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South & Central Asian Folktales

Echoing through the Himalayas and across the steppe, these stories carry ancient wisdom from India, Pakistan, Nepal, and beyond.

Asian Folktales·South & Central Asian Folktales·Sri Lankan Folktales

Parchment-style artwork of a golden mango tree beside a peasant and king, Sri Lankan folktale scene.

The Golden Mango: Sri Lankan Folktale of Purity and Humility

October 13, 2025

by Oyebode Ayoola

In the heart of ancient Sri Lanka, where green fields rippled like waves beneath the sun, there lived a humble peasant. Each morning, he rose before dawn, working the soil with patience and reverence. His fields were small, his hut simple, yet he carried a calm joy born of honest

Asian Folktales·South & Central Asian Folktales·Sri Lankan Folktales

Parchment-style artwork of a woodcutter freeing a silver bird under a tamarind tree, Sri Lankan folktale scene.

The Woodcutter’s Daughter: Sri Lankan Folktale

October 13, 2025

by Oyebode Ayoola

In the misty valleys of old Sri Lanka, where thick tamarind trees shaded the paths and birds sang above the paddy fields, there lived a poor woodcutter and his only daughter. Their hut stood at the edge of a forest, built from rough timber and thatched with palm leaves. Each

Asian Folktales·South & Central Asian Folktales·Sri Lankan Folktales

Parchment-style artwork of a hungry jackal lunging toward palace food beside the royal dog, Sri Lankan folktale scene.

The Jackal and the King’s Dog: A Sri Lankan Folktale of Envy and Wisdom

October 13, 2025

by Oyebode Ayoola

In a quiet village that nestled near the royal palace of an ancient Sri Lankan kingdom, there lived a sleek dog who belonged to the king himself. Every day, this royal dog feasted on the richest morsels, tender meats from the palace kitchen, bones soaked in gravy, and bits of

Asian Folktales·Maldivian Folktales·South & Central Asian Folktales

Parchment-style artwork of a Maldivian fandita man facing a sea monster beneath moonlight.

The Monster of Himiti: A Maldivian Folktale That Teaches Lessons on Respect and Harmony with Nature

October 13, 2025

by Oyebode Ayoola

Long ago, on the quiet island of Himiti, in the far reaches of the Northern Maldives, life was simple and full of rhythm. The people lived by the sea’s grace, fishing in the turquoise shallows by day, weaving mats from dried pandanus leaves, and tending to the tall coconut palms

Traditional ink and watercolor illustration on parchment showing a brave orphan boy holding a fishing line and facing a crouching tiger by a river, with misty mountains in the background.

The Orphan Boy and the Tiger

October 18, 2025

Asian Folktales·Bhutanese Folktales·South & Central Asian Folktales

In a remote village tucked away in the mountain valleys of Bhutan, where mist clung to the hillsides like silver scarves and the roar of rivers echoed through the gorges, there lived an orphan boy named Daw Butshu. He had no mother to cook his meals, no father to protect

Parchment-style illustration of Meme Haylay Haylay trading with a young musician in the Bhutanese mountains, ink and watercolor style.

The Wise Fool and the Turquoise

October 18, 2025

Asian Folktales·Bhutanese Folktales·South & Central Asian Folktales

In the village of Dangphu Dingphu, nestled high in the mountains of Bhutan where white clouds drifted between peaks like wandering sheep and prayer flags snapped in the crisp mountain wind, there lived an old man known to everyone as Meme Haylay Haylay. His back was bent from decades of

Parchment-style illustration of Bhutanese man tricking dye merchant’s wife beside cave with mountain loom

The Charkhab and the Foolish Couple

October 18, 2025

Asian Folktales·Bhutanese Folktales·South & Central Asian Folktales

High in the mountains of Bhutan, where prayer flags flutter in the thin air and yak herds graze on steep hillsides, there lived a poor couple named Thonglay Tashi and his wife Bugizom. Their stone cottage was small and humble, perched on a mountainside where cold winds whistled through the

Parchment-style illustration of Nepali angel offering three magical axes to honest woodcutter Ramhari beside forest pond

The Honest Woodcutter

October 18, 2025

Asian Folktales·Nepalese Folktales·South & Central Asian Folktales

In a small village nestled among the rolling hills of Nepal, where terraced fields climbed the mountainsides like green staircases and morning mist clung to the valleys, there lived a woodcutter named Ramhari. He was a simple man with calloused hands and a weathered face, marked by years of hard

Parchment-style illustration of Nepali woodcutter sealing tree to trap Death in carved forest chamber

The Woodcutter and Death

October 18, 2025

Asian Folktales·Nepalese Folktales·South & Central Asian Folktales

In the misty mountains of Nepal, where towering pine trees reached toward the heavens and morning fog wrapped the valleys in silvery veils, there lived an old woodcutter. His back was bent from years of hard labor, his hands were rough and calloused, and deep lines of hardship carved valleys

Parchment-style illustration of Nepali sparrow and ant confronting king atop elephant on village bridge

The Sparrow’s Lost Bean

October 17, 2025

Asian Folktales·Nepalese Folktales·South & Central Asian Folktales

In the verdant hills of Nepal, where rivers sang their ancient songs and morning mist clung to the valleys like silk scarves, there lived a sparrow who was known throughout the countryside for being exceptionally neat and clean. This little bird took great pride in maintaining its nest, which was

Parchment-style illustration of Nepali priest exposing barber’s scheme before shocked prince and courtiers

The Priest and the Barber’s Scheme

October 17, 2025

Asian Folktales·Nepalese Folktales·South & Central Asian Folktales

In a prosperous kingdom of ancient Nepal, there lived a young Prince who had a peculiar fondness for his royal barber. Every morning, as the barber’s sharp blade glided across the Prince’s face, the talkative servant would entertain his master with an endless stream of stories, gossips, and tales from

Parchment-style illustration of goddess Durga gifting magical pot to Brahman in forest clearing

The Brahman’s Magical Pot

October 17, 2025

Asian Folktales·Bangladeshi Folktales·South & Central Asian Folktales

In a quiet village in Bangladesh, there lived a Brahman priest who knew poverty as intimately as he knew his prayers. His wife and four children depended on him entirely, yet his earnings came only from the ceremonies he performed, weddings that happened rarely, funeral rites that arrived unpredictably. Between

Parchment-style illustration of Bangladeshi prince and friend watching serpent jewel near palace tank

The Underwater Palace

October 17, 2025

Asian Folktales·Bangladeshi Folktales·South & Central Asian Folktales

In a prosperous kingdom, there lived a prince and a minister’s son whose friendship was legendary. They were inseparable companions, sharing every moment from dawn to dusk. They sat together, walked together, ate from the same plate, and slept side by side. Their bond was stronger than brotherhood, forged through

Parchment-style illustration of Bangladeshi prince collapsing as boal fish is hauled from palace tank

Prince Dalim and the Golden Necklace

October 17, 2025

Asian Folktales·Bangladeshi Folktales·South & Central Asian Folktales

In a prosperous kingdom, there lived a king with two queens: Duo and Suo. Though the palace overflowed with riches and servants attended their every need, both queens shared a common sorrow: neither had been blessed with children. The emptiness in their chambers echoed through the years, and the throne

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South & Central Asian Folktales

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