Fun & Games
Ikri-Dukri |
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| This game is similar to hop-scotch, with a thippi – a broken piece of earthen pot, about an inch-and-a-half in diameter, or a round flat stone. A rectangle about three yards long and two yards wide is drawn. This rectangle is divided into various compartments about a foot wide. The space of four-foot square in the middle is subdivided into four triangles by a cross. Beyond these triangles are three more parallel lines. Standing on one foot one has to hop and push the thippi, mainly with the big toe, into the first three houses, one after another, then into the four triangles; and finally into the three houses beyond the triangles. The thippi must pass neatly through the various compartments. Whoever succeeds in going first through all the compartments, is the winner. | |
Gilli Danda |
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| What’s needed? “Gilli” – A small wooden piece cylindrical in shape with about one inch diameter and about 3-4 inches long is sharpened like a lead pencil from both sides.”Danda” – A wooden rule or stick similar to that used by teachers in the school. The length of the rule is about 20 inches to 24 inches.”Pillow” – A small pit shaped like a “banana” is made in the ground. The length of this pit is about 4 inches.
The Instructions: Player one places the “Gilli” across the “Pillow” and puts in his “Danda” into the pit under the “Gilli” (like a lever). The “Danda” is then held at about 45° on the ground.Player one then pushes it off to Player two. If the “Gilli” is caught then Player one is out, then it will be player two’s turn. But if player two fails to catch it then player one can place his/her “Danda” on the pit like wise his/her “Gilli” and then player two will throw the “Gilli” on to “Danda”. If it hits the “Danda” even then player one is out and it will be player two’s turn to play.If player two’s throw misses the target then player one will place the “Gilli” on the ground but not on the “Pillow” and give a small bounce to the “Gilli” by hitting its one end with the “Danda”. And while the “Gilli” is still in the air, player one tries to hit it hard with the “Danda” as far as he/she can, away from “Pillow”. Player two will try to catch it again. If it is caught then player one is out, if it falls off player two’s hands or not too close to catch it, player one come to the place where the “Gilli” has fallen on the ground, off player two’s hands and again hit the “Gilli” further away thrice, as long as player one has not missed a shot in-between.Player one then comes back to the “Pillow” and places the “Danda” on the “Pillow”. Now player two should throw the “Gilli” with an aim to hit the “Danda”. If it hits player one is out, otherwise the above steps are repeated. |
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Goli (Marbles) |
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| Each player has a goli. On even ground, a little hole is dug. This can be done with the heel of a foot. Everyone takes his or her positions about two yards away from the hole. They then kneel and try to get the marble into the hole. The marble is held tautly to the forefinger of the left hand. The finger is then stretched back like a bowstring by the pressure of the forefinger of the right hand. When the finger is released the goli shoots forward, often overshooting the hole and injuring other children standing around the hole to watch! Or, with a gentle blow from one’s goli, push the other goli, so that it drifted into the hole!‘Ah goli mari!’ (Oh! Got that marble) is the excited cry as one’s goli is succeeded in striking the other fellow’s goli out of the way.This process would be taken in turns and so players would wait their turn to strike someone else’s goli out of the way! Whoever gets all the golis into the hole first is the winner!This game can easily take hours, and in India many children would bunk lessons to play this all morning or afternoon. At the end of the game, there was always the danger of a big bully snatching all the golis of the smaller boys, unless the bully had won the game, which they usually did. | |
Ankhmicholy (Hide and Seek) |
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| Yes this game was also played in India, usually with many children from all around the village! It would be common for the youngest to be the seeker, s/he would be forced to tie a blindfold around his/her eyes and then try and seek all the other kids. This is a game which has been around for many centuries as Radha and Lord Krishna also have be known to play this game frequently – where Krishna would entice Radha into following him and teasing her with his flute. The more Radha would search the further away Krishna would go – but always close enough so that she could hear his enticing melody from his flute. | |
Kabaddi |
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| To play Kabaddi you need stamina, the capacity to hold your breath, quickness and mastery of the tactics of battle. It is almost like real warfare.A line is drawn on sand or on soft earth. The two opposing teams, five – ten or more people but equal numbers in both teams, stand on either side of this line.A member of one team crosses the line into the opposing camp, chanting the magic word ‘Kabaddi, Kabaddi, Kabaddi’, without breathing. If he is able to touch one or two boys while still uttering the word ‘Kabaddi’, the person touched is ‘dead’ and the visitor runs back to his side.Then another member from his team goes out. But it may happen that the visitor is caught on the opposite side by the fellow who is touched, or by someone else from the opposing team. Then he is said to have ‘died’.Now a member from the other side goes out to visit the first team. A team has to ‘kill’ all the members of the opposing team to win the game. |