Indian Fairy Tales

01 Jan 0001

Once upon a time, there was a little mouse who was super hungry! He decided to go to a garden to find something yummy to eat.

A tiny, brown mouse with a long tail is caught in a thorny fence surrounding a lush garden filled with colorful fruits (ripe red tomatoes, plump purple eggplants), vegetables (crisp green lettuce, earthy brown potatoes), and grains (golden wheat stalks bending in the breeze). Thorns are visibly stuck in his tail, drawing a tiny bead of blood. Watercolor style, soft morning lighting casting long shadows across the garden. Use a warm, vibrant color palette emphasizing reds, greens, and yellows. Focus on the distressed expression of the mouse and the sharp, spiky texture of the thorns. The fence is weathered wood, partially covered in ivy. A few stray butterflies flutter nearby.

01 Jan 0001

THE POMEGRANATE KING.

Once upon a time, there was a King called the Pomegranate King, and a Queen called the Pomegranate Flower. The Queen passed away, leaving behind two little children: a girl about four or five years old, and a boy who was three. The King was very sad when she died because he loved her very much. He loved his two children a lot too! He got them two helpers: a cook to make their food, and a nanny to look after them. He also made sure they learned to read and write. Soon after his wife’s passing, the daughter of another King lost her husband. She said she would marry another King if he wanted to marry her, and she really wanted to marry the Pomegranate King! So, her father went to visit the Pomegranate King and told him that his daughter wanted to marry him. “Oh,” said the Pomegranate King, “I don’t want to get married again. If I do, the woman I marry might not be nice to my two children. She won’t take good care of them. She won’t hug them and make them feel better when they’re sad.” “Oh, but my daughter will be very good to them, I promise you,” said the other King. “Okay,” said the Pomegranate King, “I will marry her.” And so, they got married.

01 Jan 0001

The Prince and the Fakir

Watercolor illustration of a weary, defeated King lying face down at a dusty crossroads at twilight. Four paths, overgrown with weeds, stretch in different directions. Long, dramatic shadows from the setting sun emphasize his prone form. People with uncaring expressions walk over him, their feet kicking up dust motes illuminated by the golden light. A wise man with a long, flowing grey beard and deep wrinkles etched with sorrow stands beside him, looking down with profound concern, his hand resting gently on his gnarled wooden staff. The King’s tarnished gold crown has fallen askew, nestled in the dirt. The color palette is muted browns, oranges, and greys, creating a somber, melancholic tone. Texture of rough cobblestones and worn leather sandals are evident. Soft watercolor blending allows light to filter through wisps of clouds.

01 Jan 0001

THE PRINCESS WHO LOVED HER FATHER LIKE SALT.

Once upon a time, in a faraway land, lived a king with seven daughters. One sunny day, he called them all together and asked, “My dear daughters, how much do you love me?” The six oldest answered, “Father, we love you as much as candy and yummy treats!” But the seventh and youngest daughter smiled and said, “Father, I love you as much as salt!”

Watercolor illustration: A king with a long, braided, silver beard sits heavily on a carved oak throne, bathed in the harsh morning light streaming through a stained-glass window depicting a dragon. He glares angrily, his face lined with worry, at his seventh, youngest daughter, who stands before him in a simple, pale blue dress. Her six older sisters stand behind her, dressed in richly colored velvet gowns, their smiles tight and knowing. She is smiling serenely, her eyes sparkling with an inner light, despite the tense atmosphere. A worn, red carpet covers the stone floor, and dust motes dance in the sunbeams. The emotional tone is tense and foreboding. Artistic style: Loose watercolor with soft blending and visible brushstrokes.

01 Jan 0001

The Son of Seven Queens

Watercolor illustration of a kind, elderly man with a long, flowing white beard, presenting himself to a sad, crowned King in a grand throne room. The King, seated on a gold-leaf throne, is surrounded by seven beautiful Queens, all looking melancholic. Soft, dappled sunlight streams through stained-glass windows, casting long shadows on the polished marble floor. The man’s beard has individual strands visible, and his clothes are slightly worn, adding to his humbleness. The King’s crown glints, but his face is etched with worry lines. The Queens are dressed in rich velvet gowns in muted jewel tones, their faces pale and tear-streaked. The overall color palette is warm and inviting, but subtly tinged with sadness. Texture: The throne’s velvet cushion is slightly worn, and the marble floor reflects the light unevenly. Artistic style: loose watercolor with soft blending and a focus on capturing the natural flow of the paint.

01 Jan 0001

The Soothsayer's Son

Once upon a time, there was a fortune teller who was about to pass away. He wrote down a special prediction for his second son, named Gangazara. He gave it to Gangazara as his only gift, leaving everything else to his older brother.

A dying fortune teller, frail and pale with papery skin and sunken eyes, hand trembling as it outstretched, offering a rolled-up scroll (the prediction, bound with worn leather) to his younger son, Gangazara. The scroll is stained with age. They are in a simple, dimly lit room illuminated by a single flickering oil lamp casting long, dancing shadows. The room has a dirt floor, a rough wooden table, and cracked plaster walls. Watercolor style with soft, muted colors of sepia, ochre, and charcoal grey, conveying a sense of impending doom and faded grandeur. Emphasize texture on the fortune teller’s wrinkled face and the aged scroll.

01 Jan 0001

THE STORY OF FOOLISH SACHÚLÍ.

Once upon a time, there was a poor old woman named Hungni, and she had a son named Sachuli who was a little bit silly. She had to ask people for food every day to live.

Watercolor illustration. A poor, wrinkled old woman (Hungni) with weathered hands and a faded shawl sits beside a dusty ochre road under the harsh midday sun, begging with an empty chipped clay bowl. Dust motes dance in the sunbeams. Her son, Sachuli, a young man with unkempt hair and patched clothes, stands beside her, scratching his head with a confused expression and downcast eyes. Long, stark shadows stretch behind them. A single, small grey rock lies at his feet, catching the sunlight. The color palette is muted browns, grays, and yellows, creating a sense of poverty and hardship. Consistent watercolor style with soft blending and natural flow.

01 Jan 0001

The Talkative Tortoise

A vibrant watercolor illustration of King Brahma-datta, adorned in elaborate regal attire of deep crimson and gold, listening attentively to the wise man, the future Buddha. The Buddha stands beside him in the Benares palace, bathed in the soft, diffused light of a late afternoon. The king appears to be talking excessively, gesturing wildly with his hands, his face flushed with excitement. The wise man maintains a calm, patient demeanor, his eyes downcast and his hands clasped in front of him. The palace interior features intricately carved wooden pillars casting long shadows across the polished stone floor. Tapestries of deep indigo and ochre adorn the walls. The air is thick with the scent of incense. The watercolor style should emphasize soft blending and a natural flow, capturing the rich textures of silk robes and polished surfaces.

01 Jan 0001

The Tiger, the Brahman, and the Jackal

Watercolor illustration of a frustrated tiger trapped in a rusty, barred cage. The time is early morning; sunlight filters through the jungle canopy, casting dappled shadows on the cage floor. The tiger, an orange blaze against the dark iron, is snarling, its black stripes rippling with tension as it claws at the rust-covered bars. Its eyes burn with rage. Brahman, a kind-looking man with simple, earth-toned clothing – a faded dhoti and shawl – stands outside the cage, looking concerned, his brow furrowed with worry. His hands are clasped nervously. Lush green jungle foliage, with vibrant emerald greens and deep shadows, surrounds them. Vines creep up the cage bars. The air is thick with humidity, hinted at by a slight shimmer in the distance. Artistic style: Soft, natural watercolor with flowing washes and delicate details, emphasizing the contrast between the raw power of the tiger and Brahman’s gentle nature.

01 Jan 0001

THE UPRIGHT KING.

Once upon a time, there was a super-rich king named Harchand Raja, and he had a son named Manikchand. He had tons of money and a big, beautiful garden with amazing flowers and yummy fruits! He loved his garden so much. Every morning, before he took a bath, he gave a poor beggar a whole bunch of gold coins.

Watercolor illustration of King Harchand Raja, in ornate crimson and gold robes with intricate embroidery and pearl accents, giving a handful of gleaming gold coins to a humble, grateful beggar. The beggar is clad in tattered brown cloth, his face etched with lines of hardship but softened by genuine appreciation. The background features a vibrant, lush garden filled with colorful flowers like hibiscus and marigolds, and fruit trees laden with mangoes and pomegranates, all bathed in warm, soft morning light casting long, gentle shadows. Dewdrops cling to the petals, reflecting the light. The atmosphere is peaceful and benevolent. The artistic style is consistent watercolor with soft blending and natural flow, emphasizing the textures of the cloth and the smoothness of the gold.

01 Jan 0001

THE VORACIOUS FROG.

Watercolor illustration, early morning in a lush, overgrown jungle. Soft, diffused sunlight filters through the dense canopy, casting dappled shadows on the forest floor. A determined-looking rat, fur a warm ochre brown, carries a burlap sack heavy with flour and a glass bottle of milk. The sack is dusted with flour and slightly torn. A bright green frog, with bulging eyes, hops excitedly alongside, struggling under the weight of a bundle of dry, twiggy sticks, easily taller than itself, precariously balanced on its back with twine. Dewdrops cling to the large jungle leaves. Color palette: predominantly greens and browns with accents of white, ochre, and the bright green of the frog. Creates a feeling of hopeful adventure.

01 Jan 0001

Why the Fish Laughed.

One day, a fisherwoman was walking past the palace, calling out about her fish. The queen looked out of a window and waved her over to see what she had. Just then, a really big fish jumped in the basket!

A vibrant watercolor illustration of a fisherwoman in simple, patched linen clothes, carrying a woven basket overflowing with glistening, colorful fish – silver scales, ruby reds, and emerald greens shimmering under the bright morning sun. A majestic palace with sun-drenched, arched windows is in the background, its white stone warmed by the golden light. A regal queen with a delicate, jeweled crown leans out of a window, her silk robes billowing gently in the breeze, waving a slender hand towards the fisherwoman with a kind smile. A large, anthropomorphic fish – a golden carp with intelligent eyes – leaps dramatically from the basket, its mouth open in a wide, joyful grin, scattering droplets of water that catch the light like diamonds. Soft, diffused light creates subtle shadows on the palace walls and the fisherwoman’s weathered face. The overall tone is cheerful and whimsical.

3/3