For the unversed, originally preserved through oral tradition and rich with fantastical elements — genies, fairies, ghostly figures, and divine sages — these ballads have long been central to regional performance traditions across melas, weddings, and spiritual gatherings.
Through narratives that combine magical realism with lived experiences, the book sheds light on how marginalised communities used folklore as a vehicle of resistance, transformation, and spiritual inquiry.
According to the publisher, this anthology not only documents these stories with historical sensitivity and literary finesse but also offers a “critical lens into their enduring social and philosophical resonance.”
Also, at the heart of each tale lies the Gorakhnathi worldview — fluid, inclusive, and radically humanist — “blurring the lines between religion, caste, and creed”.
“I believe ‘Lores of Love and Saint Gorakhnath’ offers a rare glimpse into a world where folklore and faith come together to illuminate universal truths of love, loss, longing, and transcendence,” Gurveen Chadha, executive editor of ‘Ebury Press’ and ‘Penguin Veer’ at PRHI.
The book, priced at Rs 399, is available for purchase across online and offline stores.