Tales from the Globe: Exploring Storytelling Traditions in India

Despite what the majority of us might believe, storytelling is not just for kids. It’s artistic. It is incredibly beneficial therapeutic. There are numerous forms and media for storytelling available worldwide. But regardless of the nation, the society, or the media, every narrative have an equal goal. They serve as both a source of entertainment and moral instruction. India is a legend-rich nation. Traveling through India frequently demonstrates the extent to which the nation’s culture has incorporated storytelling. Every region in India has a distinct storytelling tradition connected to it. Therefore, in this article, we are going to explore storytelling traditions in India. Additionally, you can visit Tripbeam to book cheap flight tickets to India from Canada.

India’s Storytelling Traditions

India is a country with many distinct cultures, thus each state and region has its own narrative style. While some people only tell stories, others use props like puppets, masks, and even musical instruments. Some are told with musical accompaniment and dance.

Hinduism sees the telling of Katha, an Indian style of religious storytelling, as a ceremonial event. Expert narrators of Hindu literature texts such as Puranas, The Ramayana, or Bhagavata Purana are often invited to participate; their tales are followed by a discussion. Kathas are genre-specific short stories that occasionally take place in homes. Kathas uses karma, or the consequences of human deeds, to impart moral lessons.

In South India, religious discourse and storytelling have a long tradition. The scriptures that were read aloud in monasteries and temples were studied by religious specialists. In India, religious interpretation and narrative are also facilitated by the murals seen in temples and shrines. The propagation of Hinduism and the awakening of followers to the attributes of the deities were aided by Katha with imagery in temples.

The five primary katha traditions are Purana-Pravachana, Kathakalakshepa, folktales, Harikatha Kalakshepam, and Pandavani.

1. Purana-Pravachana

Purana-Pravachana is a scripture lecture in which the scriptures are interpreted spiritually by a person known as the pouranika. These stories are usually based on an Indian epic or a saint’s biography and contain a religious theme.

Storytellers amplify the meaning of the text they read by offering various viewpoints on a word or phrase. Upanyasa or Pravachanas places special emphasis on scriptures written in Tamil and Sanskrit. The texts are read aloud while hardly much music is played. Pravachan storytellers use the method of reading passages from the scriptures and elucidating their meaning.

2. Kathakalakshepam

Anecdotal stories, or Kathakalakshepam, are narrated in Hindi, Tamil, and Sanskrit. These stories feature a classically trained storyteller who incorporates dance, music, and digressions into the main narrative.

Kathakalakshepam literally translates as “narrating the stories of ancient texts in a comprehensive manner to the common people”. The animated performer narrates, enacts, and provides comments on Indian mythological concepts and events.

The storyteller must possess both literary and theological proficiency for this kind of storytelling. They have to be familiar with classical literature and epics. Since a storyteller must present the subject through acting, spoken word, and music, resourcefulness is an essential quality.

3. Folk Narrative

Folktales usually include intrepid hunters, crafty animals, or kings and queens. Included is moral guidance to avoid lying, stealing, and greed, among other things. There are many stories, and each hamlet has its own version. These stories were traditionally told or sung to children and grandkids at home by mothers and grandmothers.

The folktales of Andhra Pradesh, in southeast India, are known as Burra Katha. A burra is a type of drum that resembles a skull. This is a ritual when travelers beat a drum while telling stories. People in Tamil Nadu, southern India, tell Villu Paatu folktales accompanied by the sound of a stringed instrument resembling a bow. They use these heroic ballads to spread information about elections, AIDS awareness, and family planning, among other social welfare programs. Furthermore, make sure to check out Tripbeam to book cheap flights from Kelowna to India.

4. Harikatha Kalakshepam

Tamil Nadu is home to the Harikatha Kalakshepam storytelling culture. This tradition tells the story impromptu. Solo performers narrate the stories and play out the characters with voice modulations using wooden planks known as Chappalakkattai. The legends mostly revolve around Meenakshi, Sita, or Rukmini Kalyanam. This tradition revolves around three main elements: music, subject-matter expertise, and language used to further the story.

5. Pandavani

Pandavani is a well-known storytelling tradition in Chhattisgarh. Traditionally, the Pardhi community’s men would conduct it, but nowadays, women do as well. It is a singer performing with some musicians, narrating several incidents from the epic Mahabharata. Pandavani comes in two varieties: Vedamati and Kapalik. Teejan Bai is one of the most well-liked performers in the Pandavani genre.

Final Thoughts

Each Indian region has created its own unique storytelling tradition and style. Most regions share the ancient Sanskrit wisdom tales found in the Puranas and epics. The storyteller can deliver a witty anecdote in an engaging way and is versatile in their delivery. The expert storyteller, proficient in ancient Sanskrit and other language literature, considers themselves a teacher. He offers an interpretation of historical religious and mythical works to the present age. So, if storytelling traditions in India are something you are curious about, then book flights from Thunder Bay Ontario to India with Tripbeam today and start exploring.

Also Read: South India Visit: A Fusion of Culture, Tradition, and Nature!