Folklore in India paints pictures of piety, valour, gods and goddesses. The traditions go back into antiquity.The stories were first passed down by the Oral tradition, handed down from father to son, mother to daughter and grandparents to grandchildren and so on.

Religious edifices, such as temples had many pillared halls where the wandering bards/minstrels would come and relate wonderful tales using mime, masks, songs, dance, and musical instruments to relate their repertoire of tales to the light of burning tourches which cast shadows that deepened the mystery and atmosphere.Later the storytellers used painted scrolls and puppets to illustrate the tales. Hand painted and on cloth some of the scrolls are today collectors items and are often to be seen in museum collections.

The folklore traditions of India are rich and varied each region having its own ethos.