1 The walking tree: AN origin story from the Nicobar Islands indicates that before people became ruthless towards forests, trees could walk and talk. While trees can’t walk, having developed complex networks of roots over the years, there is one species which gives the illusion of movement: the walking palm tree in Central America. It has a unique root system where new roots grow in the direction of sunlight, and the old ones wither away. The tree actually does not move away from its spot.

2 The victory dance: Monsang people are among the many Naga tribes settled in northeast India. Their origin story suggests that their leader Thungpungpa brought his people out of the cave, the ‘khor’, to the upper world, after fighting a tiger.

The victory dance. Illustration Courtesy/Damini Gupta