Rishi’s current project in progress, The Ocean Churning, captures the gleam of incredible treasures and their curious tendency to unravel right and wrong in the struggles of gods and demons.
The Ocean Churning is a collection of stories that emerge from the puranic origin legend of the churning of the cosmic ocean of milk.
It consists of 12–15-minute stories appropriate for adults, teens, and middle grades in live, in-person or virtual performance.
He has toured from this collection on the 42nd Washington Folk Festival’s Storytelling Stage, for the sixth season premiere of the Healing Story Alliance’s Kind Stories in Concert series, and at India’s 2026 Chennai Storytelling Festival.
“Marvelous … lovely and nourishing!” “A complex epic [made] wonderfully accessible!”
— Kristin Pedemonti
Storyteller at The World Bank & 2011 Winner of the National Storytelling Network ORACLE Award
“Tremendously uplifting … A mythic journey in and out of the three worlds; told with warmth and humor.”
— Sara deBeer
Barbara Reed Distinguished Connecticut Storyteller
In addition to The Ocean Churning, Rishi offers a decade-long repertoire of standalone folktales ranging from American ‘apple pie classics’ to sacred and ancient stories from East Asian, Middle Eastern, and European traditions.
Reach out here to discuss curating a program that best meets your event goals.