It's that time of the year!! The spooky time... As Halloween is knocking on the door, it's fascinating to look back into the history of Halloween and how it all started? Traditions, myths, and so many stories have time traveled and still continue to be part of our lives in the form of popular customs. In this episode, rather than looking into a single folktale, we dig deep into some of these timeless traditions of Halloween. And did you know how 'trick-or-treating' became part of Halloween? We unravel that as well. Enjoy this ride down the spooky lane. Happy Listening!! 😊

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Social Media:

Instagram: ohhfolk_podcast |

Twitter: OhhFolk_Podcast |

Facebook: OhhFolk |

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Credits:

*Original music score (intro, outro, primarily show beds) by Abhishek Papan Dutt |

*All SFX and additional ambiance music pieces - https://freesound.org/ (Please donate and help if you are using their resource) |

*Opening poem - The Lament of the Hag of Beara (Author: unknown) |

*Information Sources: 

 Wilderness Ireland: https://www.wildernessireland.com/blog/spooky-sites-ireland/

 Wikiwand: https://www.wikiwand.com/en/The_Hag_of_Beara

 Singersong Blog: https://singersongblog.me/2019/06/19/the-beara-peninsula-stories-of-children-swans-and-hags/

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Producer, host, researcher, writer, editor, promotions, graphics - Shilpa Das Gupta

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© 2021 All Rights Reserved to Shilpa Das Gupta |

Afghanistan is a land of unknowns. So much of the rich heritage and culture of once considered the 'world's friendliest country' is still unknown to the world. This episode brings to you a very well known Afghani folktale, Buzak Chini or Buz-e Chini which is hardly known to the outer world. This story also has a strong cultural significance related to the famous Bamiyan valleys that used to be the home of the iconic Bamiyan Buddhas until they were brought down. Enjoy this ride down the heritage lane. Happy Listening!! 😊

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Social Media:

Instagram: ohhfolk_podcast |

Twitter: OhhFolk_Podcast |

Facebook: OhhFolk |

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Credits:

*Original music score (intro, outro, primarily show bed) by Abhishek Papan Dutt |

*All SFX and additional ambience music pieces - https://freesound.org/ (Please donate and help if you are using their resource) |

*Opening verse by Shilpa DasGupta |

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Producer, host, researcher, writer, editor, promotions, graphics - Shilpa Das Gupta

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© 2021 All Rights Reserved to Shilpa Das Gupta |

Afghanistan - This name has been the center of news for many years and especially for the past two months for all the wrong reasons. Today, we all have some sort of opinion, information, misinformation, hatred, fear about this country. But how many of us actually know the real Afghanistan? While I can't do much, the least I can is to try and introduce the world to the real diversity of Afghanistan... to the thousands of years old Afghani culture. And what can be a better way to do so than to bring to you a very old, almost forgotten Afghani folktale. Enjoy the story and get to know the rare but real face of this misunderstood country. Happy Listening!! 😊

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Social Media:

Instagram: ohhfolk_podcast |

Twitter: OhhFolk_Podcast |

Facebook: OhhFolk |

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Credits:

*Original music score (intro, outro, primarily show bed) by Abhishek Papan Dutt |

*SFX - https://freesound.org/ (Please donate and help if you are using their resource) |

*Opening poem: Love by Rabia Balkhi |

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Producer, host, researcher, writer, editor, promotions, graphics - Shilpa Das Gupta

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© 2021 All Rights Reserved to Shilpa Das Gupta |

In my fourth episode, I take you on a trip to lesser-known terrains in the Western part of India. Not to any popular destination like Maharashtra or Rajasthan but to the much lesser-known hidden paradise of the Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli. Enwrapped in old-world Portuguese influence, this place is laid back, serene, and majestically beautiful. A place that still holds and preserves the folk culture very strongly. Enjoy the ride and Happy listening! 😊

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Social Media:

Instagram: ohhfolk_podcast |

Twitter: OhhFolk_Podcast |

Facebook: OhhFolk |

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Credits:

*Original music score (intro, outro, primarily show bed) by Abhishek Papan Dutt |

*SFX - https://freesound.org/ (Please donate and help if you are using their resource) |

*Opening excerpt from the book: The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri |

*Additional information credit: Mr. Bijal Shah

*Tarpa tribal music snippet from open free accessible public archive |

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Producer, host, researcher, writer, editor, promotions, graphics - Shilpa Das Gupta

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© 2021 All Rights Reserved to Shilpa Das Gupta |

In my third episode, I take you to the Southern part of India, where we will cross a not-so-regular river with a religious guru and his disciples. Enjoy the story and don't miss a very unique 'Folk Fact' of this episode. Happy listening! 😊

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Social Media:

Instagram: ohhfolk_podcast |

Twitter: OhhFolk_Podcast |

Facebook: OhhFolk |

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Credits:

*Original music score (intro, outro, primarily show bed) by Abhishek Papan Dutt |

*Opening poem ( first two paragraphs): The Storyteller by Mike Jones

*SFX - https://freesound.org/ (Please donate and help if you are using their resource) |

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Producer, host, researcher, writer, editor, promotions, graphics - Shilpa Das Gupta

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© 2021 All Rights Reserved to Shilpa Das Gupta |

In my second episode, I take you to the Eastern part of India, and this time it is a unique folktale about a very special and widely loved dessert of India, 'Malpua'. Enjoy the story and immerse yourself in the unique sweetness of life. Happy listening! 😊 

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Social Media:

Instagram: ohhfolk_podcast |

Twitter: OhhFolk_Podcast |

Facebook: OhhFolk |

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Credits:

*Original music score (intro, outro, primarily show bed) by Abhishek Papan Dutt |

*Opening song ( first verse cover): The Story by Brandi Carlile 

*Buddhist Chant from open free accessible public archive |

* Other background music pieces used (Adobe stock preview snippet clips only):

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Malpua dessert recipe

Ingredients

For pancakes

For sugar syrup

For garnishing

Method

Step 1:

Boil m

ilk in a heavy-bottomed pan

. Reduce heat and simmer till it is reduced and reaches a coating consistency. Add grated mawa and mix well.

Step 2: Bring it to room temperature. Reserve two tablespoons of sugar and form one-string sugar syrup with the rest of the sugar and two cups of water.

Step 3: Dissolve saffron in a teaspoon of hot milk. Add it to the sugar syrup. Add refined flour, green cardamom powder, and the reserved sugar to the reduced milk.

Step 4: Mix well and make a batter of pouring consistency using a little milk if required. Heat sufficient ghee in a wide-mouthed flat-bottomed kadai.

Step 5: Pour a ladle full of batter to form a pancake. Cook on slow to medium heat. Turn it over when it starts to colour slightly.

Step 6: When both sides are done, drain and immerse in the sugar syrup. Garnish with pistachios and serve hot.|

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Producer, host, researcher, writer, editor, promotions, graphics - Shilpa Das Gupta

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© 2021 All Rights Reserved to Shilpa Das Gupta |

As I embark on this fascinating journey of podcasts, my travel begins from my roots, India. In my very first episode, I bring to you an ancient and rarely known story from the traditional Khasi tribes of North-east India. Their belief of how Earth was formed is unique and fascinating. Give it a listen and travel to the enchanting mountains of Northern India. Happy listening! 😊 

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Social Media: 

Instagram: ohhfolk_podcast | 

Twitter: OhhFolk_Podcast | 

Facebook: OhhFolk |

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Credits: 

*Original music score (intro, outro, primarily show bed) by Abhishek Papan Dutt | 

*SFX - https://freesound.org/ (Please donate and help if you are using their resource) | 

*Other background music pieces used (Adobe stock preview snippet clips only):     

1. Bombay Nights: Artists: Jon Björk Composers: Jon Björk, Audio source: Epidemic Sound, Adobe Stock Asset ID: #357623435     

2. Medicine-of-Kokopelli-(Native-American-Flute): Audio source: Jamendo, Adobe Stock Asset ID: #353730299 |  

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Producer, host, researcher, writer, editor, promotions, graphics - Shilpa Das Gupta

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© 2021 All Rights Reserved to Shilpa Das Gupta |