Dastangoi is an art and tradition of storytelling that goes at least as far back as 9th century Iran. Heavily inspired by the verse epic Shahnamah, dastans eventually evolved into rollicking adventures involving djinns, fantastic beasts, demons, parees (fairies), princesses, magicians, evil kings and wizards.

A good dastan employs at…

Kabootarbaazi was a hobby of the nawabs (an honorary title given by Mughal emperors to semi-autonomous Muslim rulers of princely states) of the Mughal times.

For a layman witnessing the game for the first it, kabootarbaazi appears to be about just a bunch of people setting their pigeons free and…