Folklore of India

This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations. (August 2014) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

This article may need to be rewritten to comply with Wikipedia's quality standards. You can help. The talk page may contain suggestions. (March 2023)

Part of a series on the
Culture of India
Society Indians Folklore History Languages Holidays Religion
Arts and literature Art Architecture Cinema Comics Dance Festivals Literature Poetry Music Painting Sculpture Theatre
Others Cuisine Media Newspapers Radio Television Sports Traditional Video games Fashion Mythology Hindu Vedic Meitei Buddhist Folklore
Symbols Flag State Emblem Anthem Miss India World Heritage Sites Monuments
Organizations Ministry of Culture Ministry of Tourism Tourism Museums Incredible India
India portal
v t e

The folklore of India encompasses the folklore of the nation of India and the Indian subcontinent. India is an ethnically and religiously diverse country. Given this diversity, it is difficult to generalize the vast folklore of India as a unit.^{[citation needed]}

Although India is a Hindu-majority country, with more than three-fourths of the population identifying themselves as Hindus, there is no single, unified, and all-pervading concept of identity present in it. Various heterogeneous traditions, numerous regional cultures and different religions to grow and flourish here. Folk religion in Hinduism may explain the rationale behind local religious practices, and contain local myths that explain the customs or rituals. However, folklore goes beyond religious or supernatural beliefs and practices, and encompasses the entire body of social tradition whose chief vehicle of transmission is oral or outside institutional channels.^{[citation needed]}