FAMOUS FAIRY TALES

Here I have for you famous fairy tales from Bengal, India.

                       A GIST OF FAMOUS FAIRY TALES

The story you’re now going to read is about two half-sisters. One of them is Sukhu (happy), who is very selfish. On the other hand, Dukhu (sad) is full of kindness.

                                                      SUKHU AND DUKHU

There was a weaver who had two wives. Each wife had a daughter, – Sukhu and Dukhu. The weaver pampered his elder wife and daughter a lot. They did no household chores. They passed their days leisurely.

FAMOUS FAIRY TALES FROM BENGAL

Dukhu and her mother spun thread and did all household chores. But at the end of the day, they got a meager meal and loads of abuse.

One day the weaver passed away. The elder wife hid all his money and separated Dukhu and her mother. The younger wife had great difficulty making both her ends meet.

BENGAL’S FAMOUS FAIRY TALES

One day Dukhu’s mother found her cotton damp. She spread them in the sun so they become dry. She made Dukhu guard the cotton while she went to the river for some washing. Just then a wind blew away all Dukhu’s cotton. She started crying.

FAIRYTALE DESTINATIONS FROM BENGAL

Then the wind said, “Dukhu don’t cry, follow me, I’ll give you cotton.” Dukhu with tears followed the wind.

BENGAL’S FAMOUS FAIRY TALES

On the way, a cow called her, “Dukhu, where are you going? Will you clean my shed?” Dukhu wiped her tears. Then she cleaned the shed. And again followed the wind.

BENGAL’S FAMOUS FAIRY TALES

After walking a mile, a banana tree stopped her. “Dukhu, see the twiners have surrounded me. Will you remove them?” So Dukhu removed the twiners and followed the wind.

FAIRYTALE DESTINATIONS FROM BENGAL

Dukhu has now covered some more distance. Now a sandpaper tree called, “Dukhu, will you please clean my undergrowth?” So Dukhu cleaned the undergrowth. She then again followed the wind.

Again Dukhu had to stop her journey. A horse called her. “Give me some grass Dukhu, before going?” Dukhu gave a bunch of grass. And then again ran after the wind. Finally, she reached a beautiful white house. In the courtyard sat an old woman spinning on her wheel. The old woman was none other than the granny who lives on the moon.

 BENGAL’S FAMOUS FAIRY TALES

Dukhu said, “Granny, the wind has blown away all my cotton. Please give me my cotton.” The old lady removed her milk-white locks and saw a sweet little girl in front of her. She said, “Child, first go take a saree, oil, and fragrance. Then go to that pond and dip twice. After that have some food. And then I’ll give you cotton.”

BENGAL’S FAIRY TALES

Dukhu entered a room. It was full of sarees. Dukhu pushed aside all the beautiful sarees and took a rag. After that, she put little oil on her hair. She then went to the pond and dipped. With the first dip, she became very beautiful. Then with the second dip, she was covered with jewelry.

After that Dukhu went to another room. Delicious food items were kept on racks. Dukhu took some rice and ate somehow. She again went to the granny of the moon.

Granny showed her the room where Dukhu would get her cotton. The room was full of chests of various sizes. All filled with cotton. Dukhu took a toy chest and came to granny of the moon. She smiled and said, “Now take this chest to your mother, child.”

BENGAL’S FAMOUS FAIRY TALES

On her way back, the horse gave Dukhu a hot-blooded colt. The sandpaper tree gave her a pitcher of gold coins. The banana tree gave Dukhu a bunch of golden bananas. And the cow gave her a plump calf.

When Dukhu returned home she told her mother all that had happened. At night Dukhu and her mother opened the chest. A prince came out and married Dukhu. At last Dukhu and her mother’s sorrow ended.

BENGAL’S FAIRY TALES

The next morning Sukhu sat guarding all her cotton under the sun, while her mother went to the river. The wind again blew away all the cotton. Sukhu quickly ran after the wind. On her way, the cow, the banana tree, the sandpaper tree, and the horse called Sukhu. But unlike Dukhu, Sukhu didn’t stop to help them. Rather she said, “Oh! I’m going to the granny of the moon’s house. And you expect me to help you? No way!”

 FAIRYTALE DESTINATIONS FROM BENGAL

At last, Sukhu reached the granny of the moon’s house. She went straight to the granny and said, “O you old woman, stop your wheel. You gave all good things to that stupid Dukhu. Now give me everything.” Granny of the moon was shocked at her behavior. In spite of it, she told Dukhu to first take two dips in the pond and have some food.

BENGAL’S FAMOUS FAIRY TALES

Sukhu took the best saree and the best fragrant oil and went to the pond. After the first dip, she became so pretty. With the second dip, she was covered with jewelry. Hence, Sukhu became so greedy that she dipped for the third time. And lo! She became so ugly with warts and scabies. She screamed and ran madly to the granny of the moon. Granny said to her, “Sukhu you dipped thrice, now no use crying. Go and have some food and then take your chest of cotton.”

BENGAL’S FAMOUS FAIRY TALES

Sukhu ate the best food and wasted more than she ate. Then she took the biggest chest of cotton and left calling the granny of the moon names. The look of Sukhu scared men and animals. The horse kicked Sukhu. She screamed “Aeee, aeee!” The sandpaper tree threw a branch at Sukhu. “Oh help, help!” she cried. The banana plant threw a bunch of bananas at Sukhu, she said, “Oh! I’m dead!” The cow chased her. Huffing and puffing Sukhu reached home.

BENGAL’S FAIRY TALES

Sukhu’s mother fainted seeing her horrible look. At night Sukhu’s groom came out of the chest. Sukhu’s feet ached. She put on anklets. Then her hands ached. She put on bangles. Her head ached, she put on a tiara. Then gradually her nose tingled, her throat itched, her ears ached and one by one she put on all her pieces of jewelry. At last, Sukhu was quiet and her mother went to bed happily.

FAIRY TALES

The next morning Sukhu’s mother knocked at her door but she didn’t open it. At last, when her mother broke open the door there was no trace of Sukh. Few bones and the skin of a python were lying on the floor. A python had swallowed Sukhu.

Sukhu’s mother died heartbrokenly.