Indian Folk Tales
Village tricksters, rajas and ranis, resourceful daughters, talking animals and figures such as Raja Rasalu appear in these selections associated with Indian storytelling traditions. Published sources include Flora Annie Steel’s Tales of the Punjab and stories selected for Andrew Lang’s fairy books.
The source notes identify the version used and any regional connection that can be supported. A collection label is a way to browse, not proof that a travelling story has only one origin.
123 stories are in this collection right now.
Indian Folk Tales
Ages 9-12
Peasie and Beansie
Kind Peasie helps a tree, a fire, a pipal and a stream on her way to visit their father, and her selfish sister Beansie hopes to win the same rewards.
Indian Folk Tales
Ages 9-12
Prince Half-a-Son
A prince mocked for his unusual body uses magic and careful listening to survive his brothers' attacks, while the tale exposes their envy and the court's prejudice.
Indian Folk Tales
Ages 9-12
Prince Wicked and the Grateful Animals
A man rescues a prince and three animals from a flood. The animals honour their promises, but the new king remembers the rescue with resentment and tries to silence him.
Indian Folk Tales
Princess Aubergine
A tiny fairy girl who steps out of an aubergine is lured to the palace by a jealous sorceress-queen determined to discover the secret of her life.
Indian Folk Tales
Princess Pepperina
A princess hatched from a bulbul’s green egg is raised by a gentle Jinn and marries a king, but jealous rivals wait for her truth-telling emerald to slip.
Indian Folk Tales
Punchkin
At fourteen, Balna's son searches for his missing family, follows the secret of a magician's life in a parrot and works with several helpers to free the captives.
Indian Folk Tales
Ranavirasing
A dying king leaves his young son in the care of his faithful servant Ranavirasing, for a greedy minister is waiting to seize the throne for himself.
Indian Folk Tales
Raja Rasalu
A guide to eight linked Raja Rasalu episodes, their reading order, source versions and recurring questions about strength, help and responsibility.
Pride Goes Before a Fall
Three proud robbers strip ten cloth merchants and make them dance, but the merchants' leader sings a secret trade-code song telling his friends how to strike.
Indian Folk Tales
Ages 6-8
The Merchant and the Bullock
An abandoned injured bull recovers beside the Yamuna. His unfamiliar bellow frightens the lion king, until a jackal investigates and arranges a meeting.
Indian Folk Tales
Ages 9-12
Light Makes Prosperity
Her mother breaks a vow to marry her daughters to their ruined uncle's sons, so the youngest weds one anyway and uses one lamp-lit night to bring wealth home.
Indian Folk Tales
Ages 9-12
Baby Krishna and the Demoness Putana
Sent by Kansa to kill members of the Yadu family, Putana disguises herself as a cowherd woman and approaches baby Krishna with a poisoned offer of care.