Folk Tales from Himachal

Godly, demoniac, truthful and virtuous forces interact and spawn amazing incidents and characters in tales of lore. Birds, animals, nymphs, ghosts and divine forces land up on earth, fight for supremacy, intermingle and construct suspense, terror and excitement, and ultimately, convey that the truth vanquishes the visible and the invisible fiendish spirits. Folk literature is neither history nor a figment of mind's eye. It exists between the truth and fantasy, and gives the essence of life and living. One observes a unique blend of uncanny and eccentric ingredients in Himachal folk literature that communicates the facts and truths through characters usually not of the world. In the lower hills, goddess Durga dominates and in other areas, incarnations of lord Shiva determine the destiny of inhabitants. Cultural habits, traditions and dialects of people often change after a distance of a few miles and it influences the contours of folk tales and songs. However, folktales invariably convey eternal truths integral to human existence.