Folklore is a dynamic body of traditional knowledge expressed through oral narratives, songs, proverbs, rituals, customs, beliefs, festivals, dances, and material culture. The academic study of folklore has developed through several approaches, each emphasizing different aspects of folk traditions. These approaches have significantly contributed to the understanding of Indian folk literature, which reflects the country's immense linguistic, cultural, regional, and religious diversity. The historical-geographical approach, developed by Finnish scholars such as Julius and Kaarle Krohn, focuses on tracing the origin, spread, and variations of folktales. It compares different versions of the same tale to reconstruct its earliest form. This method is particularly relevant to Indian folk literature because stories such as those found in the *Panchatantra*, *Jataka Tales*, and *Kathasaritsagara* exist in numerous regional versions. The approach helps scholars understand how stories travelled across regions, languages, and cultures while adapting to local traditions. The anthropological approach studies folklore as an integral part of the culture and social life of a community. Scholars like Bronislaw Malinowski and A. R. Radcliffe-Brown viewed folklore as serving important social functions. In India, this approach explains how myths, legends, folk songs, and rituals reinforce social values, kinship, religious beliefs, and community identity. Folk traditions associated with harvest festivals, marriage ceremonies, birth rituals, and village deities reveal the intimate connection between folklore and everyday life. The functional approach,