A "dastan" in Urdu literature refers to a long, ornate narrative, often drawing on folklore and history, and related to genres like the Persian masnawi and Punjabi qissa. The oldest Urdu dastans include "Dastan-i-Amir Hamza" and "Bustan-i Khayal". Many dastans were recorded in the early 19th century and included motifs from the Middle East, Central Asia, and Northern India. Examples include "Bagh-o-Bahar" by Mir Amman, "Mazhab-i-Ishq" by Nihalchand Lahori, and "Araish-i-Mahfil" by Hyderbakhsh Hyderi.