Festival dates in Phalgun month – February and March 2026 Phālgun (February – March) Sri Raghavendra Swami Jayanthi – 24 February 2026 Holi – 2 to 4 March 2026 … [Read More...]
Happy Shivaratri 2026
As Lord Shiva is Trinetra (3 eyes), Bilva leaves are offered on this auspicious day of Maha Shivaratri. Some devotees feast and few fast on this day. Devotees also do Jagran (wake the … [Read More...]
Flower Arrangement – Tall and strong
Heliconia is best for flower arrangements, as they last for a very long time. When teamed with Philodendron leaves, it makes a striking arrangement. Materials required: 1 Golden torch … [Read More...]
Ulundogare recipe – Urad Dal Rice recipe – Ullandogare – Ulundhorai
Ulundogare is prepared for naivedya (blessed food) in temples. It is a healthy meal with the right amount of carbohydrates and complex carbohydrates. The flavor is derived from roasted … [Read More...]
Ikigai Café
Ikigai is a Japanese concept pronounced as ee-key-guy. It means a sense of purpose to wake up in the morning. This resonates perfectly with Navya, who has conceptualized this unique café “Ikigai” at … [Read More...]
February 2026 Hints
Use an onion to clean the grate on your grill. If your microwave is really dirty, put a damp cloth in there for about 30-45 seconds, let it sit (to cool down) then use it to wipe it down. The steam … [Read More...]
Konkaneshwara Temple, Akkihebbalu
The presiding deity at Konkaneshwara temple in Akkihebbalu, Mandya district is Lord Shiva. This temple is situated next to the Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy temple. Both temples are ancient with no … [Read More...]
Akkihebbalu Lakshmi Narasimha Temple
Akkihebbalu Lakshmi Narasimha Temple is as ancient as our Puranas. Sage Gouthama's penance appeased Lord Vishnu and he appeared before him and asked his wish, the sage asked Lord Vishnu to … [Read More...]
Vegetarian Recipes
Rave Rotti
Bread prepared using Semolina. Cuisine: Uttara Kannada District Time Required: 30 Minutes Ingredients: 1 Cup Rawa / Semolina 1 Onion, Chopped finely 1 Carrot, Grated 2 – 3 Green … [Read More...]
Dragon Fruit Banana Smoothie
Creamy smoothie made from yogurt, dragon fruit and banana. Time Required: 5 Minutes Ingredients: 1 dragon fruit 1 Banana (Robusta) 4 – 6 tsp Sugar 1 Cup hung Yogurt / Curds ½ Cup … [Read More...]
Garlic Chaat Chutney – Chaat Chutney – Garlic Chutney for Chat
Garlic Chaat Chutney can be prepared and stored in refrigerator. This Chutney can be used on Chaats along with Green and Sweet Chutney to enhance the taste of Chaat. Ingredients: 10 … [Read More...]
Eggless Pancakes – Pancakes without eggs
Pancakes are an all-time favorite in the West for breakfast. I like them when topped with fruits like Banana, Blueberries, and Strawberries. Time required: 20 minutes Ingredients: 2 cup Maida / … [Read More...]
Quinoa Soup
As the title suggests, the soup is prepared using Quinoa. Healthy and wholesome food and great when it is a wet and cold evening. Time required: 30 Minutes Ingredients: 2 Glasses of … [Read More...]
Boodakumbalakayi Sippe Balaka – Ash Pumpkin Skin Fryums
The peels of Ash Pumpkin are sun dried with spices. Boodakumbalakayi Sippe Balaka can be stored can deep fried whenever desired to be relished with Anna / Rice and Saaru / thin … [Read More...]
Achari Bhindi
Achari bhindi is a side dish prepared using Okra / Ladies Finger with Pickle Masala. Time required: 25 Minutes Cuisine: North Indian Ingredients: 15 Bhindi / Okra, chopped into 1" … [Read More...]
7 – Cup Burfi
This sweet dish gets its name form the fact that the recipe uses 7 cups of ingredients. Time Required: 30 Minutes Ingredients: 1 Cup Gram Flour 1 Cup Fresh Grated Coconut 1 Cup Milk 1 Cup … [Read More...]
Travel
Ooty
Whether you call this place Ooty, Ootacamund, Udhagai or Udaghamandalam the title best suited for this place is “Queen of hill stations”, which is the capital of Nilgiris district. Picture1 - … [Read More...]
Shri Kamakshi Sharada Temple, Hebbur
Shri Kamakshi Sharada Temple is situated in Hebbur, a village in Kunigal Taluk, Tumkur district of Karnataka. The temple is managed by Shri Kodandashrama Mutt of Hebbur. The village got its name … [Read More...]
Shopping and Eating out in Mysore
Shopping in Mysore for souvenir or anything else can be done in plenty. Tourists, locals and rural people living around Mysore make a beeline to the shopping centers like Landsdowne building, … [Read More...]
Lord Shiva Statues in Nanjanagud Temple
Ramayana and Mahabharatha are famous for the narration of Indian culture (Samskrithi). There are very few who have not heard about these two great epics. The different events of the epic are painted … [Read More...]
Pookode – Pookot Lake
Pookot Lake is a perennial freshwater lake in Wayanad district of Kerala. Forests around the lake enhance the beauty of the lake making it the most popular destination in Wayanad. Panamaram stream, … [Read More...]
Masinagudi
Masinagudi is one of the 5 ranges of Madumalai wild life reserve. The others are Thepakadu, Mudumalai, Kargudi and Nellakota. Masinagudi hills are my favorite blue hills. They are majestic and … [Read More...]
Begur Temple
On the banks of Begur lake in Bengaluru is a 1300 year old Begur temple dedicated to the Pancha Lingas. Begur was a Jain settlement and a center of Vedic and Sanskrit studies. The Dravidian style … [Read More...]
Festivals
Aarathi Song – Lakshmi Arathi Song – Goddess Lakshmi Pooja Song
This is a song written by my mom and we sing this song alternatively with other songs on Friday evening while we perform aarathi to goddess Lakshmi. It can be sung to any tune that you are … [Read More...]
Shri Sathyanarayana Swamy Vratha
Narayana Lakshminaryana Narayana Sathyanarayana The above chorus is from a famous Kannada song Kapadu Sri Sathya Narayana. For lyrics please refer the following link - … [Read More...]
Ganapathi Bappa Morya!
During the Visarjane of Genesha idol after the celebration of Ganesha festival, it is common to hear people hollering “Ganapthi Bappa Morya” in North Karnataka and Maharashtra. In this post the … [Read More...]
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...]
Mysore Dasara Procession in Black and White
Wish you all a very happy Dasara! This Dasara procession photograph was part of my grandfather's collection. The photograph was probably taken between 1930 - 1935. … [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...]
Ugadi, Hindu New Year
Ugadi, the name is split into Uga + Adi = Ugadi. Uga means Year and Adi means first in Sanskrit as well as in Kannada. The first day of the year is Ugadi, Hindu New Year. This falls in the Hindu month … [Read More...]
