#580 - Folk Tales of Orissa

by Ramendra Kumar and illustrated by Saurabh Pandey

“Folk Tales of Orissa” by Ramendra Kumar and illustrated by Saurabh Pandey. Published by CBT. A delightful collection of sixteen stories showcasing the regional folklore of an ancient land with charming landscapes and colourful people.

Orissa. Odisha. Kalinga. Utkal. These are some of the names of this ancient land with diverse landscapes like coastal areas, dense mangrove forests, hills, wetlands and rural areas. The state has a distinct tribal culture that coexists with modern civilisation to date. There are many folk tales from this mystical land which give a peek into the lives of its people and their beliefs. Sixteen of them have been presented in this book. Ranging from ancient times of the kings to the time of the British rule, the stories showcase history of some places, lives of the people and how certain traditions came into being. Gods, royals, common folk, animals and birds feature in these stories. Read the book to go on an armchair trip to the vibrant land and savour the stories that it has to offer.

The book proved to be an invaluable companion on a recent trip to Odisha for me and my ten and a half year old son. We were thrilled to be able to read and know more about some of the places that we were visiting. The stories were very interesting and memorable. They gave us a glimpse into the lives of people from ancient times in this region. No book on Orissa can be complete without mention of God Jagannath. This book too remained true to this by starting off with a story about a ceremony linked to the famous annual Ratha Yatra or car festival of Puri. Each of the stories subtly conveyed an important and apt message. The charming illustrations added to the reading experience bringing the stories to life. The book is a part of a series which showcases folklore and other stories from different regions of India. I have been collecting various books from the series in the last couple of years thanks to the recommendations by Vidya Mani of Funky Rainbow and author Nandini Sen Gupta.

Recommended Age

The book is apt for children aged 9 and above.