I was surprised that there is a flowering version of Tobacco. Tobacco is largely grown in K.R.Nagar area. During my birding trip, I have come across large acres of land growing Tobacco and … [Read More...]

Quinoa Buddha Bowl
Quinoa Buddha Bowl is a bowl teeming with fibre and protein. Various tastes and textures form this bowl to satiate the soul. Ingredients: 1 Cup Cooked Quinoa with Salt 1 Cup Purple … [Read More...]

India loves to pose – 58
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. Young India is … [Read More...]

Patchwork frame making – Snow White and Seven Dwarfs
When kids during summer holidays we used to be engaged making a lot of arts and crafts. There was not continuous TV nor mobile phones. Here is one art work that I made using material … [Read More...]

April 2026 Hints
Clean window tracks by pressing paper towels into the groove and pour half a cup of water and slide the window. Remove the paper towel. Your tracks will be clean. To make a paper towel … [Read More...]

Flower Arrangement – White bride
Flowers with imagination can turn into a bride. Believe it or not! here is the arrangement. Materials required: A bunch of White Carnations Few Hibiscus branches or any other Green leaves … [Read More...]

Flaxseed Meal – How to make flaxseed meal
Flaxseed meal is grounded flaxseed, which is rich in Omega-3 fatty acids and fiber. This helps in heart health and digestion and can be mixed in oatmeal, dosa-idli batter, or roti … [Read More...]

Watermelon Sparkler
Fruit juice with soda adds the right spirit to the mood. Here is a simple cool watermelon sparkler recipe to keep you cool and your spirits high! Ingredients: Watermelon juice with or without … [Read More...]

World Sparrow Day 2026
20th March every year is the day of the Sparrows. A day of memories spent with these chirpy birds. They would be a busy lot. Building nests, chirping, and gathering food, they were a … [Read More...]

Moong Laddoo Recipe – Hesaru hittina unde Recipe
Happy Ugadi to everyone. Let this New Year bring you happiness and prosperity. Here is a simple sweet dish, which has elements of goodness in it for this festive … [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...]

March 2026 Hints
If the carpet is slipping, spread cling foil below the carpet, the carpet will not slip. If the edge of the carpet is folded and there is a chance of people slipping, keep few ice cubes below the … [Read More...]

Festival dates in Phalgun month – February and March 2026
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...]
Vegetarian Recipes

Pickle Masala
Pickle Masala is a concoction of various spices. This can be stored and used whenever you want to make pickles. It is also known as Aachar Sambhar Masala. Time Required: 10 … [Read More...]

Grilled Sandwich
Time Required: 30 Minutes Serves: 4 Time Required: 20 minutes Ingredients: 8 Plain Bread Slices 1/2 Cup Shredded Cabbage 1/2 Cup Cucumber, Chopped long and thin 1/2 Cup Carrots, Chopped … [Read More...]

Panch Phoran – Spices of Bengal – Five Spices
Bengali, Assamese and Oriya cuisine is tempered with Panch phoran, which is a combination of 5 spices - Fennel Seeds / Saunf, Cumin Seeds / Jeera, Fenugreek Seeds / Methi, Nigella Seeds / Kalonji, … [Read More...]

Kadhi Pakodi – Yoghurt gravy with Spinach dumplings Recipe – Potato Recipe
Steaming buttermilk with spices and spinach dumplings. Cuisine: North Indian Time required: 50 minutes Ingredients: For the Kadhi: 2 Bowls of Buttermilk 2tbsp Besan / Gram flour 1tsp … [Read More...]

Vaali Ambat – Malabar Spinach Curry Recipe – Konkani Style Curry Recipe
Vaali Ambat is a curry prepared using Malabar Spinach and lentils. Cuisine: Konkani Time required: 30 Minutes Ingredients: 1 bunch Malabar Spinach / Vaali / Basale Soppu 1 Onion, … [Read More...]

Agashi – Flaxseed Chutney Powder
People are now waking up to the health benefits of Flaxseed. In North Karnataka where this is grown extensively, this seed has been used in their cuisine since a long time. A chutney powder prepared … [Read More...]

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...]

Soup Masala Powder
A powder prepared using spices to be added to soup just before serving. Time Required: 15 Minutes Ingredients: 10 - 12 pieces Dalchini/Cinnamon 8 Peppercorns 3 Green Cardamoms Salt to … [Read More...]
Travel

Hassan
Hassan is a city in Karnataka with a pleasant weather and named after the presiding deity of the city Goddess Hassanamba. The city was founded by Channa Krishnappa Naik in the 11th century. … [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...]

Birds of Puttenahalli Lake
Being a nature loving family, we are always exploring places to trek or bird watch. With hectic work and study schedules, these getaways take a back seat. A visit to Puttenahalli Lake was refreshing … [Read More...]

Sharavathi River
Sharavathi is a river with its origin at Ambuthirtha in Thirthahalli taluk, Shimoga district. Sharavathi river also tumbles down the cliff to form the enticing Jog Falls. A dam was constructed … [Read More...]

Kodandarama Temple, Hiremagalur
Hiremagalur means the town of the eldest daughter. This town is situated 4 Km from Chikkamagalur, Karnataka. Hiremagalur was a thriving town in the 9th and 11th centuries. Nine siddhas … [Read More...]

Shri Anantheswara temple
Udupi was known as Shivalli, which was derived from the presiding deity of this temple. The brahmins living in this place to this day are known as Shivalli brahmins. Shri Anatnheswara (Lord … [Read More...]

Upper Lake View Point – Kodaikanal
A drive to Upper lake view point in Kodaikanal is a must, as the view of the lake from the view point is excellent. The star shaped lake gleaming in the sun with greenery all around can be seen … [Read More...]
Festivals

Ananthanagantu Rangoli
This Rangoli / pattern is drawn on Ananthapadmanabha Vratha / festival of Vishnu. First draw 15 X 15 dots and join as shown below: The Ananthanagantu rangoli can be filled with colors too. … [Read More...]

Swarna Gowri Vratha – Gowri Habba – Gowri Festival
Swarna Gowri Vratha/Pooja is celebrated by girls and women in Karnataka and Andhara Pradesh. Goddess Gowri is the mother of Lord Ganesha. This festival falls in the hindu month of Bhadrapada, August - … [Read More...]

Panchamrutha Abhishekha
"Panch" means 5 and "Amrutha" means nectar in Sanskrit. Panchamrutha Abhishekha is a Hindu ritual performed at all homes and temples, where the idols are bathed with Milk, Curds, Honey, Sugar and … [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...]

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...]

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...]

Rakhsha Bandhan
Rakhsha Bandhan festival is a celebration of the brother-sister bonding, celebrated mainly in North India. It falls on Poornima / full moon day in the Hindu moth of Shravana. August - September … [Read More...]
