Festivals · Life Moments · Stories · Kitchen

Rooted in India, Wherever You Live

A home for Indian families everywhere, from the South to the heart of India and the North: festival companions, guides for every life ceremony, stories for children, grandmother's recipes, crafts and events.

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Festival companion

Celebrate the Next Festival

Festival calendar →
6–11 November 2026 · Lakshmi Puja Sun 8 Nov

Diwali

The festival of lights

Story · puja · recipe · craft →
14–15 January 2027

Makar Sankranti and Pongal

The harvest thanksgiving

Story · puja · recipe · craft →
21–22 March 2027

Holi

The festival of colours

Story · puja · recipe · craft →
Wednesday 7 April 2027

Ugadi

New Year in the Deccan: Ugadi and Gudi Padwa

Story · puja · recipe · craft →
Friday 13 August 2027

Varamahalakshmi Vratha

Lakshmi, the giver of boons

Story · puja · recipe · craft →
Saturday 4 September 2027

Ganesh Chaturthi

Welcoming the remover of obstacles

Story · puja · recipe · craft →
Sunday 12 September 2027

Onam

Kerala's harvest homecoming

Story · puja · recipe · craft →
30 September – 9 October 2027

Navaratri and Dasara

Nine nights of the Goddess

Story · puja · recipe · craft →

Life moments

Every Ceremony, Explained

All 16 sanskaras →
Simantonnayana

Garbha Sanskara and Seemantha

Pregnancy, with Seemantha in the 7th or 8th month

Guide and checklist →
Namakarana

Naming Ceremony

The 11th or 12th day after birth, or any auspicious day in the first year

Guide and checklist →
Annaprashana

First Rice

Around the sixth month (even months for boys, odd for girls in some families)

Guide and checklist →
Vidyarambha / Aksharabhyasa

First Letters

Around age three to five, often on Vijayadashami or Vasant Panchami

Guide and checklist →
Upanayana

Sacred Thread Ceremony

Between eight and twelve years, on a date set by a priest

Guide and checklist →
Vivaha

Wedding

Adulthood, on a muhurta set by the family priest

Guide and checklist →
Enrolling now · our signature course

Garbha Sanskara

A gentle prenatal course for mothers in their fifth to eighth month. Each week covers food, daily rhythm, thoughts and emotions, and sound: music, chanting, stories and lullabies to share with your baby before birth.

Length
8 weeks, 2 classes a week
Class
60 minutes, live online with recordings
For
Months 5 to 8 of pregnancy
Includes
Printable handouts for every class
PregnancyEnglishKannada
Live online · months 4 to 9

Prenatal Yoga Course

Gentle, safe yoga for every stage of pregnancy: breathing, supported stretches and deep relaxation to ease back pain, sleep better and prepare for birth. Twice a week, live online.

Length
Twice a week
Class
60 minutes, live online
For
Months 4 to 9 of pregnancy
New · ages 5 to 12

Children's Bhajan Class

Children sing simple bhajans and shlokas together every week, keep rhythm with cymbals and learn what each song means. A joyful way to stay close to Indian music and language.

Length
Weekly, 45 minutes
For
Ages 5 to 12
Languages
Kannada and English

Made for life abroad

Guides, recipes and checklists that work in a flat in Vienna as well as a home in Chennai, Pune or Indore.

Rooted in tradition

From the texts, rituals and kitchens passed down in Indian homes.

Free to begin

Most guides, stories and printables are free. Classes are there when you want a teacher.

Explore

Six Ways to Discover

Festivals

Calendar, stories, puja guides, recipes and crafts for every festival.

Festival companions →

Life Moments

Naming, first rice, upanayana, weddings and more: guides and checklists.

Life moments →

Stories and Kids

Stories, grandparents' recordings, printables, colouring and a festival quiz.

Stories and kids →

Kitchen

Festival sweets, family recipes and eating with the seasons.

Open the kitchen →

Shop and Books

Handmade crafts from Indian artisans, eBooks and printable story books.

Shop and books →

Events

Festival events near you, and help with gifts and ceremonies when you visit India.

Events and India visits →

From the kitchen

Grandmother's Recipes

Open the kitchen →
Karnataka, Andhra, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra · Ugadi, festivals

Obbattu and Puran Poli

Sweet stuffed flatbread: obbattu or holige in Kannada, bobbatlu in Telugu, poli in Tamil, puran poli in Marathi

  • 1 hour + resting
  • Serves 10
See the recipe →
Karnataka · Sunday lunch, guests

Bisi Bele Bath

Hot lentil rice

  • 1 hour
  • Serves 4
See the recipe →
Maharashtra and South India · Ganesh Chaturthi

Ukadiche Modak

Steamed modak: kozhukattai in Tamil, kadubu in Kannada, kudumulu in Telugu

  • 1 hour
  • Serves 15
See the recipe →

Learn with us

Classes and Workshops

All classes →
Months 4–9

Prenatal Yoga

Gentle, safe yoga for pregnancy: breathing, supported stretches, pelvic floor work and deep relaxation to ease back pain, improve sleep and prepare body and mind for birth. Please check with your doctor before you start.

  • Mondays and Thursdays from 9 Nov 2026, 18:00–19:00
  • 60 minutes, twice a week
  • Teaching from India
Taught by a certified prenatal yoga teacher
EnglishKannadaHindi
€60 / monthEnquire →
All levels

Mantra and Shlokas for Daily Life

A small set of everyday mantras: Gayatri, Mahamrityunjaya, Ganesha and Saraswati prayers, shanti mantras and the prayer before meals. Learn correct pronunciation, the meaning, and when to chant each one.

  • Sundays from 10 Jan 2027, 10:00–11:00
  • 6 × 60 minutes
  • Teaching from India
Taught by a trained Vedic chanter
EnglishKannadaSanskritHindi
€55Enquire →
Beginner

Sandhyavandana (Sandhyavandanam), Step by Step

Learn the daily Sandhyavandana (Sandhyavandanam in Tamil and Malayalam homes, Sandhya in the north) slowly and correctly: achamana, pranayama, arghya to the sun and Gayatri japa, with the meaning of every step. For those who have had their upanayana and want to start again, and for parents teaching their sons.

  • Sundays from 17 Jan 2027, 07:30–08:30
  • 4 × 60 minutes
  • Teaching from India
Taught by a Vedic scholar
EnglishKannada
€45Enquire →

Hand-picked

Featured Finds

Shop and books →
New
Channapatna, Karnataka

Channapatna Wooden Toys

Lacquered wood, safe natural coloursEnquire
Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu

Kanchipuram Silk Saree

Pure mulberry silk, temple borderEnquire
Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu

Thanjavur Dancing Doll

Hand-painted clay, sways when touchedEnquire
Kondapalli, Andhra Pradesh

Kondapalli Wooden Toys

Soft tella poniki wood, village scenesEnquire

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Help From Your City

Write, translate, record stories or host a festival event where you live.

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Get featured

Your Recipe or Festival

Recipes with local groceries, and how your family celebrates abroad.

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Visiting India?

Gifts and Ceremonies in India

Let us arrange gifts for family, a priest or a small event during your visit.

Plan with us →
Members

The Full Library

Ceremony booklets, printable packs and recordings, for a small yearly fee.

Join the waitlist →

From the blog

Wisdom, Explained Simply

All articles →
Upanishads · 6 min read

What Are the Upanishads? A Beginner's Guide

Where they come from, what they teach about the self, and the best way to start reading them.

Read the article →
Vedas · 5 min read

The Four Vedas: What They Are and What They Teach

Read the article →

Stay connected

Join the VedaVidesh Circle

Get each festival companion a week before the festival, plus new guides and recipes. Members will soon get the full library: ceremony booklets, printable packs and recordings.

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Looking for something?

Can't find a festival, ceremony or recipe from your region?

Write to us. We add what families ask for, and we can often put you in touch with someone who knows.

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Volunteers wanted

Help from your city, in your language

We need more volunteers from different places to write, translate, record stories and find local events.

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