Storytelling in India
The legends that shape us
October 10, 2018 / Spotlight
Myths are born and heroes are made through the art of storytelling. When a bard travels from village to village narrating tales of a local event or a minor god, they’re scattering the seeds that will one day grow into a towering forest of legends. Generations will take shade and find inspiration here. This month, we examine three art forms from the Sarmaya collection that are deeply embedded in the oral history traditions of India: Bengal patua scrolls, Rajasthani phad paintings and the shadow puppets of Andhra. Discover the worlds they rule by the stories they tell.
We look at three indigenous art forms from the Sarmaya collection and listen to the timeless tales that animate them
The story of two heroes told over seven centuries. How complicated can it be? We’re glad you asked
How a tribe of Muslim artists is keeping ancient Hindu texts alive
Witness a magical storytelling performance of Tholubommalaata and let your imagination take flight as the evening light suffuses the stage and the colourful leather puppets are seized with a fierce energy
Canvases come alive with the voices, bodies and spirits of their narrators
The rituals and games that preserve traditional Indian wisdom—and stories too