Indian Festivals: Ganesh Chaturthi

Ganeshotsav, The most popular Hindu festival in India,celebrated on the occasion of birthday of Lord Ganesha, Son of Great God Lord Shiva and Goddess Maa Parvati. Lord Ganesha is the superior to all the Hindu gods and known as the god of wisdom, prosperity and good fortune. Ganesh Chaturthi also known as Vinayaka Chaturthi is celebrated across all over India mainly in Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Goa, Kerala and Madhya Pradesh. The festival generally falls between 19 August to 15 September and celebrated for 10 days by worshiping the models of Lord  Ganesha. A sweet dish called modak is the most famous dish made during the festival of Ganesha.

Ganesh Chaturthi in Maharashtra

Ganesh Chaturthi is the major festival of Indian state Maharashtra,The birthday of Lord Ganesha is celebrated in each and every house of Maharashtra with tradition and rituals. Big idols of Lord Ganesha are placed in every society and worship twice in a day by offering Modak and other traditional dishes. Mumbai is well known for its big Idols of Lord Ganesha and Girgaum Chowpatty as the famous immersion place.

Lalbagh-Cha-Raja

Ganesh Chaturthi In Andhra Pradesh

Ganesh Chaturthi is known as Vinayaka Chtaturthi in the state of Andhra Pradesh and celebrated as most ancient festival. Biggest and Tallest idols of the elephant-headed God are install in different parts of city, Khairathabad Ganesha Idol is one of the most famous among all.

Hyderabadi-Ganeshji

Ganesh Chaturthi in Karnataka

Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated with prayers to the mother of Lord Ganesha by Gowri Puja, The married women worship the Goddess Gowri for a long lasting marriage life and marital bliss. Lord Ganesha festival celebration goes on for three days five, seven or ten days, Somewhere, it is stretched to twenty one days. Dodda Ganesha Temple of Bangalore is the most famous temple of Lord Ganesha with a 18 ft tall in height and 16 ft wide Ganesha idol.

Ganeshji-from-Bangalore

Ganesh Chaturthi in Goa

The Lord Ganesha festival is celebrated across all over Goa, Goa is started celebrating it as an Eco-friendly Ganesh festival by using the biodegradable materials to create Ganesha idols. Ganesh Chaturthi is one of the biggest festival for the Konkanis people in Goa. Gujarat, Tamil Nadu and Madhya Pradesh are also celebrates the festival of Lord Ganesha.

Goan-Ganesha

Ganesh Chaturthi Outside India

Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated outside India as well by the migrant Hindu people or the Indians residing in the countries. In UK Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated by Gujarati and in USA by the south Indian people. It is also celebrated by the Hindus of Canada, Mauritius,Singapore, Thailand, Cambodia, Burma and Fiji. Celebration of Ganesh Chaturthi is very much popular in the above countries and government of some of these countries has declared a public holiday for that day.

Ganesh-Chaturthi-in-USA

Eco Friendly Ganesha Festival

As per the Hindu tradition On the 11th day, the statue is taken to be immersed into a lakes, river and the sea, due to the immersion of these idols made of Plaster of Paris,chemical paints heavy metals and other non degradable substances water of these reservoir, environment and the aqua wildlife face serious impact. These are the few solutions proposed by the NGO’s and governmental bodies to celebrate Eco-Friendly Ganesha Festival.

User traditional natural clay idols.

• Immerse them in household water bodies or in a bucket.
• A permanent idol and used every year.
• Reuse of last year idols by repaint.
• Ban on the immersion of Non degradable idols into lakes and rivers.
• Use the biodegradable materials to create Ganesha idols.
• Immerse the idols into man made or artificial tanks of water.

Famous Indian Vegetarian Cuisine

India is famous for its vegetarian and non-vegetarian food item’s along with traditional way of cooking them. There are so many Indian recipe for vegetarian food’s,which are very very tasty and nutritious and serves as balanced diet and helps to maintain healthy body and controls the mind. These great vegetarian Indian cuisine’s are yummy,delicious and easy to cook. I am putting few vegetable along with dal and paneer through which a list of delicious Indian dishes are made.

Paneer

An Indian origin fresh common cheese, made by curdling heated milk with lemon juice or food acid. Paneer also called as Cheena, is the most wanted and favorite food item in vegetarian dishes. Paneer doesn’t have much taste of its own but it is used in many great dishes like delicious palak paneer and yummi mutter panneer. Other best curry paneer dishes are Paneer Butter Masala,Kadai paneer,Shahi paneer etc, in snacks item paneer served as Chili Paneer and Paneer tikka.

Mutter-Panner-Sabji

Aloo

Potatoes, one of the major food item, used in almost everything, dishes to best Indian snacks. The famous and spicy Aloo Gobi made with Potatoes, cauliflower and a great blend of spices. The delicious dish is very simple to make and serve with naan, other item’s are Aloo Matar,Dum Aloo,Aloo methi,Bean Aloo and jeera aloo. The stuffed aloo tikki is a most popular and favorite snack dish in India, Specially love by girls.

Aloo-Gobi-Sabji

Kofta

One of the most popular vegetarian Indian dishes, made by any vegetables but mostly Lauki (Bottle Gourd) and Aloo. Kofta is the vegetarian alternative to meatballs, cooked in Mughlai style. The delicious malai kofta and Lauki ka Kofta are very popular vegetarian Indian food. Kofta are made for special occasions and usually served with naan.

Malai-Kofta-Curry

Palak

The spinach, a tasty vegetable dish, full of good nutrients, quick to make and good to eat. There are so many wonderful and delicious dishes using Palak,one of them is most popular and mouth watering palak paneer. A popular vegetarian dish, made by spinach and paneer cheese in a curry sauce. The all time favorite dishes of Palak are Palak Ki Subzi, Mushroom palak, Dal palak and Aloo palak.

Palak-Panner

Dal

Dal or seeds is most common food, available everywhere in differnt forms in India. India’s most popular dal dishes are Dal tadka, Dal fry and awesome Dal Makhani. The world famous Dal Makhani is a very popular Indian dish, filled with rich proteins and fiber. The delicacy from Punjab is traditionally left cooking on burning coal overnight and Serve hot with Naan or Paratha or even with rice.

Dal-Makhni

Bharva Vegetables

The stuffed vegetables dishes are fabulous, Indian’s like stuffed vegetables whether it is cabbage, Karela or Bhindi. Many of us does not like bitter gourd due to bitterness but stuffed bitter gourd looks awesome and taste very delicious n spicy. Grate the skin of karelas and stuffed with sauteed spicy onions,dal and then fried it. Other stuff vegetables are bharwa bhindi(Ladyfinger),Bharva baingan(Brinjal or Eggplant) and bharwa shimla mirch(Capsicum).

Bharwan-Karela

Most Famous Parathas in India

Paratha are the most popular Indian Snacks item and one of the easy Indian food to prepare in quick time. There are a huge variety of Paratha or pan-fried Indian flat bread available throughout the India, Its a traditional noth Indian dish and vary in shape triangular or round from place to place with taste. Generally there is two types of Parathas plain and stuffed, which is further divided in the way of cooking either on tawa or on tandoor. There is a famous lane of Paratha or Gali Paranthe Wali at Chandni Chowk in Old Delhi, where all types of Parathas are served.  Some of the best Indian Parathas are Plain paratha,Tandoori Paratha,Lachha paratha,Jalebi Paratha, Crispy paratha and very delicious jowar and bhajra paratha.

Aloo Paratha

The simple and most famous Indian flat bread is Aloo Paratha, The round shape Paratha is stuffed with boiled Potato alongn with some spicy ingredients. Aloo Paratha baked with ghee is taste very delicious while eaten with pickle and curds. Another variant of Aloo Paratha is Palak Aloo Paratha.

Aloo-Paratha-with-Dahi

Gobi Paratha

Gobi means cauliflower, Gobi vegetable is mostly liked by every one specially in Punjab, The Gobi Paratha is stuffed with grated cauliflower & spices, a quick breakfast to have. The traditional Cauliflower Paratha is one of the famous breakfast of Indian state Punjab.

Swadist-Gobi-Paratha

Methi Paratha

The tasty and healthy herb Methi or Fenugreek is another best breakfast for Indian. The chopped fenugreek leaves are directly mixed with wheat flour and cooked the whole wheat bread with oil or Ghee. It taste so delicious with cold yogurt and a pickle, yummy food.

Methi-Paratha-in-Winter

Mooli Paratha

Mooli or Radish Paratha is another most favorite paratha, served for breakfast from the great Punjab along with butter and lassi. Mooli Paratha take a little time to be cooked but it tastes really great with green Chilli Chutney.

Mooli-Paratha-Yummm

Onion Paratha

The Delicious onion paratha is made up by chopped onion along with Indian spices and green chillies to the wheat flour. This mild flavored onion paratha is taste awesome while serve hot parathas with tea or coffee and green chutney.

Onion-Paratha

Cheese Paratha

The Indian flat bread stuffed with grated cheese and taste best while served with butter, cold yogurt or pickle.The grated cheese can be stuffed with any other type of Parathas for a better taste like Capsicum and Cheese Parathas,Corn and Cheese Parathas and the latest one Pudina Cheese Paratha.

Cheese-Paratha

Sattu Paratha

The most famous food from Bihar Sattu roti or sattu paratha is a healthy food item which is made up of roasted chana dal powder. Sattu Paratha is served with Chokha spicy mashed potatoes along with litti and some time served with brinjal and potato chutney.

Sattu-Paratha

Paneer Paratha

Paneer stuffed paratha is one of the mouth-watering Indian recipe from the Punjab.The parathas are stuffed with small pieces of Panner, the Indian Cheese or cottage cheese with other nutritional ingredients. Another variant of Paneer Paratha is Palak Paneer Paratha.

Paneer-Paratha

Chana Dal Paratha

The awesome cuisine from Punjab channa dal paratha is a different but delicious paratha, stuffed with chana dal,tomatoes and spices. The simply and spicy Chana Dal Paratha is some how based on famous  Maharashtrian traditional cuisines Puran Poli, a sweet chana dal stuffed paratha.

ChanaDal-Paratha

Mixed Vegetable Paratha

The breakfast cum meal item Mixed Vegetable Paratha is made up by stuffing of very finely chopped vegetables like, Cabbage,Grated carrot,Capsicum,Spring onions and Green chillis. Mix Veg Paratha is one of the tastiest parathas from India.

Mixed-Veg-Paratha-Healthy

Parathas are usually stuffed with vegetables or with meat here are few more Delicious stuffed Indian parathas Curried Paratha,Lachha Paratha,Jalebi Paratha,ajwain paratha,Palak Aloo Paratha,palak paneer paratha,Corn Paratha and capsicum Paratha. Non Veg includes Kheema Paratha, Chicken Paratha,egg Paratha and most famous Mughlai paratha.

Palaces in India: The spectacular Mysore Palace

With the spectacular Mysore Palace and many smaller glorious structures it is only appropriate that Mysore in the Southern state of Karnataka is known as the City of Palaces. Our visitors guide gives you all the details you need to plan your sightseeing.

Mysore-Palace

A trip to the city of Mysore gives travellers the chance to visit the glorious past of Tipu Sultan and his father Hyder Ali, who put up a great fight against the British rule and were responsible for laying the foundation of places like Bangalore and Mysore over four decades. As the seat of power for the father-son duo and then later the Wodeyar King, Mysore is a historian’s delight.

Burj-Mysore-Palace

Apart from the Jaganmohana Palace, the Jayalakshmi Vilas, Lalitha Mahal, Chamundeshwari Temple and St. Philomena’s Church, the biggest attraction of the Mysore is the Ambavilas Palace or better known as the Mysore Palace.

How to get there

The city of Mysore is about 4 hours from Bangalore and can be accessed by road and rail conveniently. Mysore also has its own airport now but has limited flights at the moment.

About the Palace

Standing just after Taj Mahal in statistics, the palace has seen over 2.7 million visitors. It serves as the residential quarters of the erstwhile royal family, Wodeyars. The first palace of the royal family was built in the 14th century but was demolished and subsequently rebuilt & expanded many times over till 1940. The Mysore palace saw a lot of restructuring due to inevitable circumstances like being struck by lightning, a fire in the later years and of course by Tipu Sultan. The current style of the palace is shaped by British architect, Henry Irwin, who was commissioned by Maharani Vani Vilas Sannidhna.

Mysore-palace-from-far

Following the Indo-Saracenic architectural style, the building brings together Hindu, Muslim, Rajput, and Gothic styles of architecture. The palace is a three storied structure built of gray granite with deep pink marble. An impressive sculpture of Gajalakshmi, the goddess of wealth, prosperity, good luck, and abundance with her elephants stands on the central arch of the palace.

Dussehra

Dusherra is the most important festival of the city of Mysore, and the palace becomes a focal point of all cultural activities that are showcased on this day. The ten day festival is presided over by the King. On the tenth day of Vijaya Dashami, an extensive parade with elephants and local floats passes through a well guarded city. The festival commemorates the victory of Goddess Durga over the demon, Mahishasur.

Mysore-Palace-in-Night

Entry Fee

International visitors are charged Rs 200 while national tourists have to pay an entry fee of Rs 20/-. Cameras are not allowed inside, but you can capture the grand structure from the gates. (This information is subject to change).

Opening Times and Days

The palace is open on all days from 10.00 a.m to 5.30 p.m. On Sundays, national holidays and Dusherra the palace is beautifully lit with strings of light bulbs. The timing of the lit palace is between 7.00 p.m and 8.00 p.m (This information is subject to change).

Best time to Visit

October through February is a good time to visit Karnataka. If planning in October, don’t miss to catch the Dusherra festival.