Imagine painted wooden panels that have been joined together such that they tell a story and can be used as shrines as well -- Kaavad from Rajasthan. This is but one example of diverse, rich traditions of storytelling that India offers. These forms of storytelling do not involve opening a book and reading out or even narrating a tale known by generations. These are forms of art in their own right and performance forms the most important part of it.

New Kaavads that are being developed for educational purposes such as teaching the alphabet. Pics courtesy/Vidyun Sabhaney