Narayan presents 21 stories learned and told orally by one woman, Urmila Devi, in Kangra, North India. Included are stories told for worship and stories told for entertainment. In the process of recounting the stories, Narayan brings to life her friendship with the storyteller, and also offers arguments about oral traditions and performance, as well as about North Indian families and folklore. This is aimed at students of South Asian religion and folklore.
Here are the twenty-one stories that Urmilaji told. On her instruction, I have divided the stories into two broad sets: tales associated with various women's rituals and tales for entertainment on long, cold winter nights.
Here are the twenty-one stories that Urmilaji told. On her instruction, I have divided the stories into two broad sets: tales associated with various women's rituals and tales for entertainment on long, cold winter nights.