Bengal has a long tradition in folk literature, evidenced by the Charyapada, Mangalkavya, Shreekrishna Kirtana, Maimansingha Gitika, Thakurmar Jhuli, and stories related to Gopal Bhar.
In the Pre-Chaitanya Era (15th century), the early Vaishnava Poetry or the Vaishnava Padavali by Chandidas and Vidyapati was composed; the first translation of Ramayana and Bhagavata in Bengali were made and with Manasa Mangal and Chandi Mangal flourished the tradition of Mangalkavya.