SERVICED APARTMENTS - MYSORE DUSSEHRA

Having lived in Bangalore for the past 25 years, I had missed Mysore Dussehra all these years. I always longed to visit, but somehow it never worked out. And at the back of my mind I was, may be worried about the crowd, rush and the heat. My husband would ask every year whether we can go and my reply would be always in the negative. Especially when the kids were young, I visited Mysore several times but never during Dussehra. I am sure they would have loved and enjoyed the festivities,but I would rather take them to palace and Zoo when the things were sober.

I had another issue. Because of our varying schedules and of both the children, we could not plan very well in advance and book the lodging. And once the planning was made, we could never get the accommodation. This happened for 3-4 years in succession.  Last year I had almost planned everything in advance but God up there disposed my plans and I had to spend the entire year running around the hospitals and finally going under the scissors myself.
Once I had made up my mind, but things were not turning out favourable,  it sort of became a challenge. I had to fight against all odds and make it this time. So I started very very well in advance and tried to book my office guest house in Feb itself but they were not yet ready and advised me to come back after 3 months. OK, on 1 St May I shot them another mail. No sir, that was also quite early and they asked me to get back after 2 months. When I tried to book in July and was advised to get back later, I saw red.

This has been the paradox. Either I would be too early or too late. But fortunately God had better plans for me this year. On the advice of my friend Sandhya and her son Samarth, I approached one service apartment just 10 days before Dussehra. You won't believe, I got a confirmation that 2 rooms were in fact available! This is called luck. Since last  2-3 years I have been  searching for home stay, service apartment and lodges during Dussehra but was never successful, and this year it was just a fortnight away from the festival and I was offered a best service on a platter!

Earlier I was always told that no such facilities are available in Mysore and you can find them only in Coorg district . So when I landed at Mysore with my family, I had a sense of apprehension whether my family would be happy with my choice. Believe you me, they were delighted.


The place we stayed was GOOD TOUCH serviced apartments, a building constructed just three months back and one can expect as much comfort here as at one's home. The building is ideally located at Gokulam third stage, a serene and peaceful locality, but not very far from the hub and happenings of the City. It is just 4 kilometres away from the Palace and 3 kilometres from the Railway station.

Being looked after by Mr. Ganapathy and his family, a courteous and friendly couple. the place can be a home away from home. They provide all the facilities like Wi-Fi, flat TVs, AC, car parking and a kitchen. The kitchen is worth mentioning because it is very well kept and is neat and tidy. They offer complimentary breakfast every morning, comprising regular South Indian delicacies with piping hot tea and coffee. And if you like to try your hand in cooking or would like to heat the food you have ordered, there is always oven and the gas stove.

The place is so calm and peaceful, you can spend hours sitting on the terrace. We had a splendid time going around the city, decorated like a bride, with colourful lights dazzling from each and every building. The palace with all lights was just heavenly. I am extremely happy that at last I could make my trip such a pleasant  and memorable one and wish to have another opportunity to visit this wonderful city soon!

Garam masala - chutney powder recipes

chitrannaa.blogspot.in

Another part of South Indian palate is the Chutney Powder, a preparation which adds spice to the regular food. These powders go well not only with Rice and Chapati but also with Idli and Dosa. On a tiring day, while in a hurry, or just to add taste, these powders finely compliment the food and the taste.

Bele Chutney Powder  (  with dal ) 

This Chutney Powder is called “ Odakalu “ Chutney Powder in North Karnataka.

Preparation Time          :     30 Minutes

Ingredients           :

Groundnut seeds                                2  cups
Bengal Gram Dal                                1   cup
Urad Dal                                            ¼  cup
Grated dry coconut                             ½  cup
Tamarind                                           1  Table Spoon
Jaggery                                             1  Table Spoon
Byadagi Red chillie powder                  2  Table Spoon
Groundnut oil                                     1  Tea Spoon
Asafetida                                          1 pint
Salt to taste.

Swarna Gowri Wrath

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This is one festival which is very close to my heart. Why? May be because I am from North Karnataka and back there we didn't have this Wrath. And then a quarter century back I got married into the APS family. A big joint family full of cultural events and festivities.

Although everybody lived separately, festivals used to be always joint and fun filled events. There used to be around 20-25 elders and a dozen youngsters. Everybody used to chip in their contributions in everything.

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Chakli Recipe | easy way of making Chakli | Boiled Urad Dal Murukku/ Chakali / Chakkuli (made with cooked urad dal )

Chakli... The name rings instant delight. There are hundreds of recipes for chakli. This snack is a must for every south Indian home - both during functions and celebrations and also on daily snacks platter.

I love chaklis. They are easy to make, children love them and they can be prepared instantly and savoured for many days. I have tried different recipes for chaklis, some instant and some requiring days of preparation. But there are no two opinions regarding which chaklis taste authentic - the ones which are prepared using urad dal.

Urad dal gives that distinct aroma, delicious taste to chakli. But let us admit, grandma's recipe for this authentic chakli, no doubt is numero uno, but the preparation time and the procedures involved need way too long time and energy, which is very scarce nowadays.

So when my colleague Radha brought delicious chaklis made from urad dal and informed that they are instant chaklis, I was all ears for its recipe. Thanks to her wonderful recipe, I could prepare these chaklis within half an hour for Gokulashtami and am sure Lord Krishna was also damn pleased and has blessed me to learn many more such things and share them with Him and you guys :-)

These crisp golden brown and delicious chaklis earned me brownie points from my daughter and hubby and boy, was I delighted! It was like icing on the cake.The pleasure  of cooking manifolds when a connoisseur appreciates it and when you get a little pat on the back and of course a big smile :-D

So want to try this wonderful recipe? Don't worry, there is no fear of it getting spoiled or getting it wrong, and it can be prepared within minutes using the ingredients available at home. Ok ok...The introduction was a bit long. And you want the recipe... Here you go:-)

Recipe video : 

Preparation time     :    5 minutes

Cooking time           :    30 minutes

Ingredients :

• Urad dal                    1 cup
• Rice flour                  4 cups
• Butter or ghee          1 tablespoon
• Jeera                         2 tbsp
• Til                               2 tbsp
• Coarsely ground pepper 1 tablespoon
• Hing                          1/2 tsp
• Oil for frying
• Salt to taste

Preparation :

• Wash and cook urad dal in cooker for 5 whistles and let it cool.
• Mix all other ingredients in a bowl along with two teaspoons of heated butter.
• Grind the cooked urad dal in mixie and add to the above.
• Knead well adding water if required.
• Heat oil in a thick bottomed kadai.
• Roll chaklis with chakli maker on a paper.
• Fry over low oil till they turn golden brown.
• Your crispy chaklis are ready. Don't forget to give me feedback after you eat them :-) Happy Cooking :-D

Hindu Culture and Festivals -- Bheemana Amavasya

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Do you believe in customs and traditions? Are you spiritual or orthodox? What do the festivals mean to you? Are you indifferent to them, or follow them as just rituals or try to find out the reason, history behind these festivities. As for me I am spiritual but not orthodox, celebrate the festivals not as a custom but as a social celebration, cook delicacies meant for the festival day not as a binding compulsion, but because I want to enjoy and share the pleasure with my family and friends. What about you ???

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Are you interested in working from home? Trying to make money online?  Trying to generate income from Internet through your blogs, websites? Are you a work from home mom, trying to find avenues of earning some extra dollars, and planning to apply for Google Adsense? If your answer is yes to any of the above questions, read these tips and guidelines before you proceed.

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Imagine you have grown a beautiful flower, what do you want to do next ? You may want to offer it to God, or present it to your loved ones. Even if you don't like to pluck the flower and want to leave it in the plant,you would love others to look at it and appreciate it. You want the pleasure of sharing. You would like others to appreciate your efforts. Isn't it?

Or suppose you have prepared some delicious dish. More than eating it yourself or eating alone, sharing the dish would enhance your pleasure.

Parenting Tips

Economy :                             

Recently I came across an answer given by a boy in an interactive site wherein the boy had answered to a question regarding " How do people react to moving from low to a high standard of living. "

The boy was very articulate and firm and very forthcoming with explicit answers, quoting examples from his own family, about himself, his father and his grandfather. He had clearly analysed the socio economic background of the three - how from have nots, to middle class from the past two generations, he had moved up the ladder and has reached the top spectrum of the society. 

He narrated how his grandfather - from partition days - with great difficulty survived and moved to India to make a living for himself. This economic evolution had an effect on his social upbringing too and taking a lesson from Maslow's Hierarchy, he had beautifully explained the problems of generation gaps. Unfortunately the boy had written as Anonymous, so I cannot name him, but I would love to quote his words of final analysis "  "My   Grandad's greatest worry is to see all that he built breakup. My   Dad's  greatest worry is not having enough savings for his family. My   greatest worry is being  stuck in a routine lifestyle, with the same  old  people in the same old job." "

Art of Living :

As long as I was reading the article I was feeling as if he was taking words from my mouth. He reminded me of myself in my younger days, my reactions, my way of thinking and expressing and my style of living, i.e.being upright and straight-forward - sometimes even being labelled as a rebel and confrontationalist.

And suddenly it dawned ! Not only was his line of thinking and speaking similar to mine, it was exactly the way my son would speak. While reading the article I also had felt as if I was listening to my son, putting across his points, as effectively - with supporting facts and figures which broods no further argument. I could not help sharing this opinion with my son and he too acknowledged the fact with a smile. 

Generation Gap :

We would be seriously wrong if we claim that the previous generation was less intelligent than the present one. On the contrary  we can claim that the present generation is more smart than their predecessors :-) If we say the gen-next boys to do or not to do something, they demand a reason or logic for it. Why were our predecessors not like that? Or were they?

For example, when I tell my children to go to temple and pray, they will ask why go there as we can as well pray at home. My grandfather would not have questioned his father like that. Or did he? What would have been that father's explanation?

God and Religion :

Recently I came across a mail that was doing circulation on the net, from an unknown source, scientifically explaining the need go pray in temples which I have quoted below. 

The scientific explanation for visiting Temples regularly :

Generally, vedic temples are located in a place where earth’s magnetic waves pass through.

In simple terms, these temples are located strategically at a place where the positive energy is abundantly available from the magnetic wave distribution of north/ south pole thrusts.

The Main Idol is placed in the center,where high magnetic values are available.A copper plate with some Vedic scripts is buried,beneath the Main Idol. This place is known as “Garbhagriha” or Moolasthana.

The copper plate absorbs the earth's magnetic waves and radiates them to the surroundings. Thus a person making clockwise pradakshina of the Main Idol’s placement, automatically receives the beamed magnetic waves.

Regular visits make him absorb more positive energy.The Sanctum Sanctorum is completely enclosed on three sides.The effect of all energies is very high in here.The lamp that is lit radiates the heat and light energy.The ringing of the bells and the chanting of prayers gives sound energy.The fragrance from the flowers, the burning of camphor give out chemical energy. The effect of all these energies comes out of the idol.

This is in addition to the north/south pole magnetic energy that is absorbed by the copper plate and utensils that are kept in the Moolasthanam.

The water used for the Pooja is mixed with Cardamom, Benzoin, Holy Basil (Tulsi), Clove, etc is the “Theertham”.This water becomes more energized because it receives all these combined energies.

The water that is sprinkled onto the people passes on the energy to all. That is the reason why, men should not wear shirts to the temple and ladies should wear more ornaments because it is through these jewels (metal) that positive energy is absorbed by ladies.

It is proved that Theertham is a very good blood purifier, as it is highly energized. In addition, temples offer holy water (about three spoons).This water is mainly a source of magneto therapy as they place the copper water vessel at the Garbhagriha.

It also contains cardamom, clove, saffron, etc to add taste and Tulsi (holy Basil) leaves are put into the water to increase its medicinal value!

The clove essence protects one from tooth decay, the saffron & Tulsi leave essence protects one from common cold and cough, cardamom and benzoine
known as Pachha Karpuram,acts as a mouth refreshing agents.

Last, but not least….when you walk around in the PRAHARAMS…both inner and outer… your walking exercise is done in a serene atmosphere!!!!

This way, one’s health too is protected, by regularly visiting Temples ! "

Physics and Philosophy : 

I don't have the source or the author of this information, but it sounds quite right to me. But for my son, this would sound like physics and chemistry. My father, may be would have learnt about it, but would have thought, " Let me tell if and when asked", and my grandfather would have silently followed his father without questioning and his father might have been too scared to ask, his father would not have dared to even think of asking, and his father .......

This can go on and on and on. The only complaint I have against my predecessors is that either they didn't records the scientific reason for everything they did, or questioned when being asked to do. Or may be they wrote it down in a language which was not universal - Sanskrit - which is not as widely used in today's world like English.

Records :

So at least now is the time to keep a record of scientific analysis and findings and preserve them. Let us record what we know, let us try to find out what we don't know, or keep a track of what has not been recorded properly so that the next generation will have a strong scientific basis and foundation and don't under estimate our knowledge :-)

Tell Me :

Do you agree with me or differ? I would love to hear from you and receive your feedbacks. Please feel free to give your opinions in the comment box below.

Tips for monetising your Blog.

                                                    Tips for your Blog :           

Once you have learnt how to create a blog and steps to be taken while writing an effective post, here are the next tips on improvisation of your blog and also your blog posts.

Let us assume that you prepare a dish which is very tasty and delicious. Will you be happy if the dish turns out very delicious but there is nobody to taste and appreciate it?

Or you have a cute little child, whom you have trained to perform in some art form, don't you want to share your pleasure with the world?  

How to write a blog post ?

Effective Communication :                        

Now that you have learnt how to create a blog, let us move on and learn how to write a blog post, which is very effective, popular and which draws the readers to your site.

The fundamental principle of any effective writing is to write on something on which you have a good authority and about a subject which you know and are passionate about. The thoughts come across from your heart and so reach your readers.

Before you set out to write a post make a blueprint of the post - either in your mind or on a paper. Be clear in what you are going to tell your readers. Once you have set the linage and the thought of your post, the words will flow fluently and effectively.