Who better than Gautham Buddha to represent Peace? This arrangement using Bamboo and Buddha bust gives out the most peaceful oriental vibe. The famous Three Refuges (or Triple Gem) in … [Read More...]
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...]
July 2026 Hints
When using Banana leaves as a wrap, iron using an electric ironing machine iron and then use them. Add a pinch of salt at each stage of cooking, for example, add a pinch when sautéing Onions, … [Read More...]
Flower Arrangement – Rock Solid
In nature, wild flowers gently peep out from rocks and its crevices. This looks very beautiful. We can introduce rocks in our gardens for an aesthetic look. Similarly, rocks can be … [Read More...]
Yoga Narasimha and Saint Ramanujacharya temple, Todanur
The Yoga Narasimha and Saint Ramanujacharya temple is on a hillock and has been renovated recently and was sporting a fresh coat of paint. This temple , which is 1000 years old is built in the Chola … [Read More...]
Festival dates in Jyaishtha month – June and July 2026
Festival dates in Jyaishtha month – June and July 2026 Adhika Jyaishtha (17th May - 15th June) Vata Savitri Vratha / Phala Poornima - 29 June 2026 Kara Hunnime / Bhoomi Hunnime … [Read More...]
Nambhi Narayana Temple, Thodanur
The Nambhi Narayana/Lakshmi Narayana temple is the largest and the oldest temple in Thodanur. This was originally a Jain basathi/temple. Hoysala king Bittidevaraya, who was a Jain was influenced … [Read More...]
Neeru Dosa – Thin Rice Dosa
"Neeru" in Kannada means water. Neeru Dosa is prepared with a batter as thin as water and hence the name. Cuisine: Udupi Time Required: 20 Minutes + Soaking Time Serves: … [Read More...]
Vegetarian Recipes
Vegetable Jhalfrazie – Vegetables with Tomato Recipe – Mixed Vegetable Recipe
Assorted vegetables cooked with Tomato and Tomato ketchup. Time Required: 20 Minutes Serves: 4 Ingredients: 1 Cup Potatoes, Diced 1 Cup String Beans, Chopped finely 1 Cup Carrots, … [Read More...]
Mirchi Ka Salan – Hyderabadi Mirchi Ka Salan Recipe – Chilies in Gravy Recipe
Green chilies cooked in a coconut based gravy. Can you feel the heat! Cuisine: Andhra Pradesh Time required: 30 Minutes Ingredients: 10 – 12 Green Chilies 2 tbsp Tamarind pulp 2 tbsp … [Read More...]
Topa Kul Chutney
A chutney prepared using Jujube fruit. In West Bengal this chutney is prepared on Saraswathi Pooja during Vasantpanchami celebrations. Cuisine: West Bengal Time Required: 25 … [Read More...]
Chinese Cabbage Stir Fry
Cuisine: Chinese Time Required: 8 Minutes Serves: 4 Ingredients: 3 Cups Chinese Cabbage, Shredded 1 Cup Capsicum 3 - 4 Dry Red Chilies 1tbsp Ginger Juliennes 2tbsp Oil Salt to … [Read More...]
Subz Bahaar – Vegetables cooked with spices – Stir fried Vegetables
Subz Bahaar is a delicious side dish prepared using assorted vegetables and spices. Cuisine: North Indian Time required: 25 minutes Ingredients: 1 Carrot, diced 1 Potato, peeled and diced 5 … [Read More...]
Sweet Pumpkin Raitha – Pumpkin in Yogurt Sauce – Kaddu Raitha Recipe
Kumbalakayi Raitha or Sweet Pumpkin Raitha is a favorite in our house. The sweet vegetable when mixed with the Yogurt sauce with a crunchy Black Gram seasoning is a dish we eat with Vegetable … [Read More...]
Navanakki Payasa – Foxtail Millet Pudding – Foxtail Millet Payasam – Navane Payasa
Happy Ugadi dear readers and the celebration feels complete with a cup of Payasa. The recipe for this Ugadi is a very unique and authentic recipe, prepared using Navani / Indian barnyard millet or … [Read More...]
Falooda
Falooda is a traditional Dessert prepared using Basil seeds, Milk, Vermicelli, Nuts, Cardamom, and a syrup like Pistachio, Almond, Rose, and so on. Cuisine: North India Time Required: 30 Minutes … [Read More...]
Travel
Wellington Coonoor
Wellington, as the name suggests was the British cantonment area of the Nilgiris. It continues to be the Regimental Centre for the Madras Regiment of the Indian Army. Wellington Coonoor is a … [Read More...]
Bangalore Fort – Bengaluru Fort
It took me few years to realize that Bangalore has an ancient fort, which was open to public. Bangalore fort was built by the founder of Bengaluru Kempe Gowda I in 1537 using mud. Kempe Gowda was a … [Read More...]
Ralliah Dam, Coonoor
It was a pleasant surprise to know that there is a Dam in Coonoor and what made the visit more exciting was the fact that we had to trek in the striking mountain ridges along the Wellington-Coonoor … [Read More...]
Karanji Kere (Lake)
Mysore is proud of its three lakes, Lingabhudhi, Kukkarahalli and Karanji Kere. Karanji Kere / Fountain lake is maintained by the Zoological department of Mysore and a huge fountain is installed … [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...]
Catherine Falls, Kotagiri
Roads leading to Catherine falls wind through the Nilgiri hills between tea estates and pine forests. The drive offers excellent views with the mist playing hide and seek. The water cascades … [Read More...]
Lalgarh Palace, Bikaner
An architect’s delight, the Lalgarh palace in Bikaner was built between 1902 and 1926. Built in Rajput, Mughal, and European architectural styles, the building was custom-built by Maharaja Ganga Singh … [Read More...]
Festivals
Aarathi song for Lord Rama
On the auspicious day of the birth of Lord Rama (Rama Navami festival), songs praising him are sung while doing the traditional Arathi. ರಾಮನ ಆರತಿ ಹಾಡು ಮಂಗಳಂ ಜಯರಘು ಪುನ್ಗವರಾಘವಾ ಅಂಗದ … [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...]
Adi Shankaracharya Jayanthi
Guru Brahma, Guru Vishnu, Guru Deva Maheshwara Guru Sakshath Parambrahma, Tasmai Shri Gurave Namaha|| Adi Shankaracharya the founder of the Advaita philosophy begins his Gurustotram or … [Read More...]
Bheemana Amavasya – Gandana Pooje – Gandana Habba
This festival is also known as Jyothirbheemeshwara Vrata and Pathi Sanjeevini Vratha and it is mentioned in Skaanda Purana (Skanda Purana, one of the major eighteen Puranas, a Hindu religious text, is … [Read More...]
Makara Sankranti
Sankranthi is a harvest festival and “Sankranthi” means movement. It is a celebration of the sun entering from the zodiac sign Dhanur/Sagittarius into Makara/Capricorn. So this Makara Sankranti … [Read More...]
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...]
Krishna Janmashtami – Gokulashtami – Birth of Lord Krishna
"Yathra Yogeeshwara Krishno | Yathra Partho Dhanurdharaha | Thathra Shree Vijayo Bhuthir | Dhruvaneethirmimathirmama ||" The meaning of the above extract from the Gita is “wherever Krishna … [Read More...]
