GENRE: Features

The aroma of the coconut oil being heated on a pan, the tempting curries and payasam dishes spread across the table is what God's Own Country's food is about. Here are some of the restaurants that serve the best of Kerala cuisine in Namma Koramangala and HSR layout.When you set foot into Kumarakom in HSR layout, it feels like you have stepped into open courtyard house in Kerala with all the woodwork and high ceiling. It has with some typical kerala features like the chuttu vilakku and some fine cane and wood furniture. Meen. Pic courtesy: Oyster Bay The pearl…

It is Saturday afternoon and the community welfare centre at Dr Ambedkar Nagar, Koramangala 5th block is abuzz with a bunch of excited 8 to 15 year olds. Today is the day the children of this slum get to learn computers and maths from volunteers of Bhoomi, an NGO.Just as this reporter stepped in, she heard cries for Andrew. No class ever starts without Andrew she was told. He is a student of class VIII in Sacred Heart high school, Richmond road. His eyes sparkle with dreams and his smiling face brims with confidence. Andrews S, wants to become a…

Dr B N Vishwanath of Garden City Farmers Trust, in his talks gently but firmly reminds you that we humans are just one of the species on this planet. There are several hundreds of insect species, we have no right to try and exterminate insect-life in the garden or even indiscriminately refer to them as 'pests'. At the National Seminar on Organic Urban Gardening in 2010, Dipak Suchde (www.prayogpariwar.net) made a pointed observation that when insects affect a particular plant in the garden, they are a sign that the given plant is not fit for our (human) consumption. This was…

The movie 3 Idiots, has this famous scene with Kareena Kapoor and Aamir Khan that refers to Gujarati dishes - Dhokla, Faafda, Thepla, Haandva. Watching the movie again made me yearn for those yummy delicacies. I set out to find some in Jayanagar. Khandvi. Pic: Wikipedia free A typical north Indian village setup where you are welcomed with vermilion on your forehead. Village, Jayanagar, has the perfect atmosphere for a wonderful dining experience. Such an unusual welcome in a restaurant! You can play Dandia-raas in the open space. The puppet shows will definitely keep the children engrossed. The Mehendi counters…

Dramanon (Short for Dramatist Anonymous) is a theatre group whose fortunes I have followed ever since they "set up shop" in Bengaluru six years ago. I have reviewed every one of their productions, except for "Reservoir Dogs". A scene from the play. Pic: Deepa Mohan Their latest production is the intricately-wrought, witty play, "This", written by Melissa James Gibson. It is is a poignant comedy about four urban people, who, past the first blush of youth, are examining what the rest of their lives mean. Jane is a single mother, who's lost her husband a year ago; Marell and Tom…

Visit to Srirangapatna is a walk down the history lane. The stone fortress, the Summer palace, Tipu museum, Hoysala temples and Gumbaz are the remainders of a bygone era when Srirangapatna was a power center. Srirangapatna served as the base for powerful empires of Gangas, Vijayanagara viceroys, Mysore kings and as the capital city of Hyder and Tipu Sultan. Till the end of 17th century it enjoyed an illustrious status being an important religious and cultural hub center.Not many realise that Srirangapatna is actually an island surrounded by river cauvery from all sides. This egg shaped island is named after…

The third edition of Namma Bengaluru Awards-2011 were presented to various citizens for their exemplary work at a sparkling ceremony in Basavanagudi National College Grounds on April 7, 2012.Out of 14,000 pre-nominations and 47 final nominations under 6 categories, the Namma Bengaluru Foundation awarded 8 winners. Each award carried a cash prize of Rs.1 lakh and memento. Award winners with jury members and guests.Uday Vijayan of Beyond Carlton receiving the award under Citizens Category. Wilma Rodrigues, co-founder, SAHAAS.U. V Singh, Indian Forest Services officer for Public Official category-Group A.Kalaa Devrajan on behalf of Karunashraya under Groups and Organizations-Group A.Under public…

When we hear the word "parasites", we generally think of leeches. But there are other creatures and plants around us, that are parasites - living beings which live on other creatures. One of them, not often known, is the Braconid wasp. This wasp ensures a fresh supply of protein for its young, by laying its eggs on a caterpillar. When the eggs hatch on the caterpillar, they feed on the caterpillar, sucking its blood...and then, as all insects do, the larvae turn into pupae, still stuck on the caterpillar's hairs. Once the eggs hatch, the larvae end up eating the…

It is common to see familiar faces at Indian classical music concerts. But it was not familiarity that made me take note of this elderly gentleman. It was clear he was no ordinary rasika. He always sat at the first row with two other familiar faces. He would request specific ragas as is expected of any rasika. But what was unique, was that he was able to recall when that particular raga was sung previously, by which particular artist, at which sabha or when it was sung for the first time by the particular artist. This is what sets apart…

With the increasing water shortage problems in Bengaluru, Ayappa Masagi is today's "Water Gandhi" with solutions to almost every kind of water problem. He is on the mission to increase groundwater tables and construct lakes by collecting rainwater. His mission has got him a mention in the Limca book of records, 2012. Pic Courtesy: Ayyappa Masagi Ayappa Masagi, 55, heads the Rain Water Concepts Private Ltd and Water Literary Foundation. He specialises in coming up with solutions for the increasing need of water in rural, urban and industrial sectors.These foundations run by Ayappa Masagi are involved in charging around 1000…