Every evening, as the sun disappeared behind the endless stretch of desert, an uneasy silence settled over the small village. Children hurried indoors, lamps were dimmed, and every family checked their doors more than once before going to bed. It wasn’t an old superstition that kept them awake at night. Two fierce demons roamed the Read more…

Some folk tales are remembered for magical creatures. Others survive because of a clever twist that listeners enjoy retelling long after the story is over. This old tale from Andhra Pradesh belongs to the second category. At the heart of it is a trader’s daughter whose quick thinking repeatedly helps her succeed against people far Read more…

Long ago, near a pool so clear it looked almost unreal, there lived a young tortoise named Ka Panshandi. The water lay quiet most days, hardly disturbed except by fallen leaves or the slow ripple of wind. People noticed the pool long before they noticed her. Some said the water reflected the sky better than Read more…

A tall, big fig tree with its spreading branches stood in the middle of a thick forest. The tree turned out to be a happy home to a flock of geese that lived in harmony with other birds. From a seed blown by the wind, a heavy summer rain saw a little vine starting to Read more…

A long time ago, a little goat used to live with its mother. They had been leading a fairly peaceful life. The mother goat often warned her daughter against treading beyond the fence. The little goat, however, was born with the heart of an adventurer. She wanted to travel the world and explore new places. Read more…