Archetypes

The Golden Crow and the Silver Crow (Lakshadweep)

Long ago, there lived two girls in a house. One day, the two of them went…
Friendship (Tripura)

A long time ago in a village, there lived two close friends – a frog and…
The Origin of Opium (West Bengal)

Once upon a time, on the banks of the holy river Ganga, there lived a rishi.…
Tamsang Thing (Sikkim)

Now it had happened that the first parents of the Lepchas had thrown their first seven…
The Three Foolish Animals (Myanmar)

One fine day, a wise rabbit sand under a tree and pondered on life. The world…
The Witness (Rajasthan)

In the eyes of the world, the Thakur of Mandore was a rich man. He lived…
The Hand of Fate (Rajasthan)

After the first monsoon showers, there was great activity in Pipar. Fields had to be ploughed,…
The Secret of the Talking Bird (Karnataka)

Once upon a time a fowler named Timma used to catch birds and sell them for…
The Origin of Tiger, Spirit, and Humankind (Nagaland)

According to this Mao-Naga myth, Tiger, Spirit and Humankind were three brothers who came into existence…
Kongliang Otsü – An Ao Naga Folktale (Nagaland)

A long time ago, in the age of dreams and magical times, when the gods and…
You Can Never Escape Destiny (Puducherry)

Once upon a time, there lived an astrologer who charged a nominal fee from the people…
Sita’s Golden Blouse (Maharashtra)

The Wadars are a wandering community found on the border area of Maharashtra, Telangana and Karnataka.…
The Cure for A Gossipmonger (Karnataka)

Once, in a jungle, an ageing lion king took ill. News of his illness spread across…
The Bear’s Bad Bargain (Punjab)

Once upon a time, there lived an old woodman and his wife in a small hut,…
Labour and Gold (Himachal Pradesh)

There are many temples devoted to Shiva and Parvati in Himachal Pradesh, and the people have…
The Boy Who Became A Hornbill (Nagaland)

A long time ago, an orphan boy lived with some of his relatives. But they always…
The Ring that Speaks (Tripura)

There once lived an old couple in a village with two grandsons. The grandsons had lost…
How A Jackal Attained Pundithood (Bihar)

Once upon a time, a priest was passing through a forest just as dusk was setting…
The Man Who Wished to be Perfect (West Bengal)

Once upon a time a religious mendicant came to a king and said to him, “As…
How the Wicked Sons were Duped (Kashmir)

A very wealthy old man, imagining that he was on the point of death, sent for…
The Blind Woman (Gujarat)

There once lived an old woman in a village who practised witchcraft in secret. Since she…
What Caused the Shadows of the Moon (Meghalaya)

In the early ages there lived a family of deities, consisting of a mother and four…
Pride Broken – Kandha Folklore (Odisha)

In a forest, there lived a mighty elephant whom every creature feared. He would boast and…
The Wise Dog, Bonda Folklore (Odisha)

Budusida of Mudulipada once went hunting in the forest, carrying bows and traps. He was also…
The Legend of Ka Likai (Meghalaya)

A widowed woman named Likai lived in the village of Rangjyrteh, upstream from the famous Nohkalikai…
The Tail Behind Evolution (Odisha)

Once a time when even humans had large tails of various sizes, shapes and colours. Amidst…
The Lion and the Goat

Once upon a time, there was a herd of goats that went to graze in the…
The Curse of Bhangarh (Rajasthan)

In the heart of Rajasthan, nestled amidst the Aravalli hills, lies the ancient and mysterious Bhangarh…
A Concise History of the Lepcha People (Sikkim)

The Lepchas are known to be the original inhabitants of Sikkim. They are also known as…
A Foolish Man (Himachal Pradesh)

There was a foolish man who was once going to his father-in-law’s place. He just learnt…
The King, the Queen, and the Four Sons

Narrated by: Sri Devsaran Saket Collected by: Dheeraj Dubey Translated by: Archie Joshi Once upon a…
The Buransh Tree (Uttarakhand)

Long ago, in a tranquil village nestled in the hills of Uttarakhand, there lived a humble…
Dhandayudhapani Temple (Tamil Nadu)

Once, the sage Narada, the messenger of the gods and a thorough mischiefmaker, decided to visit…
Tale of Ghughuti (Uttarakhand)

The spotted dove is called Ghughuti in Uttarakhand Ghughuti’s tale is one steeped in sorrow and…
Nyoli- Great Barbet (Uttarakhand)

Long ago, in a land of rivers, valleys, hills, and forests, there lived a loving brother…
A Tale of Two Witty Women (Uttarakhand)

Once, in a remote hill village of Uttarakhand, there lived an old widow named Rami. Despite…
The Singing Bone (Tamil Nadu)

A man and his wife had seven sons and a single daughter. The family found a…
The Tale of the Ancient Phertajido (Andaman)

Long ago, in the ancient times of the Andaman Islands, there lived a solitary figure named…
Straightening a Dog’s Tale (Pondicherry)

You can never straighten a dog’s tail. It’s like a lever, try holding it straight, it…
The Story of Four Companions (Uttarakhand)

At the foot of the Kumaon Hills, there once lived a hardworking donkey. His master, a…
Fraternal Unity (Pondicherry)

After their father passed away, three brothers divided the property amongst themselves. The eldest two brothers…
Folk Deities-Depiction of Aanchris (Uttarakhand)

In the mystical land of Bhyunwaali Nagri, lived Suraj Nag, who once had a vivid dream.…
Origin of Golu Devta- The God of Justice (Uttarakhand)

Long ago, in the mountainous realm of Dhauli Dhumakot, ruled a noble king named Jhalkari, from…
The Mystical Aanchhri Sisters (Uttarakhand)

In the village of Bagudi, lived a humble couple Gareeba Panwar and his wife Sumera, with…
A Dog, a Cat and a Mouse (Tamil Nadu)

A beggar lived in a town with two children, a dog and a cat. He was…
The Bakali Flower (Goa)

There was a king who had two sons. The queen expected another son, and a fortune-teller…
The Tiger and the Baiga

On a hill called Dhutiya, there resided a Baiga named Latiya. One day, when his pregnant…
The Song of Habba Khatoon (Kashmir)

Long ago, in the serene village of Chandhara, near Pampore, Kashmir, where saffron flowers swayed gently…
Shal-e-Jamadaeri or The Wolf’s Leadership (Kashmir)

Submitted by: Burhan ShariefThere was once a lion who made a habit of ambushing a pack…
The Queen’s Curse (Gujarat)

Submitted by: Archie Joshi Once upon a time, in the ancient town of Vardhamanpuri, which is…
Life is Tough, Even When We’re Dead (Tamil Nadu)

Once, there lived a great pundit, learned in all the tongues of the land. Malayalam, English,…
The Tragic Tale of Rudra Deva and the Thousand Pillar Temple (Telangana)

Long ago, in a kingdom ruled by Prola Raju II, a child was born who was…
The Crow and Sparrow (Tamil Nadu)

A sparrow and a crow lived in the same town. The crow built a house of…
Kuldevi: The Family Goddess (Rajasthan)

Submitted by: Manan Agrawal In the Marwadi community, many families have their own Kuldevi, or family…
The Fall of Chand Dynasty (Uttarakhand)

Almora was the capital of Kumaon’s Chand kings from the sixteenth until the nineteenth century. Flanked…
The Pig, which Turned into a Stone (Nicobar)

Long, long ago, in Arong village, there lived a pig that had just given birth to…
The Seven Brother’s Test (Uttarakhand)

In a village, Rajvir Negi had seven sons who lived together in harmony, while Veeru Rawat’s…
Tale of Phyoli and Bhupu (Uttarakhand)

Long ago, there lived a beautiful girl in Sori Kot named Phyoli, cherished and loved by…
Satto Beti Poorey Poorey (Uttarakhand)

Long ago, there lived a girl named Satto. She and her mother would gather Mahua flowers…
Molfabaank (Uttarakhand)

Once upon a time, in the Mana Valley, there lived a girl named Uma, famed across…
Why does the Gomti River flow loudly, and the Saryu River flow silently

Gomti and Saryu were two sisters with an unbreakable bond. They always wanted to get married…
A Farmer’s Daughter’s Riddle (Tamil Nadu)

A farmer got married, but for ten whole years, he had no children. He was very…
The Tale of Dhundhkari

To a happily married couple, there could not be a better gift than children. Many couples…
The Divine Protector (Rajasthan)

Once upon a time, there was a notorious dacoit named Bhairav, who, along with his gang,…
Devotion Achieves All

Growing up in a Hindu household, it is natural to offer bhog to the Gods before…
Two Great Liars (Tamil Nadu)

Two great liars lived in adjacent towns. They were both eloquent speakers, very clever, and the…
The Four Friends (Tamil Nadu)

Once, there was a raja who had a beautiful daughter, and many, many men sought to…
The Origins of Tangaliya Weaving and the Dangasiya Community (Gujarat)

About 700 years ago in the Saurashtra region of Gujarat, a young boy from the Bhardwad…
A Tale of Greed (Tamil Nadu)

Once there was a great bhakta, a pure and pious man. He always wore clean veshtis,…
The Love Story of Sohni-Mahiwal (Punjab)

This folktale from Punjab is not just a love story but a timeless gem that is…
Hateshwari Mata Temple (Himachal Pradesh)

The temple has several folklores associated with it. It is believed that the two sisters of…
Baijnath temple (Himachal Pradesh)

There is a story related to the merchant brothers, Manyuka and Ahuka. It is said that…
An Overzealous Servant (Tamil Nadu)

In a certain town, there lived a raja who was known far and wide as a…
Outwitting Thieves (Tamil Nadu)

There was a house with a well, which was used to water the fields. In this…
“Claw- Paw”: The Story of a Goatherd (Tamil Nadu)

Once there was a goatherd who looked after a hundred goats. During the summer, he grazed…
The Rakshasi Queen (Tamil Nadu)

There was a raja and a raksasi, a man-eating ogress. When he went hunting, the raksasi…
The Fish- Brother (Tamil Nadu)

There were seven brothers and one sister; the youngest brother was a fish in the river.…
Good for Evil (Goa)

There once lived a man and his wife, and they had two sons. When the sons…
Pascoal and Vincente Bab (Goa)

Pascoal, vulgarly known as Pasku, was a tenant and lived on the estate of his landlord,…
The Shadows of the Moon (Meghalaya)

In the early ages, there lived a family of deities, consisting of a mother and four…
The Festival of Bathukamma (Telangana)

In a peaceful village, there once lived seven brothers, each with a deep affection for their…
Bonalu Festival (Telangana)

The origins of the Bonalu festival trace back to the early 19th century, during a time…
The Song of the Whistling-Thrush (Malabar)

In the wooded hills of western India lives “The Idle Schoolboy” – a bird who cannot…
The Wicked Guru

A certain king of the South had a beautiful daughter. When she had reached a marriageable…
Toria and the Daughter of the Sun

Once upon a time, there was a young shepherd of the Santal tribe named Toria, who…
Love and Lightning (Tripura)

In a village situated beside a rushing brook on the slope of a hill lived a…
The Old Lady and Her Iguana (Tripura)

It’s a story of long past. There was a prosperous village. Almost all the villagers owned…
The Boy with the Moon on His Forehead (West Bengal)

Once there was a king who had six queens, none of whom bore him children. The…
Diamond Cuts Diamond (Punjab)

A merchant, after many years of poverty and hard work, moved to a distant region and…
Belkumari (Madhya Pradesh)

Chuk Raja has seven sons, the youngest of whom, Ku War, is still unmarried. His sisters-in-law…
Story of the Coconut Palm (Nicobar)

Once upon a time two friends Asungi-Tosung and Yanalo lived in the south-west coast of Car…
The Giants and the Midgets (Nicobar)

Once upon a time when most of the islands were deserted and only animals could be…
How Coco Palms Came to be Grown in Chowra (Nicobar)

Long, long ago there lived a wicked man on Chowra Island by the name of Kamasoon.…
The Lightning (Madhya Pradesh)

The lightning, according to the Gonds of Madhya Pradesh, is the cobra’s daughter who had come…
The Barya (Madhya Pradesh)

There was an old woman. One day she went to a potter’s shop and bought four…
Origin of Tears (Arunachal Pradesh)

Before death came, the world was so full of people that there was not enough land…
Eclipse Call (Arunachal Pradesh)

One day men and animals gathered together to make a Chief. Everyone put forward his claim…
Three Sisters Named Death, Birth, and Dream (Karnataka)

In a little town like this one, there lived a poor, poor boy. Call him Racha,…
The Best Thing in the World (Uttar Pradesh)

There was once a King who used to walk about the city at night, and listen…
The Village Crow Versus the City Crow (Bihar)

A crow happily lived in a certain village. The village fields were full of wheat, paddy,…