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Folk tales from the diverse traditions of India.

364 stories found
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Light Makes Prosperity Panchatantra Stories Ages 3-5

Light Makes Prosperity

Light Makes Prosperity: There is a Tamil proverb dîpam lakshmîkaram, meaning, “light makes prosperity,” and the following story is related to explain it: The

Little Anklebone Indian Folk Tales Ages 3-5

Little Anklebone

Little Anklebone: Once upon a time there was a little boy who lost his parents; so he went to live with his Auntie, and she set him to herd sheep. All day long

Loving Laili Indian Folk Tales Ages 9-12

Loving Laili

Loving Laili: Once there was a king called King Dantal, who had a great many rupees and soldiers and horses. He had also an only son called Prince Majnun, who

Mr. Bunny’s Carrot Soup Indian Folk Tales Ages 3-5

Mr. Bunny’s Carrot Soup

Mr. Bunny’s Carrot Soup: Once upon a time Mr. Bunny picked four carrots. I will make carrot soup, he thought. Rat asked, “May I have a carrot please?” Mr.

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Nails In The Fence | An Inspirational Moral Story For Kids Indian Folk Tales Ages 3-5

Nails In The Fence | An Inspirational Moral Story For Kids

Nails In The Fence | An Inspirational Moral Story For Kids: Once upon a time, there lived a boy. He used to lose his temper very quickly and become angry. Each

The Nostalgic Mystery – A Short Story Indian Folk Tales Ages 3-5

The Nostalgic Mystery – A Short Story

The Nostalgic Mystery – A Short Story: Every time she walked down memory lane, she never gave that painting a miss. There was always something about those

The Brahmin’s Dream Panchatantra Stories Ages 3-5

The Brahmin’s Dream

The Brahmin’s Dream: Long ago, there lived a poor Brahmin in a village. He used to beg for a living and sometimes, had to go without food for many days. Never

The Cat’s Judgement Panchatantra Stories Ages 3-5

The Cat’s Judgement

Two gullible rats trust a flattering cat's promises and pay the ultimate price for their foolish faith.

Foolish Lion Clever Rabbit Panchatantra Stories Ages 9-12

Foolish Lion Clever Rabbit

The Panchatantra's most famous Book I fable. A lazy, tyrannical lion named Bhasuraka devours the forest until a small clever hare named Lambakarna walks him to an old stone well — and lets the lion meet the one opponent pride cannot defeat: his own reflection. Full origin, Sanskrit names, age-agnostic retelling, and lessons for today.

Good Will Grow Out Of Good Indian Folk Tales Ages 3-5

Good Will Grow Out Of Good

Good Will Grow Out Of Good: In a certain town there reigned a king named Patnîpriya, to whose court, a poor old Brâhmiṇ, named Pâpabhîru, came every morning

Harisarman Indian Folk Tales Ages 3-5

Harisarman

Harisarman: There was a certain Brahman in a certain village, named Harisarman. He was poor and foolish and in evil case for want of employment, and he had

Home (far) away from home!!! Panchatantra Stories Ages 9-12

Home (far) away from home!!!

The famous Efik folk tale from southern Nigeria — Sun and Moon were old friends with the great Water, and they built a house big enough to welcome him in. But Water brought every fish and every wave with him, and the friends had to learn that some friendships are honored best across a great distance. A West African pourquoi tale, first written down in English by Elphinstone Dayrell in 1910 — and the gentle origin of why the Sun and Moon live in the sky.

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