Lore and legend of nepal

Several of these stories confirm the old theory of Max Muller about ‘migration of tales from country to Country. At least half a dozen of them can be found retold with changes of names and places by the Adivasis of Bihar. A couple of them are variations of folk stories of a distant country like Viet Nam.

These folk tales feature giants and demons, Bungadeo, the God of Mercy and Bandhu Achaju, the Tantric Master. A few of them belong to the reigns of particular kings of Nepal and as such they can be dated. And almost all of them illuminate some aspect of life in and around Kathmandu.

Apart from being of interest to the anthropologist and the sociologist, these folk stories provide pleasant reading for the layman. Who would not like to read about how a housewife, whose husband was eaten away by a giant, outwitted him and maneuvered his death or how a sparrow compelled a king to search for a pea which it had lost? Even people with sophisticated tastes will enjoy most of these tales.

“not only interesting for the scholar but entertaining to the general reader.” The Statesman, Calcutta.

“Nepal, the mysterious country, as Western historians have described it, remained in oblivion for long. Even its history was not written. But though never written, history remained recorded in the stories, which have become folklore and legend in Nepal today. Kesar Lall, a Nepali writer, travelled around Kathmandu and painstakingly collected them. In his effort, he was sustained by the belief that publication of these stories would help in understanding and appreciating the friendly people of this Himalayan country.