Bastar Folklore – The Song Birds Koel & Pargi

This folklore from Bastar may not have been heard so widely but within the children of the tribal communities of Chhattisgarh, the story of the two song birds this is still a popular story with a big moral for children of the family & a great reminder to the youth.

This is a close translation while you can listen to the original version beautifully narrated on our YouTube Channel here https://youtu.be/PKpJwCUcrYM

The folklore goes like this. A mother bird had 2 chicks, a Koel and a Pargi, both are beautiful young song birds. The sisters were growing up happy & cheerful. The Koel’s voice was becoming sweeter by the day and she was learning to sing in her beautiful voice to the other birds and animals around her. Whoever listened to her songs were filled with joy.

It is almost like the Koel could bring happiness to anyone around her just by her beautiful songs. The Koel, being simple as she was, however was not aware of her talents & remained humble.

The Pargi on the other hand was growing up into a beautiful bird as well. Her feathers were colorful and lit up the air around her. Her charm and beauty was growing by the day and everyone around her would look at her beauty in wonder. The Pargi was fully aware of her beauty and started to enjoy her privileges. It seemed like she started to feel proud of her beauty & her looks.

As time went by the Koel turned up to a a kind bird who was always there to help anyone who needed assistance. And with the sweetness of her voice she charmed anyone around her with her songs.

The Pargi grew up to be proud and adamant. She felt entitled to a life to adoration, love & luxury. She stayed away from any hard work and was quite selfish, being so aware of her own beauty, her silky features & her bright colorful attractive feathers.

With time the mother bird became old and soon fell sick. Her health deteriorated fast and very soon she could not sing at all. The Koel stood by and started to serve her mother. The Koel brought her mother food, water and whatever she needed to survive. Her daily life changed drastically. She could not longer afford the time to fly around and sing in the sun.

The Koel put in all she had to help her mother to feel a little better. Things got so bad that she called for her sister, Pargi and asked her to come and help her take care of their mother. The Pargi was too busy leading her cosmetic life. She ignored her sister Koel’s repeated plea for help when she most needed.

Much later, the Pargi came over to see her mother. The Koel greeted her at the door. Pargi went over to her sick mother’s nest and was immediately repelled by the stench. The mother bird was all skin and bones and she did not smell good either. Pargi suffocated and immediately left her mother alone with Koel.

Much later, when the mother bird was on her last breath, she called both Koel & Pargi one last time to bless them. She blessed Koel with grace and said Koel would always be there to help anyone in need. People would wait to hear her sing and she would bring good health and life to people around her.

The mother bird also blessed Pargi and said people would always appreciate her beautiful feathers and her attractive looks. However, when people would hear her sing they will be gulfed in fear of bad health, sickness and death. She would be the harbinger of a hard life ahead to those who would listen to her songs.

With that, the mother bird passed away, but her blessings continued to live with Koel & Pargi to this day. While everyone loves to hear the Koel sing, they love the colors of a Pargi but would drive her away in fear of ill-luck.

This beautiful folklore carries a moral that is even more relevant in these days, teaching children the values of love, compassion and the need to care for each other in the community.