Topic started by Venki (@ proxyle01.ext.ti.com) on Fri Sep 6 09:28:26 .
All times in EST +10:30 for IST.

This article on A revival of traditional Indian games rekindled memories of games we used to play as kids.
http://in.news.yahoo.com/020905/43/1ut6h.html

Please share your views on the various traditional games that were played and are still played in your areas. Some that I can think of, off the top of my head are:

Pallaankuzhi
Aadu Puli Aatam
Parama Padam
Daaya Kattai
and the more ubiquitous
Kitti pullu,
Pambaram,
Sadu Gudu,
Pattam (with maanja and the works).

Responses:

• From: fridge (@ netcache6.is.co.za) on: Fri Sep 6 09:59:19
  
  I have no idea what any of these games mean, Do you care to describe some of them
  
  
• From: Venki (@ proxyle01.ext.ti.com) on: Thu Sep 12 11:22:29
  
  Fridge,
  
  Here is a brief description of some of the games.
  
  Pallaankuzhi - A wooden piece with two rows of little cup-like depressions. Traditionally uses tamarind seeds to distribute into the cups and move them by rolling the dice.
  
  Pallaankuzhi - it is a counting game played on a long metal or wooden piece with eleven holes on either side, played with tamarind seeds or small shells called as "Sozhi" in Tamil.
  
  From: http://www.chennaionline.com/artsandculture/culture/games.asp
  
  This site has descriptions of other games too.
  
  
  
  Parama Padam - Snakes and Ladders
  Daaya Kattai - Board games with dice
  
  Kitti pullu - Also called gilli danda in hindi. I'll have to think on how to describe this game involving a long stick and a short one of about the length of ones palm with the ends sharpened.
  
  Pambaram - Tops (made of wood and a nail at the bottom. Use a string to make it spin on the ground and all kinds of games revolving around them)
  Sadu Gudu - Also called Kabaddi in Hindi.
  
  Pattam (with maanja and the works)- kites, especially duels when flying them.
  
  Also can you share some of the games you used to play as kids in South Africa. Any such games that have been transferred from India to South Africa?
  
  If someone has links to mention of such games in ancient literary works or in art or sculpture, please share it here. Thanks.
  
  
  
  
• From: R (@ h66-59-174-253.gtconnect.net) on: Thu Sep 12 12:47:26
  
  Another traditional game we played in SL was called Ellay inwhich we use a big stick to hit a ball thrown to us by a thrower and had runners complete a run. It is simila to baseball
  
  
• From: Venki (@ proxyle01.ext.ti.com) on: Thu Sep 12 16:31:42
  
  Raveen,
  
  Did the games I listed exist in some form or with a different name in Ilangai or are they alien over there?
  
  
• From: arudkO (@ l-lh121-4g.cavern.carleton.ca) on: Thu Sep 12 18:45:29
  
  Venki,
  
  We do (or did) play the following games in Tamil Eelam: kiddip puL (referred to as Tamil Cricket by us), thayakkaddai, pamparam, pAmpum ENiyum (I'm not sure if some people call it parama pAdam but I'v never heard of it), Ofcourse paddam (kite). We do fool around with tarimind seeds but not in with a wooden cups & don't remember paLLangkuzhi! Since I grew up in a suburb setting I may not be aware some games! Ah we do play the 'kabadi kabadi', but I'm not sure we call it kabadi kabadi, I can recall the actions!
  
  Raveen,
  I never heard of Ellay or seen it. Do you know what part of Srilanka this game was played (Nort or East)? Also could it be corrupted version of Cricket? Is it a sinhala game? just curious!
  
  
• From: krishna (@ london-hse-ppp3540787.sympatico.ca) on: Fri Sep 13 23:09:06
  
  1) "Pallaankuzhi" - a very similar counting game using seeds distributed into cup like depressions on either side if a central rod is played in West Africa.
  
  2) "Kitti Pullu" was played in the sixties, in the various Indian communities distributed throughout the old province of the Transvaal, in South Africa. Since the Indian communities in the Transvaal were predominantly Gujerati, they used the name "gilli danda". This game is also played by the Indian community in East Africa.
  
  3) " Another traditional game we played in SL was called Ellay "
  This reminds me of the old English game called "rounders" - we played this game on the streets of Johannesburg in the sixties.
  4) "Pambaram - Tops"
  Great game! -- punishment for offending "amma" : "no Tops for you today!!"
  5) I wonder if the following game is of Indian origin:
  A group of kids. One has a ball (tennis) and throws it as high as possible. While the ball is in the air, the ball thrower yells the name of a person who is supposed to catch the ball.
  If you fail to catch the ball, there is a penalty.
  If you catch the ball you are the new ball thrower.
  
  
• From: Venki (@ proxyle02.ext.ti.com) on: Mon Sep 23 11:56:33
  
  Krishna, Arudko and R, thanks for your inputs.
  
  Does anyone know if the details of the dice game played by Dharmar (Yudhistra) are mentioned in any versions Mahabharatam?
  
  
• From: R (@ h66-59-174-253.gtconnect.net) on: Mon Sep 23 12:21:55
  
  Venki
  
  The games that you mentioned all exist in Sri Lanka both in Sinhala and Tamil areas under same name and other names.
  
  There are other games too
  
  Such as we would make certain squares in the groud and throw a stone and we have to hop on one feet to it andcomplete the coourse (for Girls)
  
  Arudko
  
  Ellay -s derived from Tamil word Ellai (border) and it is played in the Souh both by Sinhalese and Tamils.
  
  It looks like a derivative of baseball not Cricket and I dont have the history of it.
  
  Another native game we played in SL is called Sambol (derived from Tamil word for Cutney ie Sambal)
  
  We would first divide into two team and with the rubber ball the aim is to hit another team member so hard as to make that person run away and dominate the ball within your team till the bell rang. The team which hadthe ball at the last moment wins.
  
  We had many rough and bloody days and we would have something simlar to scrum ??? in Rugby too when everyone jumps into get that small rubber ball.
  
  
• From: Vani (@ cpe0080c6f8642d.cpe.net.cable.rogers.com) on: Tue Oct 22 23:39:15
  
  Aadu Puli Aatum: This is a fun game involving 3 tigers and 15 sheep.. I used to play this as a kid and most recently on my travel with Singapore Airlines I found this game and kept meself entertained. So I suspect this game has travelled to the far east. The goal is to trap the tigers or the tigers end up killing the sheep. I am sure a better description of the game and rules can be found elsewhere...
  Yes gilli danda was another great game as was lagori or seven tiles...
  
  
• From: Skanthavelu Nadarajah (@ edtntnt5-port-186.dial.telus.net) on: Wed Oct 23 13:00:59
  
  This is all very interesting! :)
  
  
• From: Bharathi (@ ) on: Sat Dec 27 19:43:30
  
  Hi,
  I have a pair of long dice called "Dayakattam". Can you help me to play the game, by sending me the rules of the game. Thank you.
  
  
• From: Bharathi (@ 61.247.243.100) on: Sat Dec 27 19:48:37 EST 2003
  
  Hi,
  I have a pair of long dice called "Dayakattam". Can you help me to play the game, by sending me the rules of the game. Thank you.
  
  
• From: Prof. R.Vasantha (@ ) on: Fri May 28 05:43:40
  
  your discussion and query is interesting. I wish to make highlight hear that India has innumerable oriental board games, which are now extinct.
  but we (I am one among the group)the international scholars are working to bring it to limelight, the possible available board games globally, irrespective of old and new.
  if any query, I would be pleased to answer.
  
  
• From: sree (@ 202.1.201.238) on: Mon Jun 7 05:24:36 EDT 2004
  
  Hi! all,iteresting to c u all.For ur information PALLANGULI- u can find it in basic NOKIA phone games,MODELS LIKE 3310,3315,1100 R having it. it is named as BATUMI try u guy`s and let me know is it the same what PALLANGULI.
  
  
• From: sree (@ 202.1.201.238) on: Tue Jun 8 05:27:52 EDT 2004
  
  Friends, u know KICHIKICH THAMBALAM,THELLU,THAYAM i think mostly people from TN can recognaise these games. Have a good day.
  
  
• From: Keshav Deshpande (@ ) on: Wed Oct 13 21:53:42
  
  Dear sir,
  Good information about the traditional games which are almost exntinct. I would like to know the excat rules of "LAGORI" and "GIlli DANDU", here in our colony, we would like ti revieve traditional or Deshi games.
  GOOD DAY !
  
  Yours sincerely
  Keshav Deshpande
  
  
• From: Rajendhra Cholan! (@ 203.200.201.2) on: Mon Oct 18 07:25:13 EDT 2004
  
  Even DhakshinChitra, in ECR, Chennai, was once involved in reviving the traditional games.
  
  Rajendhra Cholan!
  http://groups.yahoo.com/group/thamizhsamraajyam/
  
  

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