Kolam by Sudha Balaji

Mango leaves are considered auspicious in South India.   We invariably find toran made of mango leaves hung on the doorways of houses for festivals - Diwali, Sankranti, Varalakshmi Pooja Navratri and also during functions - housewarming, Aksharabhyasam, baby showers etc. So kolam with mango leaves called maavilai kolangal are also important to emphasise happy occasions in our homes.  Above what we see is a collection of rangolis using these patterns. When drawn in white we can decorate with geru to denote a function or festival. Rangoli auspicious Diwali  2 by 2 dots maavilai kolam 3 by 2 dots maavilai kolangal  4 by 4 dots mango leaves rangoli  5 by 3 dots mango leaf rangoli 7 by 4 dots maavilai rangoli 9 by 5 dots maavilai kolam - different type. maavialai thoranam kolam - 11 to 1 pulli design A very simple rangoli with 11 dots.  Still two steps have been shown to explain the design. The four patt...

I went to this temple before Rama Navami to have a darshan of the Lord.  The Google map shows the route from Vandalur Zoo a very famous landmark in Chennai.  It is 4.7 km when we turn right near Tamil Nadu Police Academy in Unamancheri.  If you take the grey route shown in the map it goes through the village.  Take a right turn at the last right ,  you can see a small temple on the road. Proceed further towards the right .  You will reach the temple shown in the map after travelling through some narrow lanes in the village. Old temples in Chennai | Historic temples in Chennai  The temple is very beautiful in a serene atmosphere.  There is temple pond as is common in very old temples. This is the side view of the temple.  What we see in the front is Hanuman sannidhi.  On the left is the main temple.  The rare fact about this temple is  that Sri Rama, Sita Devi, Lakshman,  Bharat, Shatrughan idols are there in the t...

Khichdi ,kadhi easy to  understand step by step pictures A Maharastrian dish my sister in Nagpur prepares quite often.  It is very tasty and healthy too.  This is not the usual khichdi made with rava in Tamil Nadu.   We need , chopped onion, tomato, vegetable like potato , carrot , peas , beans It is prepared directly in a pressure cooker .  I add oil and a little ghee too Saute with mustard and  curry leaves Add onion pieces When onion is cooked , add tomato this ensures that the tomato is  not over cooked For one and half measures raw rice ,  I have taken quarter measure toor dhal and quarter measure moong dhal.  We can also prepare with half measure toor dhal  or half measure moong dhal Wash the  rice and dhals well Add the vegetables Add turmeric powder Add dhania powder ( coriander powder ) Add chilly powder .  If you want it hot , two chopped green chillies can ...

Mint coconut fried gram dhal chutney for dosa Take half a kernel coconut and  cut into pieces called badhai in Tamil .  I do not grate.  I grate coconut only for burfi. Add fried gram dhal .  We can increase or decrease the quantity depending upon whether we want  the coconut flavour to me  more or gram dhal flavour more. If you are looking for different type of mint chutney , mint coconut chutney , coconut chutney different chutney,  this post may be helpful.                                                           Two green chillies again the quantity depends upon how hot you want the dish to be A handful of washed mint leaves Four small cloves of garlic Instead of tamarind ,  I squeeze half a lemon Since the coconut is not grated ,  dry grind  first so that t...