga The … [Read More...]

Maharana Pratap Singh Memorial – Udaipur
The Maharana Pratap singh memorial is located on top of Moti Magri / Pearl Hill in Udaipur, Rajasthan. This memorial was set up by Maharana Bhagwat Singh Mewar who took the help of a public … [Read More...]

Birds of Maravanthe Coast
A trip to Maravanthe, coastal Karnataka was full of surprises. We went on a boat trip to an island that was submerged during the monsoons with great anticipation to spot Dolphins. We spotted only … [Read More...]

Linganamakki Dam
The Linganamakki dam is located in Kargal town, Sagara taluk and is built across Sharavathi River in 1964. The length of the dam is 2.4 km and height is 193 feet. The dam is situated at a height of … [Read More...]

BR Hills – Biligiri Rangana Betta – Biligiri Ranga Hill Range
"Biligiri Rangaiah, Neene Helaiah Sri Ranganayakiya Chandulli Chaluvaiah…" The above is a popular song of the 70's from the Kannada movie Sharapanjara, which was sung by P.Susheela and … [Read More...]

Gayathri Tiffin Room, Mysore
Gayathri Tiffin Room restaurant in Mysore more popularly known as GTR is a must visit for all the avid Masala Dosa fans. Your life is complete only after you have enjoyed the Masala Dosa in … [Read More...]

Paradise Beach Pondicherry
Paradise Beach in Pondicherry is also known as Plage Pardiso and is located 8 Km from Pondicherry. Drive down Cuddalore main road to reach Chunnambar backwaters resort. At Chunnambar you can take a … [Read More...]
Festivals

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...]

Children’s Day
The UN General Assembly suggested that all countries should declare one day in a year as Children’s day. The United Nations declared November 20th as Universal Children’s Day. This day is for the … [Read More...]

Festival dates in Chaitra month – March and April 2026
Festival dates in Chaitra month – March and April 2026 are as follows: Chaitra (March - April) Ugadi/Gudi Padwa - Sri Parabhava Nama Samvatsaram - 19 March 2026 Gangaur - 4 March … [Read More...]

Vata Savitri Vrata
Vata Savitri Vrata / ritual is observed by married women on Hunnime / Poornima / full moon day in the Hindu month of Jyeshtha, May – June in Gregorian calendar. This year (2016) it falls on 18th … [Read More...]

Saraswathi Prarthane – Prayer to Goddess Saraswathi
Today is Saraswathi Pooja, which is part of Navrathri celebrations. This is a prarthane (prayer) to Goddess Saraswathi written by my grandfather Sri M.M.Patil in 1969. ಸರಸ್ವತಿ ಪ್ರಾರ್ಥನೆ ಕಂದ … [Read More...]

Hanuman Jayanthi
"Manojavam Maruthathulya Vegam Jitendriyam Budhdhi Mathaam Varishtam Vaathathmajam Vaanarayutha Mukhyam Srirama Dootham Sharanam Prapadye" The above sthotra/chanting, is part of the Sri … [Read More...]

King Raghu and Vijayadashami – Importance of Banni Tree – English Version
King Raghu of Raghuvamsha fame was a brave, generous, humble, and sensible ruler of Ayodhya. He had won many battles and his treasury was filled to the brim. On the behest of his guru Vashishta, he … [Read More...]
