folklore

Nagdo Betal: The Mysterious Naked Guardian of Goa’s Folklore

by

My Early Impressions As a child, the name Betal conjured up one very specific image: the ghostly figure perched on King Vikramaditya’s back from the show Vikram and Betal. Pale, eerie, and whispering riddles, he was the stuff of bedtime chills and blanket-clutching nights. Betal also regularly appeared in the stories and conversations I heard from my elders. … Read more

The Wax Doll

by

This story is adapted from the ‘Vaishnavism of the Gowd Saraswat Brahmins and a Few Konkani Folklore Tales‘ by V.P. Chavan which can be purchased here This is the second story I have come across with references to things constructed out of wax versus things made out of cow-dung. One of them is ‘Kak Mam … Read more