Flower arrangement styles like So-getsu school use drifwood in their arrangements. Driftwood refers to branches of trees, which breaks off and fall into the water. These pieces drift along the … [Read More...]
Happy Onam 2026
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
Mango Lassi
Mango churned with sugar and yogurt. A refreshing and thirst quenching drink. Time Required: 5 Minutes Ingredients: 1 ripe Mango 2 Cup Curds / Yoghurt 4tbsp Sugar A pinch of … [Read More...]
Tomatokayi Palya – Raw Tomato Stir Fry Recipe
Raw Tomato and Onion side dish. The tanginess of the raw tomatoes gives a unique taste to this dish. Raw tomatoes start arriving in the markets around January every year. Cuisine: North … [Read More...]
Kanjeevaram Idli
Kanjeevaram Idli are steamed rice cakes with spices and coconut. It is named after the temple town Kanchipuram. If there is Idli there must be the ubiquitous Dosa, try the Kancheepuram … [Read More...]
Wholesome Spaghetti
This continental dish is very tasty and nutritious and kids will love it along with Popeye the sailor man. Time Required: 30 Minutes Ingredients: 250 gms Spaghetti 1 Cup Tomato Puree 1tsp … [Read More...]
Raw Papaya Salad
This delicious Thai salad is known as Som Tam. Time Required: 20 Minutes Serves: 4 Ingredients: 2 Cups, Peeled and Grated Raw Papaya 1 Tomato, Chopped finely 1 Cup Capsicum Julienne … [Read More...]
Sajjige Holige – Rawa Puran Poli Recipe – Rawa Obbattu Recipe
Sajjige holige is a sweet semolina stuffed bread. This is not prepared on auspicious days. It is usually prepared during Pitra Paksha or on Mahalaya Amavasya day. Cuisine: … [Read More...]
Garam Masala Powder – Indian Spice Powder
Garam Masala Powder is used in most of the North Indian dishes. It gives a sharp flavour and taste. Time Required: 10 Minutes Ingredients: ½ Cup Jeera/Cumin Seeds 2tbsp Coriander … [Read More...]
Balekayi Alasande Huli – Raw Banana and Black Eyed Peas Sambar Recipe
Balekayi Alasande Huli is a South Indian Curry prepared using raw banana and black eyed beans. It is also known as Sambar. Time Required: 30 Minutes Serves: 6 Ingredients: 2 Raw Bananas 1 … [Read More...]
Travel
Birds of Puttenahalli Lake – 2013
The most fascinating fact of Puttenahalli Lake is that though there is no water in the lake, it still attracts innumerable birds to the lake. Caption1 - Yellow Wagtail Click on image to … [Read More...]
Karni Mata Temple
An unusual temple in Deshnoke is dedicated to Karni Mata and attracts many devotees and curious tourists. Karni Mata temple is situated in Deshnoke, 30 Kms from Bikaner. Karni Mata is … [Read More...]
Kotagiri
Kotagiri is small hill town situated in Nilgiris biosphere at an elevation of 1793 meters above sea level. The famous Longwood Shola forests are part of this biosphere. Kotagiri is one of the … [Read More...]
Shopping and eating out in Udupi
When you hear the word Udupi, dosas, idlis, mangaluru bun and bhajji, comes to your mind as the restaurants run by the people from Udupi are very popular. But, when you actually visit Udupi, you hear … [Read More...]
Phantom Rock
Phantom Rock also known locally as Cheengeri Mala is a skull shaped rock on a metamorphic rocky hill. When we visited it was raining continuously and hence we could not attempt to climb the … [Read More...]
Supra Waterfalls, Kotagiri
As we were driving up the winding hills to Kotagiri from Coonoor we came across this beautiful waterfall cascading from another hill. Stopped and took pictures of Supra waterfalls and just … [Read More...]
Brindavan Gardens
Visit to Brindavan Gardens is high priority on the itinerary of visitors to Mysore. Even the good old Mysoreans love to stroll in the gardens of Brindavan Gardens, reminiscing on the glory of the … [Read More...]
Festivals
Ananthapadmanabha Swamy Vratha
"Kaayena Vaachaa Manasendriyairvaa Buddhyaatmanaa Vaa Prakriteh Svabhaavaatah Karomi Yadhyadh Sakalam Parasmai Naaraayanaayeti Samarpayaami" The meaning of the above shloka is: "I offer … [Read More...]
Kojagari Lakshmi Puja
Kojagari Lakshmi Puja is perfomed in West Bengal, Orissa, and Assam. It falls on the full moon day in the Hindu month Ashwin, September – October according to Gregorian calendar. For the festival date … [Read More...]
Navaratri Golu – Dolls Arrangement during Dasara
This is in continuation of the post “Traditional Dolls Arrangement”. The custom of arranging dolls during Navaratri / Dasara is also followed in Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Andhra Pradesh. In these states … [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...]
Festival dates in Kartik month – October and November 2025
Kārtik (October – November) Diwali /Balipadyami/New Year in Gujarat - 22 October 2025 Karthika Somawara - 27 October, 3 November, 10 November, and 17 November 2025 Uttandwadashi - 2 … [Read More...]
Lohri festival in Punjab – Makara Shankranthi – Harvest Festival
Makara Shankranthi is called as Lohri in Punjab. It is one of the major festivals of Punjab. It is celebrated with great pomp and show. This festival falls on Chaturdashi i.e., the 14th day in the … [Read More...]
Buddha Poornima – Vesak
Buddham Sharanam Gatchami|| The above verse is a chant of Buddhists meaning "I take refuge in Lord Buddha". Buddha Poornima is celebrated by Buddhists all over the world. It is celebrated on … [Read More...]
