Dance, music, and art, in general, have had a major impact on Indian culture. The scenarios of Ramayana, Mahabharata, and other Puranas were effectively communicated throughout the country by these mediums. There were times when these art forms almost became extinct. But now, the young Indian population is finding ways to experiment and adapt these age-old art forms. In this episode let us learn about one art form that has captured my heart for many years. The famous "Yakshagana" local to coastal Karnataka.

The pandemic has caused a lot of changes in our lives. Being confined to the four walls has not only affected our physical health but also our mental health. The drastic changes happening in our lives often lead to self-doubt and unhappiness. In this episode, you will hear two beautiful stories that will put you right on the "Highway to Happiness"

Don't we all come up with a witty reply for some conversation that happened ages ago? And how we wish we could have used it then and there. But there was one person who always had a witty answer in their pocket for every situation! In this episode let us learn about a great man in Indian history who was revered for his wisdom and wit.

Every tribe from all across the globe has its own culture and myths. Natural phenomenons like the eclipse, floods, changes in the season will have a unique story behind them. In this episode let us learn how the tribes weave amazing stories about the milky-way galaxy!

Whenever Japan comes to our mind we immediately think of their patriotism, their love towards culture and tradition, quality workmanship, and products. But Japan is also famous for its ghost stories called the 'Kaidan'. And today I will be telling you all a famous ghost story from the Japanese Edo era.

The myth of Eros and Psyche is probably one of the best love stories in classical mythology. Eros, son of Aphrodite, was the personification of intense love and desire similar to "manmatha" from Hindu mythology and he was depicted throwing arrows to people in order to hit their hearts and make them fall in love. Psyche, a beautiful maiden, personifies the human soul. In fact, she is the symbol of the soul purified by passions and misfortunes and who is, from now on, prepared to enjoy eternal happiness.

We all have wondered about Egypt's pyramids and its mysteries for quite a long time. Egyptian civilization started during the bronze age. And lived for 6000 years.

Their contribution to the modern world is noteworthy. In today's episode, I will be telling you the beliefs, God's and goddesses of the ancient Egyptians. Hope you all enjoy the story of Ra the creator.

Sufism has always emphasized on finding god within oneself. Their teachings were unconventional and had a quirk to them. Even though their numbers are declining for various reasons in this era. We see many of their stories alive and thriving. Their tales are multi-layered and can be enjoyed by people of all ages. Here is one such story curated by a modern-day writer Idries Shah. This story is also very well known in Greek folklore.

When we hear about love stories we often think of "Romeo - Juliet", "Salim-Anarkali", Shahjahan's Taj mahal or Jack and Rose from the titanic. But in this episode I will be indulging you all in a beautiful love story found in Mahabharata. The epic is a treasure trove for short stories and they are filled with human emotions and moral values.

Welcome to the "Tales by the Fireside"