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...]
Avocado Chutney Recipe – Avocado Spread Recipe
Avocados are available in the South Indian market from April onwards. There is an abundance of desi Avocados in the market. Apart from making Guacamole, you can make many types of … [Read More...]
Flower Arrangement – Solitaire
You do no need a bunch of flowers to create a flower arrangement. A single flower can be a garden as well as a good flower arrangement. Ikebana rules can be sometimes applied to freestyle … [Read More...]
June 2026 Hints
Make a organic insecticide by adding onions and garlic to a jar of water, let it stand for a week, and spray plants with it. Used tea bags sprinkled on rose plants will make them blossom faster … [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...]
Akeel Dip Recipe
Yes, like you I was intrigued hearing the name of this dip. Akeel Dip is from Yemen and is similar to Indian Raitha with its own unique twist. This dip can be served with any of the crisp starters or … [Read More...]
Song on Lord Panduranga
This song is in praise of Lord Panduranga of Pandharpur. Panduranga appeared in Pandharpur to bless his devotee, Pundalik, who was busy serving his parents when the Lord arrived, … [Read More...]
Flower Arrangement – Windy
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
Purple Cabbage and Cucumber Salad
Time Required: 10 Minutes Ingredients: 1 Cup Red/Purple Cabbage, Shredded 1 small Cucumber, Peeled and Chopped 2tbsp Roasted Pine nuts 1tbsp Mustard (fluid) 1tsp Olive Oil 1tsp Crushed … [Read More...]
Dates Pickle
Dates pickle is a tasty pickle with sweet, sour, and spicy taste. Cuisine: North Indian Time required: 15 Minutes Ingredients: 8 - 10 Dry Dates 1 tsp Sugar 1 tbsp Jaggery Powder Juice … [Read More...]
Mixed Vegetable Raitha
Raw vegetables in curds/yoghurt. Cuisine: Indian Time Required: 20 Minutes Ingredients: 1 Cucumber 1 Onion 1 Tomato 3 Cups Curds/Yoghurt 1 Green Chilies 2tbsp Chopped Coriander … [Read More...]
Hoornada Holige – Puran Poli – Obbattu
A sweet flat bread, stuffed with a mixture of Jaggery and cooked lentil. This is also known as Obbattu and Puran Poli and is prepared on festivals. Time Required: 1 Hour Makes: … [Read More...]
Sweet and Sour Pumpkin Squares
Sweet and sour crispy pumpkin squares is a healthy and tasty side dish. Serve it with Rice and Dal or with your choice of Indian Bread. Time Required: 30 Minutes Cuisine: North … [Read More...]
Shenga Chutney Pudi – Peanuts and Garlic Chutney Powder – Groundnuts Chutney Powder
This Chutney Powder is prepared using groundnuts in North Karnataka and served with the regional staple diet rotti / sorghum flour bread Time Required: 20 Minutes Ingredients: 1 Cup … [Read More...]
Tandoori Baby Corn
Grilled Baby Corn is a very tasty dish to be served as a starter. Time Required: 15 minutes + marinating time Ingredients: 15 Baby Corns 1tsp Ginger – Garlic paste 1tsp Red Chili paste ½ … [Read More...]
Bhindi Raitha – Okra in Yoghurt
Bhindi Raitha is a dish prepared using Okra and curds. This is also known as Patchady or mosaru bhajji in Karnataka and Kitchadi in Kerala. Time Required: 30 Minutes Serves: … [Read More...]
Travel
Mana Village
Mana village is a quaint tiny hamlet situated on the Indo-Tibetan border. This village is the last village of India and it is now declared as a tourism village of Uttarakhand. The residents of … [Read More...]
Moti Dungri Fort, Jaipur
Moti Dungri means Hills of Pearls and Moti Dungri Fort, Jaipur forms the backdrop for the beautiful Birla Mandir. The fortress was called Shankargarh (Shiva’s Home). Sawai Man Singh II … [Read More...]
Kalapathar Beach – Havelock Island
If you want an example of a breath-taking beach, it is Kalapathar Beach – Havelock Island. Kalapathar means Black Rocks and an adjoining village is also known as Kalapathar. Emerald … [Read More...]
Chunchanakatte Kodandarama Temple – Rama Temple Chunchanakatte
Chunchanakatte Kodandarama Temple is situated 57 Kms from Mysore in Krishna Raja Nagar (K.R.Nagar) taluk, Mysore district. The temple right beside the Chunchanakatte waterfalls. This ancient … [Read More...]
Ramana Ashram, Thiruvannamalai
"Distracted as we are by various thoughts, if we would continually contemplate the Self, which is Itself God, this single thought would in due course replace all distraction and would itself … [Read More...]
Bagore Ki Haveli, Udaipur
When we visited Bagore Ki Haveli / Bungalow, it was late in the evening and the live music and the subdued lights in the Haveli on the banks of Lake Pichola, Udaipur took us back to few centuries. … [Read More...]
Talacauvery
The birth place of Cauvery / Kaveri River is Talacauvery. It is nestled in the hills of Brahmagiri range near Bhagamandala, Kodagu district, Karnataka at 1,276 meters (4,187 feet) above sea level. A … [Read More...]
Festivals
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...]
Sri Gurubhajane Purnadarathi -Sri Sridhara Swamiji
This bhajan is sung during the Aarathi in Sridhara Ashrama. Sri Sridhara Swamiji is considered the avatar of Dattatreya. His samadhi and ashram is located in Varadahalli, Sagar taluk. There are many … [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...]
Bhagvad Gita Aarathi Song – Bhagvad Gita Jayanthi – Bhagvad Gita Birthday
Bhagvad Gita Aarathi Song is a prayer that is sung after reading the Srimad Bhagvad Gita book. Known as Gita Arati, the verses are found at the end of the 18th chapter of the Bhagvad Gita … [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...]
Ganesha Ashtotra Shathanaamavali – 108 names of Lord Ganesha
Ganesha Ashtotra Shathanaamavali is 108 names of Lord Ganesha. While chanting this, you can offer 21 Patra or 21 Pushpa to Lord Ganesha. Here there are 110 names of Lord Ganesha. Om … [Read More...]
Sri Krishna Song – Arathi Song
Happy Sri Krishna Janmashtami dear readers. Like Sri Krishna heard Draupadi's cries for help, let us hope and pray that he comes down to earth and help us by getting rid of the pandemic very … [Read More...]
