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
Kupti and Imani
A princess who vows to make her own fortune is sent to live with a poor old fakir, and a misheard word brings her a magic fan and a royal friend.
Indian Folk Tales
Little Anklebone
A little shepherd boy is given up to a hungry wolf by his own aunt, yet his tiny anklebone goes on to scare off robbers and make a pond of milk.
Indian Folk Tales
Ages 9-12
Mr. Won’t-Give and Mr. Won’t-Leave
A miserly beggar-Brahmin tries to starve out a clinging guest; both husband and wife playact until the guest drops from the loft for dinner.
Indian Folk Tales
Loving Laili
Laili searches for Majnun through years of enchantment, then repeatedly rescues him when he dismisses her warnings; their reunion ends in a palace they cannot leave.
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.
Indian Folk Tales
Jackal or Tiger?
A king banishes his queen over a silly quarrel about a howl in the night, and years later the son raised in the forest comes to his court as a servant.
Indian Folk Tales
Good Will Grow Out of Good
A king orders a deadly trap after an untested accusation against an old Brahmin. A breakfast invitation changes who reaches the executioners first.
Indian Folk Tales
Ages 6-8
Harisarman
After hiding a horse to stage a magical recovery, Harisarman gains a reputation he cannot support. An overheard name and a lucky nickname keep his bluff alive.
Indian Folk Tales
Good Luck to the Lucky One
A desperate beggar moves into a haunted mansion and answers the voice crying “Shall I fall down?”—but the owner sees the result very differently.
Indian Folk Tales
Ages 9-12
How Raja Rasalu Journeyed to the City of King Sarkap
Sheltering from a storm in an old graveyard, Rasalu talks all night with a headless ghost, who warns him how King Sarkap cheats at dice and how to beat him.
Indian Folk Tales
Ages 9-12
Grasp All, Lose All
A poor oil-seller finds four rubies on a magic shore, and a moneylender, a minister and a rajah all want more, until greed carries them away for good.