Thank you Hank, Steve and Jcotner for your replies. Since I was not familiar with the terms used, I had used Google to figure how they look and are done.
Here in India, small time carpenters do not have access to such exotic power tools. They have basic stuff like a hand saw, jack/smoothing planes, wood splitting wedge, Carpenter square, Hammer and screw driver and other such nicknacks. Those with small workshops have stuff like power saws and work benches. Stuff like routers and circular jigs are available only with select few.
Yes I'm hung up on a stronger joint; given the circumstances, I'm inclining towards half/lap joint, which I had seen someone using somewhere.