The wind blown arrangement is the nearest you can get to nature. This arrangement is one of my favorite. This arrangement gives an illusion of a tree laden with flowers blown to a side by … [Read More...]

Dinner with Pumpkin – Roti platter with Pumpkin
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

Kootina Pudi – Kootu Powder – Masala Powder
Kootina Pudi is a masala powder used to prepared a spicy mouth watering curry called Kootu with assorted vegetables or with Bitter Gourd. Cuisine: South Karnataka Time Required: 20 … [Read More...]

Ambode – Channa Dal Vada – Dal Vada – Paruppu Vadai
Spicy lentil fritters. Ambode is prepared during festivals and other occasions like weddings, house warming ceremonies etc., in Karnataka. Cuisine: South Karnataka Time Required: 30 … [Read More...]

Uddina Hittu – Split Black Gram Raitha – Urad Dal Flour Raitha
Uddina Hittu is Split Black Gram flour mixed with Curds and seasoning. Uddina Hittu is eaten mixed with plain Rice. Cuisine: Karnataka Time Required: 5 … [Read More...]

Sihi Kootu – Sweet Vegetable Curry – Sweet Sambar
Sihi means sweet in Kannada. Sihi Kootu is a sweet curry served with plain Rice. We were served this Kootu in Kalasa, Chikkamagalur district in one of our friend’s house. Cuisine: South … [Read More...]

Halasinahannina Gidde – Halasinahannina Gatti – Jackfruit Idli – Pelatha Gidde
In Mysuru, we do get Jackfruit and it is enjoyed as is and was not aware of the various dishes that can be prepared out of this fruit. When I heard about this dish, I wanted to taste it and … [Read More...]

Alasandekayi Palya
Alasande Palya is a side dish prepared using Chinese Long Beans. This is a very common dish prepared in Mysore and Bangalore region. Tastes very good with Rice and Rasam. Time Required: … [Read More...]

Coconut Laddoo Recipe – Nariyal Ladoo Recipe – Khobbari Unde Recipe
Today is the second day of Navaratri. Here is a recipe to make delicious Coconut Laddoo. Extremely easy to make and light on the palette. Time required: 20 minutes Ingredients: 1½ Cups Desiccated … [Read More...]

Rawa Laddoo – Rawa Laddu – Semolina Sweet Balls
Rawa Laddoo are sweet balls prepared using Semolina. This would always be made and stored in a big box at home. Whenever children are hungry we would be given this along with Avalakki / … [Read More...]
Travel

Rama Temple Mallur – Rama Temple Doddamallur
Ramaya Ramabhadraya Ramachandraya Vedase Raghunathaya Nathaya Seethayah Patheyeh Namaha|| Mallur also known, as Doddamallur is famous for its ancient Sri Aprameya (Vishnu), Sri Rama and Mallur … [Read More...]

Trikuteshwara Temple
This ancient temple of Trikuteshwara dates back to the Kalyani Chalukyas who ruled this region during 1050 to 1200 CE. Picture1 - Entrance to Trikuteshwara Temple This temple is situated in … [Read More...]

Jaya Lakshmi Vilas Mansion Mysore
Tucked in the lush greenery of Manasagangotri is a quaint and grand mansion known as Jaya lakshmi Vilas Mansion in Mysore. This is part of the heritage buildings of Mysore and was built for Maharaja … [Read More...]

Silver Cascade Waterfall
Silver Cascade Waterfall is situated on the Kodai road. The overflowing water from the Kodiakanal lake plunges 180 feet over a vertical cliff to form the attractive waterfalls. This is a … [Read More...]

Bikaner
I was very excited that I would be traveling to Bikaner. Other than Bikaner Bhujia and other savories made famous by Haldirams, I had limited knowledge about the city. Bikaner was beyond my … [Read More...]

Hoovinakere
Tomorrow is Vadirajara Aradhane and what better tribute than a E-visit to Hoovinakere, the birth place of this great saint. Hoovinakere is a tiny hamlet situated in Udupi district. Surrounded … [Read More...]

Pokhran Fort, Rajasthan
Pokhran fort also known as Balagarh was built in the 14th century by Marwar Thakur, Rao Maldeo. Marwar Thakur Rao Maldeo was the chief of the Champawats, the clan of Rathores of the state of … [Read More...]
Festivals

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...]

ಜೋ ಜೋ ಹಾಡು
Jo Jo Hadu is a lullaby sung to Lord Krishna while putting the Lord to sleep. ಜೋ ಜೋ ಶ್ರೀ ಕ್ರಿಹ್ಸ್ನ ಪರಮಾನಂದ ಜೋ ಜೋ ಗೋಪಿಯ ಕಂದ ಮುಕುಂದ ಜೋ ಜೋ ಪಾಲಗಡಲೊಳು ಪವಡಿಸಿದವನೆ ಆಲದೆಲೆಯ ಮೇಲೆ ಮಲಗಿದ … [Read More...]

Subramanya Shashti
Subramanya Shashti also known as Champa Shashti is celebrated honoring the birth of second son of Shiva named Subramanya / Skanda. It falls on the 6th day of the Hindu month of … [Read More...]

A thought on Saraswathi Pooja
ವಿದ್ಯೆಯ ಮಹತ್ವ ಒಡಲೊಳಗಿರುವದು ವಿದ್ಯೆಯು ನಡೆದರೆ ತಾಂಬರವಲ್ಲ ಕಳ್ಳರು ಕದಿಯರ್ ಪೊಡವಿಪರು ಕಸಿದು ಕೊಳ್ಳರ್ ವಡಹುಟ್ಟಿದವರು ಪಾಲು ಕೇಳರು ಕೇಳೈ Meaning: Knowledge is something that belong to you. Strangers … [Read More...]

Goddess Sharadamba Utsava
Happy Saraswathi Pooja 2014. In Sringeri, Karnataka, during Dasara festival, the utsava murthy (procession idol) of Goddess Sharadamba (Saraswathi) is taken in a small chariot around the temple … [Read More...]

Lakshmi Devotional Song – Arathi Hymn – Varamahalakshmi Festival
This devotional song was sung by my mother's aunt during arathi to Goddess Lakshmi. You can use any tune suitable to sing this song. In Kannada script: ಲಕ್ಷ್ಮೀ ಆರತಿ ಹಾಡು ಸುಕಾಂತೆರಾರತಿ … [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...]
