Stories from the Forests:
Understanding Kumaoni Folktales
How do Kumaon Himalayan narratives teach harmony with nature? How do these stories retain cultural importance over time? What’s the role of storytelling and rituals in cultural preservation?
DURATION: 3 DAYS | BATCH: To Be Announced | STARTING DATE: To Be Announced
Stories about deities, mysticism, faith and worship are rich narratives from the Kumaon Himalayas that tell us about people’s interconnectedness with nature, their lands, their rivers and their resources. These stories help us understand how these communities in the mountains live their everyday lives and make sense of conflict, misfortunes and grievances.
This course brings together three stories that are embedded in a shared consciousness of the invincibility of nature. Nature, that may manifest in the form of deities and spirits, holds important lessons of balance and justice for mortal beings that are meant to help people remain connected to the earth and to one another.
These stories were narrated in Kumaoni and Hindi. They were heard as individual narrations during one-to-one conversations as well as part of ritualistic processes that I attended. I have translated these into English. Every session with begin with a narration of the story and then proceed to analyse and understand the meanings these stories hold, a reason for them being repeatedly told over generations, even as they remain fluid in the dynamics of their content.
Date:
To Be Announced
Duration:
3 Day Course
Mode:
Virtual Course using Zoom
Skills Gained:
- Learn about Kumaoni belief practices and rituals of worship.
- Understand how narratives in the form of stories and folktales can be analysed to make meaningful interpretations for contemporary times.
- An introduction to everyday life in rural India.
Recommended For:
This course is recommended for anthropology and cultural studies students, environmental enthusiasts, folklore scholars, and anyone curious about Himalayan culture and its connection to nature.
Stories about deities, mysticism, faith and worship are rich narratives from the Kumaon Himalayas that tell us about people’s interconnectedness with nature, their lands, their rivers and their resources. These stories help us understand how these communities in the mountains live their everyday lives and make sense of conflict, misfortunes and grievances.
This course brings together three stories that are embedded in a shared consciousness of the invincibility of nature. Nature, that may manifest in the form of deities and spirits, holds important lessons of balance and justice for mortal beings that are meant to help people remain connected to the earth and to one another.
These stories were narrated in Kumaoni and Hindi. They were heard as individual narrations during one-to-one conversations as well as part of ritualistic processes that I attended. I have translated these into English. Every session with begin with a narration of the story and then proceed to analyse and understand the meanings these stories hold, a reason for them being repeatedly told over generations, even as they remain fluid in the dynamics of their content.
Date:
To Be Announced
Duration:
3 Day Course
Mode:
Virtual Course using Zoom
Skills Gained:
- Learn about Kumaoni belief practices and rituals of worship.
- Understand how narratives in the form of stories and folktales can be analysed to make meaningful interpretations for contemporary times.
- An introduction to everyday life in rural India.
Recommended For:
This course is recommended for anthropology and cultural studies students, environmental enthusiasts, folklore scholars, and anyone curious about Himalayan culture and its connection to nature.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Yes, you will get an e-certificate on completion of the course (during that month)
You are strongly advised to attend the session in real time since participating in the exercises and group discussions is essential to a holistic understanding of the course. However, recordings can be made available for a limited time only for those participants who are able to supply valid reasons for their absence.
Yes, this course is tailored for everyone.
The classes are typically scheduled in the evening according to Indian Standard Time. For those in other time zones, we arrange a mutually convenient time as a group before the classes begin.
Indian applicants will be able to pay via a secure gateway provided by Razorpay. Foreign applicants will be able to pay via a secure gateway provided by Stripe.
Please keep checking the website. We may repeat it in due course.
Yes, this is a virtual course with active engagement with students.
Yes, the lesson will be rescheduled