Lifestyle - Toys/Games | 4-11 yrs
9 Indian Traditional Games For Children
ParentCircle
What’s common between the terms Pagade, Nondi, Pallanguzhi, Lippa and Satoliya? Here's a clue - they are an integral part of Indian culture and have been around for centuries.
Confused? They are traditional games that have been played since time immemorial in India. However, with the advent of video games and gadgets, people, especially the younger generations, have forgotten these games. We take a closer look at some of them to revive fond memories and give our children a glimpse of the past.
Gilli Danda or Lippa, considered to be the origin of cricket, is a game played with two pegs – the longer one is called danda and the shorter, gilli. A player uses the danda to hit the gilli, and when the gilli rises in the air, the player must strike it with the danda.
According to the article, ‘Nondi’, published in Traditional Games, Nondi was a game played by girls in the rural villages of Tamil Nadu. This game of hopping requires a player to capture the maximum number of squares in a grid, without his feet touching the border lines.
Indian Traditional Games states that kabaddi, an ancient game of India, is still very popular. A team sport, kabaddi requires strength and agility, and no equipment. Bollywood celebrities like Amitabh Bachchan and Aamir Khan have been vocal in their support of the game and often harp about its health benefits.
Revive our tradition through these games and make this weekend fun by learning how to play them. Flip through the pages of this ClipBook for more details.
1. Five Stones
Five stones is known as Kallangal or Anchangal in the villages of Tamil Nadu. The game is played by 2 or more players, using 5 small stones. It comprises a set of eight steps. The player who completes all the sets first is the winner. This game h...
2. Lakhoti
Lakhoti is a popular traditional game played across the country. It is also known as Kancha, Golli, Goti and Marbles (English). Marbles, which originated in the Harappan Civilization, are used to play the game. The game helps improve concentrati...
3. Nondi (Hopscotch)
Nondi is a hopping game popular in the rural villages of Tamil Nadu. A grid is drawn on the ground and the player hops across to complete his lap without stepping on the border. The game improves muscle tone and balance.
4. Pachisi
Pachisi is a very ancient Indian game for four people playing in two pairs. The game is also known as "Twenty Five". This is the original game from which Ludo and Parcheesi were derived, although you will see that the rules are different.
5. Gilli Danda
Gilli Danda is the old-fashioned version of modern day cricket. Two unevenly sized pegs are all it takes to play this fun game. The game improves concentration and aim. Want to know how it’s played? Click the link below.
6. Lattu
Lattu is a traditional game that used to be extremely popular among children in India. Lattu, or the spinning top, has been around for thousands of years. A string is wound around the top, which is then flung on the ground to spin. The game impr...
7. Satoliya
Satoliya, otherwise known as seven stones, is a team game played with a ball and seven stones. The stones are piled one on top of the other. The attacking team must hit the pile in three attempts, and aim to rearrange the pile of stones before the...
8. Kabaddi
Kabbadi is a popular sport in South Asia. A team game, it is still played in many parts of the country. In Hindi, 'kabaddi' means 'holding your breath', which is the underlying principle of this game. The game is played with 2 teams comprising 12 ...
9. Pallanguzhi
Pallanguzhi is a board game that used to be patronised by women in Tamil Nadu in the days gone by. Tamarind seeds or shells are used to play this game, which has fascinated researchers for its anthropological and social aspects. The game improv...
