SOUTH ASIAN FOLK STORYTELLING TRADITIONS
Folk stories have existed in South Asia for several thousand years and have usually been passed on as intergenerational stories. Our documentation of folk storytelling traditions is a nod to the culture of the region, and a way to share this with our future generations faced with endangered languages and a lack of exposure to these rich art forms.
Why This?
Research shows intergenerational storytelling is a resource like clear air and water. It’s required for identity development and making sense of the world around us.
Beginnings
Through support from City of Austin Economic Development Department, Peerbagh created a visual exhibit at our Varta event in 2024. We have now brought this work to a digital platform in 2025.
Vision
As parents raise kids away from heritage cultures, and use dominant languages, interest in regional folk storytelling has dipped. Our vision is to bring the joy of these little known stories to life for our children.
folk stories for kids and families!
Bento Folk Stories
With over 2 billion people, various religions, hundreds of languages, classes, and castes, South Asia is inherently diverse. Our Bento quarterly magazine brings illustrated folk stories from various parts of the region making it accessible for families and young readers!
By supporting Bento, you support our work to preserve folk stories from across South Asia.
This project to document and make folk storytelling from South Asia accessible to families and children has been supported by the City of Austin’s Economic Development Department (2023-2025), the Millennium India Education Foundation (2023-2025), the Michigan Asia Pacific American Affairs Commission (2023). Some of this work was created for a public art exhibit at the Austin Public Library (2024) and the Ann Arbor District Library (2024). We are currently working on documenting more South Asian storytelling forms and this project will keep updating.
The artwork has been created by South Asian artists: Aishwarya Deopujari, Chandrima Chatterjee, and Shubhshree Mathur. The research and writing for this project was conducted by Diksha Sharma, Imtiaz Ali, and Upasna Kakroo. Thank you to all the artists who gave us time to interview them as we began the work of collecting information and stories over the last two years. All of this work is copyrighted by Peerbagh and the individual artists and can not be reused without explicit permission from Peerbagh in any format.
South-Asian Folk Storytelling Traditions
Illustrations: Aishwarya Deopujari and Chandrima Chatterjee; Writing: Upasna Kakroo and Diksha Sharma; Research: Diksha Sharma and Imtiaz Ali.
Attan Dance
Performed by Pashtun communities in Afghanistan and Pakistan, it may be about 3000 years old. As per folklore, King Yama celebrated Nawroz by performing an Attan with his warriors. In colonial times, Pashtuns performed Attan as a symbol of resistance against the British. It is now used in wedding functions and celebrations.
Srung
Adults sing Srung songs to children to teach language, for bedtime, and entertainment. Child-lore Acho Lala (The Brother Moon) is a popular song for children in the evening or at night, usually in the moonlight. In the actual rendition, the adult assumes the role of the Acho Lala (moon) to engage the child.
Maruni Nach
Celebrated during Dashain and Tihar festivals by Magar communities in Nepal, India, Bhutan, and Myanmar, symbolizing the victory of good over evil. The origins are linked to the army of King Balihang Rana Magar (14th century). Young boys costumed as girls would perform covering themes from Hindu mythology to daily life.
Udekki Dance
This Kandyan dance form was traditionally performed only by men, who used a small lacquered hand drum named Udekki to sing, play, and dance. Dancers believe that the drum connects humans with gods. Performances often depict tales from the Indian epic Ramayana.
Dastangoi
Dastangoi developed as a storytelling inspired by Persian dastans or stories in the 16th century and was a highlight in Urdu-speaking communities in the subcontinent in the 19th century. The art form was revived by Mahmood Farooqui in 2005 in Delhi.
Phad Bachna
This artform originates from Rajasthan. Bhopas narrate stories accompanied by the unfolding of painted scrolls which can be as long as 30 feet. Stories are centered around folk deities and a rhythmic recitation technique is used to make the storytelling engaging.
Palam Songs
These songs of the Limbu people originate from eastern Nepal and serve as a medium for storytelling, expressing love, traditions, and social life. Traditionally associated with the Yalang (Paddy Dance), they depict myths, rituals, and daily activities.
Laman
This call-and-response singing style is popular in Kullu Valley. Girls sing from one hilltop, and boys respond from another. The first line is sung for rhyme, and the second line carries the theme. “Oa” and “Aa” form the “Tek,” a prolonged note that adds depth.
Glove Puppets
Hand-operated puppet shows depict folk tales, social themes, and humorous skits, making them both entertaining and educational. Instruments like Tabla and Harmonium enhance the experience with rhythmic beats and melodies.
Baul Songs
These songs from Bengal emphasize universal love, inner enlightenment, and the search for the divine within. Sung by the wandering mystics, these songs are accompanied by the ektara. The music is rooted in a blend of Hindu Bhakti and Sufi traditions.
Thoolpavakuthu
This puppet tradition originates from Kerala, performed in temples. It is designed to depict scenes from the Ramayana. The story is shown with a backlight creating dramatic shadows. Narrators accompany the show using chenda, maddalam, and cymbals.
Chakkri
Chakkri music is a traditional form of folk storytelling in the Kashmir region. Performed in a call-and-response style, it typically features instruments like the rabab, sarangi, and naut. The songs narrate tales of love, spirtuality, and daily life.
Why does folk matter?
Cultural Identity
In many parts of the subcontinent folk has been use to educate, instill values, history, and generational wisdom defining a community.
Heritage Preservation
Myths, legends, folktales encapsulate intangible cultural heritage, including language preservation for communities.
Knowledge Transfer
Many indigenous community stories are connected to the environment and can help in conservation efforts locally.
Katha Kalakshepam
A musical storytelling tradition from Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, it blends music and dramatic narration, often around Hindu epics like Ramayana and Mahabharata. Mridangam, violin, and cymbals accompany the performers.
Pai Songs
This spiritual folk tradition of Arunachal Pradesh is sung by tribal communities. Songs are performed in groups, accompanied by bamboo instruments and hand-clapping rhythms. Songs narrate folklore, myths, and nature-inspired themes.
Ragni
It is performed during cultural events, fairs, and rural gatherings. Known for its expressive style, it often presents moral, social, and historical themes. Performed in a call-and-response format, it features interaction between a singer and a chorus.
Ghasiyari Geet
A folk tradition of Garhwal celebrates the perseverance of women who gather grass for their cattle in the mountains. These songs provide entertainment and motivation during their laborious journeys.
Basant Geet
A traditional folk song from Jammu, it is sung to celebrate the arrival of spring. Songs are sung in melodic and rhythmic patterns often performed during Basant Panchami and other seasonal festivals.
Rukada Natya
On the list of the intangible cultural heritage of humanity, this string puppet drama by Gamwari members is from Sri Lanka. They use folktales, folk opera, Buddhist and historical stories, and trivia with humor.
Ramman
Inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2009, the Ramman festival in the twin villages of Saloor-Dungra, Uttarakhand, India, occurs annually in late April. Dedicated to the tutelary god Bhumiyal Devta, the festival involves intricate rituals, including the recitation of the Rama epic, legends, songs, and masked dances.
Basohli
Basholi is a Pahari miniature art form that flourished in 17th-18th century in Jammu, India. The paintings are known for their bold colors including red, ochre yellow, and bold use of primary colors. The face is characterized by strong facial features and big eyes. The paintings usually showcase mythological stories. The earliest paintings date back to 1678.
Sanjhi
Sanjhi art is a traditional art of stenciling and paper cutting with special scissors from Mathura, India. The art form grew in the 16th and 17th centuries but is often associated with Radha-Krishna folklore. As per many, Radha used to create Sanjhi rangoli designs using natural colors to woo Krishna. During the Mughal period, the design was made more intricate and flourished.
Pattachitra
This form of visual storytelling comes from Bengal and Orissa in the Indian subcontinent and is accompanied by songs. The painting is unfurled by the Patuas who perform the story. The Chitrakars paint them with bold lines, colors, and strokes. The stories may have mythological connections or may also be about social issues.
Ladishah
Ladishah uses musical storytelling and was invented about 100 years ago in the 18th or 19th century in Kashmir. The performer sings a ballad often to criticize rulers or to comment on social and cultural issues using humor as a tool. Traditionally the performers were just men, but now women perform as Ladishah as well.
Cham Tsam
The cham dance is a masked and costume dance performed during Buddhist festivals in Tibet, India, Bhutan, and Mongolia. Traditional Tibetan instruments accompany the dancing. The themes portrayed include karuna (compassion) for all beings. The dance form is considered a meditation and an offering to gods.
Bringing South Asian Storytelling to you!
You can invite Peerbagh to your institute and share a South-Asia-inspired folk story with your community. We are also able to bring a visual art exhibit to a space and talk about these folk storytelling forms. You can also share your intergenerational stories help us build this archive further.
If you’re interested in getting recommendations and tips on reading, don’t forget to check out our Zubaani podcast.
Thank you to our supporters for helping us build this work.
