Today is Vijayadashami, the final day of Dasara / Navratri festivities. The festival culminates in a grand manner with thousands attending the famous Dasara procession at Mysuru. … [Read More...]
Happy Ayudha Pooja 2026
Depending on the number of Ayudha / weapons that the ruler owned decided how powerful he was in that region. Weapons comprised of daggers, guns, revolvers, swords, cannons, cannons on wheels and … [Read More...]
Happy Durgashtami 2026 – Durga Pooja – Dasara Durga Pooja
Durga pooja is no more confined to West Bengal, we can all experience the devotion and pooja in any city of India. The pendals set up by the migrants from West Bengal during Dasara gives us an … [Read More...]
Saraswathi Pooje – Sapthami – Navratri Saraswathi Pooja 2026
Swathi Nakshatra Saraswathi Pooja 2026 is on 16th October 2026. On this day, children bring their favorite or toughest subject book to the Golu / Gombe stand and keep near the doll of goddess … [Read More...]
Ramaswamy Circle, Mysuru
Our house was just behind hundred-foot road and I must have passed on this road leading to Ramaswamy circle a zillion times. Ramaswamy circle was like the head of the hundred-foot road. Jhansi Lakshmi … [Read More...]
Ambujavalli Temple Mysuru Palace
I remember my grandparents always taking me to this temple for a special pooja. While the pooja was getting done, I would be running around the temple premises and also sit on the beautifully … [Read More...]
Shweta Varahaswamy Temple Mysuru Palace
Ambavilas / Mysuru Palace complex is dotted with many ancient Hindu temples. One of them is the Shweta Varahaswamy Temple. The Shweta Varahaswamy Temple is situated in the southern gate / … [Read More...]
Dasara Gombe – Doll arrangement – Golu – 2026
During Navratri / Dasara, in Mysuru-Bengaluru region, the tradition of doll arrangement is still continued in most of the homes. They are arranged on either 3 steps or 5 steps or 7 steps or 9 … [Read More...]
Sharad Navratri Dasara Calendar for October 2026
Sharad Navratri 2026 Calendar (October) Day and Date … [Read More...]
Kada Prasad – Godi Halwa – Atta ka halwa – Gurudwara Atta Halwa
Tomorrow is the beginning of Dasara pooja, vrata, doll arrangement, garba, and endless celebrations. For the next 10 days family and friends get-together and celebrate good over evil in various … [Read More...]
Festival dates in Ashwin month – October and November 2026
Festival dates in Āshwin month – October and November 2026 Āshwin (September – October) Dasara - Navaratri - 11 October to 20 October 2026 Saraswathi Pooja - 16 October 2026 … [Read More...]
Coriander Rice Recipe
Coriander Rice Recipe is a simple and quick recipe using lots of Coriander and Raw Mango or Lemon. As this dish is a dry dish, it is very convenient to pack for school lunch boxes or picnics or … [Read More...]
India loves to pose – 59
India loves to pose series contains random pictures of people in different moods and gears captured during a moment in their story. I believe that behind every face lies a story. The smile, the … [Read More...]
October 2026 Hints
Tie a stole to the airplane or car seat top portion and rest your head in the pouch for a good snooze. Keep your Phone in a zip lock bag and hang it on the airplane/train food tray and lock … [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...]
Vegetarian Recipes
Water Apple Salad Recipe
Water Apple in White and Red are available in plenty during May End to June End. This fruit though tasteless is considered good for health. I tried this recipe and the fruit became a bit … [Read More...]
Dry Fruit Chikki – Lonavala Chikki Recipe
Dry Fruit Chikki are dry fruit squares prepared using nuts, sugar, and honey. Time Required: 30 Minutes Ingredients: 1 Cup Almonds 2 tbsp Pistachios 1 Cup Cashew nuts 3/4 Cup Sugar 1/4 … [Read More...]
Cottage Cheese and Asparagus Stir fry
Time Required: 20 Minutes Ingredients: 1” thin strips of Cottage Cheese / Paneer 12 Asparagus 1 Red Chili, Chopped finely 1 tsp Cumin Seeds / Jeera Juice of ½ Lemon ½ tsp Crushed … [Read More...]
Amatekayi Uppinakayi – Hog Plum Pickle
Amatekayi Uppinakayi is a pickle prepared using Hog Plums. My mother used to narrate a story regarding a household wherein there would be many jars with Mango / Mavinakayi, Gooseberry / Nellikayi, … [Read More...]
Ghama Ghamalu
Ghama Ghamalu are Cardamom flavored cookies. Time Required: 40 Minutes Ingredients: 150gms/5 Ounce Maida (Refined Flour) 100gms/3.5 Ounce Butter 125gms/4.4 Ounce Sugar ½ tsp Ammonia Bi … [Read More...]
Watermelon Soup
Time Required: 20 Minutes + Chilling Time Serves: 2 Ingredients: 4 Cups Watermelon, deseeded and cubed Juice and rind of 1 Orange ½ Cup Yoghurt/Hung Curds A pinch of Nutmeg Powder ½ tsp … [Read More...]
Salad Platter
Salad is nutritious and good for health. A portion of salad eaten during one of the meals helps the body get some fiber for easy absorption of food. Time Required: 15 … [Read More...]
Amathi
Amathi is a curry prepared using Peas. Cuisine: North Karnataka and Maharashtra. Time Required: 25 Minutes Serves: 4 Ingredients: 2 Cups Shelled Green Peas 2 Sprigs Coriander, … [Read More...]
Travel
Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary
The best part of our trip to Chikmagalur district last summer was the time spent at the Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary. This sanctuary is one of the best forest reserves that we have been to and would love … [Read More...]
Madurai
Madurai is a city in Tamil Nadu located on the banks of River Vaigai. The river runs in the middle of the city dividing it into two equal halves. Sirumalai and Nagamalai hills lie to the North and … [Read More...]
Mattu Beach Udupi
Mattu Beach is located around 10 kilometres from Udupi. A beautiful stretch of pristine Beach secluded from the commercial hullabaloo. An evening spent here transports to another zone. Watch the … [Read More...]
Bryant Park Kodaikanal
Bryant Park is a botanical garden spread over 20.5 acres of land in Kodaikanal. The park is named after a forest officer from Madurai, H.D.Bryant who planned and built the park in … [Read More...]
Banasura Sagar Dam
Banasura Sagar dam is built across the Karamanathodu River, which is a tributary of the Kabini River. The dam situated at the foot of Banasura hill in Wayanad District of Kerala was started in 1979 to … [Read More...]
Devil’s Kitchen, Kodaikanal
Per our itinerary we headed off to the Devil’s Kitchen in Kodaikanal not knowing what to expect. After parking the car and a short hike uphill are caves and tranches that is mysterious and dangerous. … [Read More...]
Gunja Narasimha Swamy temple, T Narasipura
Thousands visit Tirumakudalu Narasipura (T.Narasipura) to visit the ancient temple dedicated to Lord Narsimha Swamy. The temple is popularly known as Gunja Narasimha Swamy temple. On the right bank of … [Read More...]
Festivals
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...]
Visarjana Manthra
The following manthra is chanted while performing the visarjana / send off to god. In Kannada Script: ವಿಸರ್ಜನಾ ಕ್ರಮ ಯಜ್ಞೇನ ಯಗ್ನಮಯಜಂತ ದೇವಾಃ | ತಾನಿ ಧರ್ಮಾಣಿ ಪ್ರಥಮಾನ್ಯಾಸನ್ || ತೇಹ ನಾಕಂ … [Read More...]
Nagara Panchami
Nagara Panchami Nadige doddadu Naada Naadiyar Kodona Naada Naadiyar Kodona | Gelathi| Naagappage Haalu Hoyyona || The above Kannada song is sung during Nagara Panchami festival. The … [Read More...]
Hire Gowri Pooja – Dodda Gowri Pooja – Gowri Hunnime
Hire Gowri Pooja also known as Dodda Gowri Pooja and Gowri Hunnime is celebrated with devotion in North Karnataka. Below is the write up by my mother on this festival in Kannada script. This … [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...]
Kalasha
This is an important arrangement in any of the Hindu rituals/pooja. This occupies a prominent place in the pedestal along with the idols or photographs of gods and goddesses. During marriages the … [Read More...]
Sri Narasimha Swamy Hiranya Kashyapa Samhara
ಹಿರಣ್ಯ ಕಶ್ಯಪ ಸಂಹಾರ ಧೈರ್ಯಮಾಡಿ ದೈತ್ಯ ಹರಿಯ ಚರ್ಯ ನೋಡಿದಾ।। ಶೌರ್ಯದಿಂದ ಯುದ್ದವೆಂಬೊ ಕಾರ್ಯ ಮಾಡಿದಾ।।೧।। ಗದೆಯ ಕೈಯಲ್ಹಿಡಿದು ಹರಿಯ ಎದೆಗೆ ಹೊಡೆದನು।। ಗದೆಯು ಸಹಿತ ಕೈಯ ಹರಿಯು ವದಗಿ ಹಿಡಿದನು।।೨।। ಬಿಡಿಸಿಕೊಂಡು ಬೇಗ … [Read More...]
