India’s rich cultural heritage is why the country has so many regional festivals, cuisines, languages, clothing styles, and so much more. Games have always been an integral part of the lives of people in India, which is why several traditional games have been played for hundreds of years. Such games have continuously served as a source of entertainment, rejuvenation, and better health.
However, in the past few years, the popularity of such games might have declined to some extent. The reason can be attributed to the popularity of virtual and video games, which often promote a sedentary lifestyle. Hence, to get that adrenaline rush back, it's time for you to make your child play some engaging traditional Indian games.
Traditional games not only promote physical and mental health, but can also bring your child closer to their roots and heritage. Here is a list of extremely engaging traditional games your child might enjoy.
Gutte is an extremely popular game from India still played in many parts of the country, especially in the countryside. To play this game, one has to arrange tiny stones. Now the player must pick one of the stones from the ground and toss or spin the stone in the air. Whilst the stone is still in the air, the player must pick up as many stones as possible from the ground. The process is repeated until all the stones are collected. The player who is able to collect all the stones within the fewest attempts ends up winning.
Mallakhamb is another interesting game that combines martial arts, yoga, and other physical exercises. This game is also popularly known as the ‘Mother Sport’ of India, as it was practised by people in the old times to develop mobility and strength. The title of this game means a gymnastic pole, which is why one needs a gymnastic pole to play this game. Players compete on a 2.6 m tall wooden pole with the help of a rope that is hung from a chain or a hook. It can be an effective game for children who like gymnastics and other agility exercises.
Kabaddi is still a very popular game in India and has become famous in the past few years. The game is pretty easy to understand as it is played between two teams with an equal number of members. One player from each team simultaneously takes their turn to sprint and cross the centre line of the other team. They gain a point if they can touch or tag the opponent team member and get back into their territory. However, if the player is caught and not allowed to go back, then that player is instantly eliminated.
This game is also called Kancha and is generally played with dark green glass marbles called Kancha in Hindi. There are a lot of ways to play this game. One can play a simple version or make it as complex as they want. The basic concept is to hit the target with green marbles in various directions. Traditionally, the concept is that the winner takes away all the marbles they have hit, and the losers end up giving them to the winner.
Also called hopscotch in English, it has been one of the most popular games in India for a long time. This is played by drawing grid boxes with numbers on the ground. It is drawn in the pattern of a ladder on the floor, and the child is supposed to jump with one leg without stepping out of the boundary zone. Anyone who ends up losing their balance is instantly eliminated.
Gilli Danda is one of the oldest games in India, and it has been played for more than 2000 years. It is a multiplayer game that requires a stick called a danda and a small oval-shaped ball-like structure called a gilli. The gilli is flipped in the air with the help of the danda, and the other players strike it on its elevated end with their respective sticks. The players are supposed to hit the gilli as far as it can go. While the gilli is in the air, the same player is supposed to go and touch a pre-decided part of the boundary line. If the player gets late, the opponent teams end up stealing the gilli.
Lagori is a conceptually engaging game played with a rubber ball and a row of 7 flat stones. These seven flat stones are put on top of each other, and one requires at least three players to play this game. Once the rocks have been arranged vertically, each player gets an equal opportunity to knock down that vertical tower of stones while being at a distance. If a player is unsuccessful in hitting the stone tower, the opponent can throw the ball below the knee level of that player to get them eliminated.
Each of these games can bring out the best in your child by keeping them physically fit, agile, and mentally active. Additionally, these games are essential for your child to learn from a cultural and traditional perspective.