Traditional Games of Andhra Pradesh
Encyclopedia
Traditional games of Andhra Pradesh
may date back to ancient times, and some are extinct.
:గుజ్జనగూళ్ళు లేక బువ్వాలాట)(also called Buvvalaata) is a very popular ancient time pass game, especially played by the children of Andhra Pradesh
. This traditional game is devoid of logic, but to children, it gives a picture on nuptial life. By 1960-1970s, this game was extinct because of Urbanization in India.
Boys get Cereals, Jaggery, Puffed rice (maramaralu) and salt etc., in little quantities from their elders. Girls place them in wooden toy kitchen set (Lakka Pidatalu)and perform an act of cooking the food on a stove and dropping down after it is cooked. Then they act as if they are eating food all together. The toy kitchen set, filled in with food, is termed as Gujjana Goollu.
After this, they decorate a couple of kiddy figures as bride and groom to perform a Toy Wedding. Following this, the children are split into two teams, one on behalf of the groom, and another on behalf of the bride. The two teams share these Gujjana Goollu among themselves. This is followed by emptying the pulp in Tamarind
fruit shells, stuffing in the shells with rice, placing them in a fire stove and eating them after cooked grandly in the name of Gujjana Goollu.
Historically, the Gujjana Goollu game took birth at the time when Ramayana
and Mahabharata
were written. This game is believed to be played by Rukmini and Garika in books like Vyasa's Bhagavata Purana
and Allasani Peddana
's Manu Charitra. Today the toy kitchen set for this game is available only at Etikoppaka
and nowhere else in India.
(Telugu
:బొమ్మలపెళ్ళి) (Bommala Pelli) is a game of nuptial activity with wooden toys performed by children of Andhra Pradesh. This game of recreational activity was completely extinct by the 1960s with the urbanization, industrialization and western culture influence in India.
Boys and Girls gather a 10 people toy set which includes figures of a bride
, bridegroom and other personalities from wooden toy manufacturers. Children form into two groups, each with equal number of members to perform the marriage between a bride and groom. One boy from each group act as a wedding priest. The steps in the toy wedding go similar fashion to Hindu traditional wedding system which include Wedding looks, Engagement, Kanyadaan
, Mangalsutra etc. Toy Wedding ends with the groom tying Mangalsutra
to the neck of the bride at an auspicious time.
Although this beautiful game has no logic, it psychologically gives a clear picture of the beauty of Indian traditional marriage system to growing children. Toy Weddings are often seen in Tollywood movies of 1950s and 1960s. Today the 10 people toy set is available only at Etikoppaka
and nowhere else in India.
:రాముడు-సీత) is a funny game played by children of Andhra Pradesh
until 1990s, and is extinct owing to Urbanization
.
The game requires writing the names of Ramayana
characters, with each character name exactly once, on few white slips of equal size, color and shape. Each of the slips are twice folded with names inside. The Ramayana characters commonly includes—Rama, Sita, Bharata, Shatrugna, Ravana, Hanuman etc.
The objective of the game is—the person who gets the slip with Rama
, drawn at random, has to guess the person who gets the slip by name Sita
.
One of the players shuffles down the slips on the floor . Each player picks up a slip at random. The players should not reveal the names of the slips to each other. Now the player who gets the slip in which the name Rama was written, has to guess the person who gets the slip in which the name Sita was written. The player scores a point if the guess is right and the game starts again. If the player mistakenly guesses a person who gets the slip in which Ravana
was written, he loses a point. The winner in this game is the player who wins maximum number of points.
:కోతి కొమ్మచ్చి) (English
: Tree Climbing Monkey) is a very funny outdoor game played by rural children of Andhra Pradesh. This game is played in the name of Kothi Kombe in Karnataka
and Marameri kurangu in Tamil Nadu
. The game was extinct owing to urbanization.
At least 3 or more children, a small stick, and a ground with few trees are required to played this game.
The game starts with the Chain cut or Chain claps. In the chain claps all the children form a circle chain in standing position by holding their hands. All together they raise their hands and individually clap both hands, either with palm facing up and other palm facing down or both palms facing each other. It goes in rounds. Whoever claps distinct from others will be runner., and whoever claps uniquely in the last round will be the catcher and the others are termed as monkeys.
After the Chain claps, one of the monkeys draws a circle of 4 feet on the ground and throws the stick far away. While the catcher restores the stick back in the circle, all other monkeys climb the trees nearby. The objective of the catcher is to capture the monkeys on the trees, as long as the stick is in the circle. The catcher climbs any of the trees to capture at least one monkey, while the stick is in the circle. If any of the monkeys manages to dismount a tree and throws the stick far away, the catcher has to restore the stick and continue to capture the monkeys. The catcher cannot capture the monkeys while the stick is out of the circle. If the catcher manages to capture a monkey which is on the land by fate, then the game restarts with that monkey as catcher.
:అచ్చెనగండ్లు) (also called Achamgilla or Chintapikkalata or Gachakayalata) is a favorite pass time game, especially for homely girls. This rural game is usually played with five small stones or seeds of Fevernut (Caesalpinia Bondoc) or seeds of Tamarind
etc. This game is believed to have originated in ancient Asia
. In ancient world, it was played by different countries. Other names for this game are: English
- Knucklebones, Jackstones, Jacks, Dibs, Game of five stones, Onesies; Korea
-Lee Young-Ah
The following is the variation played in Andhra Pradesh
. To decide who starts, a player throws five objects (say stones) into the air with one hand and tries to catch as many as possible on the back of same hand. The stones that were caught are then thrown up again from the back of the hand where they came to rest and as many as possible are caught in the palm of same hand. The other players do the same and the player who catches most stones starts the game. The game goes in anti-clockwise fashion.
In the first round, toss all the 5 stones in the floor. Then pick up 1 with your fingers and toss it in the air. Pick another one up and then catch the one you threw in the air. Pick each of them in turns. In the second round, pick 2 stones up at a time. In the third round, pick 3 stones at a time, then pick the last one up. In the fourth round pick 4 of them up. In the last step toss the stones into the air and catch them on the back of your hand. You have to snatch them off and try to catch them in your palm. The number of stones you caught in your palm is your score. If you failed to catch them its another player's turn.
:చెండాట) (Punjabi
: Kokla Chapaki) is a funny game for children. In some states of India, this game is played in the name of Mama Che Patre or Uncle's Letter. The kerchief used in this game is termed as Chendu.
The game beings with the chain claps. The objective of the game is that 'Catcher' or 'It' who was decided in the chain claps, has to chase a runner by hitting with the kerchief. The playing members sit in a circle, keeping the eyes closed. The 'it' leaves his kerchief or scarf at the back of one of the players. It makes a round with out a sound, and hits the runner, the back of whom he placed the kerchief. It hits the runner with the kerchief for the first time. The runner has to escape from It in anti-clockwise direction around the circle of players making at least one or two rounds and take the place of It. Each round begins and ends at the place of the runner. If It manages to hit the runner with the kerchief in the second or third rounds etc., the game restarts with that Runner becoming It. If the runner successfully takes It's the place after escaping from the hittings, the game starts again with the same It.
:చుక్ చుక్ పుల్ల / వెన్నెలవత్తి ఆట)(also called Vennela Vatti Aata / Vannela Patti / Doodumbulla / Pilladee Vaata) is a funny game played by the children of rural Andhra Pradesh until late 1970s and 1980s. The game was extinct completely owing to Western influence, and Urbanization.
At least two members are required to play this game. A small stick or any Matchstick is the material required to play this game. Fine sandy area would be ideal to play this game. The objective of this game is that the Seeker has to guess the place where the match stick was dropped along with the sand.
Suppose that A and B are the players in the game. Initially A takes a match stick and covers it with a small pile of sand, about half meter in length. The objective of B, the seeker, is to guess the place of match stick in the sand. After guessing the place, B places both of his hands joined on the sand. At this moment, there are a couple of phases in the game.
First phase is that, if the match stick lies under any of B's hands, A loses the game.
In the second phase, if the match stick does not lie exactly under any of B's hands, A puts some quantity of sand along with the stick in the hands of B, whose eyes are closed with a kerchief. A carefully takes B to a nearest place. At the place A makes B to drop the sand and the stick. After this A brings B back to his place. B unties his kerchief and opens eyes. Now B has to discover the place where the match stick was dropped by him. B wins the game if he does it. If not B goes out of the game and A continues the game with others. The game enhances the power of intuition and discovery in children.
:దాగుడుమూతలు) is a funny game similar to Hide-and-seek. Presently this game is out of existence owing to western culture influence. Dagudu Mootalu game requires at least 10 members. This game is played as follows: A member X closes the eyes of a member Y. We consider Y to be Cat and others to be Rats. X points the hands of Y towards each of the members who comes near one by one. X says 'Veeri Veeri Gummadipandu, Veeri paeraemi?'. Y has to guess the correct member when asked by X. If the guess is right, the other member from the group takes the place of Y. If not Each of the members pinch the nose of Y and hide at their safe places. X shouts "Dagudu Mootala danda kore, pilli vache yelaka bhadram, yekkadi dongalu akkade gapchip, sambaru buddi, kalloo moosi kaali kore, yekkadi dongalu akkade gapchip" and opens the eyes of Y. Now Y has to quest for the hidden members. The members have to come from their hideouts and touch X with out being captured by Y. The first member who is found and captured by Y takes the place of Y and the game restarts.
:గుడు గుడు గుంజం) is a very funny game played by children in rural parts of Andhra Pradesh. The game was vanished by the 1980s and 1990s with the influence of western culture in India. The questions and answers in the game enhances the memory power in children. Two members say A and B place their fists one above the other, so that the point finger of the third member C can be fit in. C puts his point finger in the closed fists of A and rotates in it. While rotating his finger he says "Gudu Gudu Gunjam, Gunda raagam; Pamuni patnam, padaga raagam; Katte vaeyyana, Badde vaeyyana?; Vaenneelleyyana? Channeelleyyana?". Vaenneellu indicates hot water, and Channeellu indicates cold water. A can choose either Vaenneellu or Channeellu. A gets a hard pinch on his fist for Vaenneellu and a little pinch for Channeellu from C. A puts his hands at his back. Now the scene of C questioning and A answering, goes as given below.
This ends C questioning A. Again this is followed by C questioning and B answering, as above. The winner is the player who answers maximum number of questions. Based on the concept of hiding fists, a Tollywood movie with the title of this game was directed by Veeru Dwaith and produced by Ravi Kumar Reddy in 2010.
:దాడి) is an ancient board game, originated in Europe
by name Nine Men's Morris
. The game is for two or four players. Two pairs of men use pieces of different colours. Each player uses 9 pieces. In other words there will be 9x4=36 tokens in the game. Players capture the opponent by forming mills. A mill is a 3 or more pieces of same color in a row, along a board line. For each mill formed, the player may capture the opponent's piece. It is removed from the board and cannot return. When one player has 2 or fewer pieces left on the board, the game is over and that player will lose the game. It is possible to form two mills in one turn, in which case two pieces are captured. To prevent a single mill from a decisive advantage, a mill is not counted if it is formed by moving a piece from a mill and moving it back in the immediately following turn.
:కప్ప గంతులు) (English
: Frog Jumps or Stone Skimming or Stone skipping
or Ducks & Drakes) is a favorite pass time game for children. The game involves throwing a stone with a flattend surface across a lake, a pond or other body of water in such a way that it bounces off the surface of the water. The objective of this funny game is to see that how many times a stone can be made to bounce before sinking. Researchs has discovered that an angle of about 20 degrees between the stone and the water's surface is optimal.
:బొమ్మ-బొరుసా)(English
: Heads or Tails)or (Toss) is a time pass game of Probability
. A Rupee
coin consists of a numeral value on one side and a figure on the other side. The side of numeral value is called Bomma (Head) and the other side is called Borusa (Tail). A person X holds a coin and asks another person Y to choose either Bomma or Borusa. X throws the coin which goes up and then falls on the ground. He wins the toss if Y's guess in wrong. He looses the toss if Y's guess is right.Bomma Borusa is still practiced at the beginning of team sports like Cricket
, Soccer, Hockey
, to decide which team to play first.
:బచ్చాలాట)(or Bachalata) game consists of two teams of boys each with 3 or more members. The game requires upper surface of old Cigar
boxes and inner papers in them. Each upper surface of cigar boxes equals to 10 inner papers of it. Players place their upper surface of old cigar boxes and inner papers one above the other in a circle drawn on the ground. The objective of the game is to hit the targets placed in the circle. The game starts with the players throwing their Bachaalu (cube shaped stones) to a distance from the circle. The player who throws his stone farthest from the circle, starts the game first. The player stands at a place (where his stone fell previously) and hits the pile in the circle once. He wins which ever come out of the circle. He is followed by another player who threw his stone next farther from the circle. The game continues until the last player who threw his stone nearest to the circle. Whoever wins the maximum number of cigar papers is the winner.
Variation: The player A who throws his stone farthest from the circle, starts the game first. The player B who throws his stone nearest from the circle, goes to the place where A's stone fell. B bends his back so that A climbs on him. Staying on B, A starts to hit the cigar targets placed in the circle, with his stone. He wins them which ever comes out because of the stone. As a strategy B keeps unstable so that A misses his target and B can left free. If A misses his target, A bends and the next player C climbs on A and hits from his place where his stone fell previously. The game goes on like this.
. In the meanwhile the runners start to approach him slowly from their border line. Whenever the catcher looks back, all the runners remain like statues. If the catcher is able to make a runner A to move or laugh, then the game ends and A will become catcher in the next turn. If the runners are able to hit the catcher, while saying LONDON, and run away to their border, then the catcher will continue the game. If the catcher is able to touch a runner B, who is about to reach his border, then B will become catcher in the next turn.
, Karra Billa (Gilli Danda), Yedu penkulata (Lagori
), Vamanaguntalu (Pallanguzhi
), Naela Banda (Oonch Neech
), Puli Joodam, Ashta Chamma - Board Game, Vaikuntapali (Snakes and ladders
), Nalugu Stambalata
, Nalugu Rallu Aata – Game of 4 stones
, Goleelu
.
Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh , is one of the 28 states of India, situated on the southeastern coast of India. It is India's fourth largest state by area and fifth largest by population. Its capital and largest city by population is Hyderabad.The total GDP of Andhra Pradesh is $100 billion and is ranked third...
may date back to ancient times, and some are extinct.
Gujjana Goollu
Gujjana Goollu (TeluguTelugu language
Telugu is a Central Dravidian language primarily spoken in the state of Andhra Pradesh, India, where it is an official language. It is also spoken in the neighbouring states of Chattisgarh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Orissa and Tamil Nadu...
:గుజ్జనగూళ్ళు లేక బువ్వాలాట)(also called Buvvalaata) is a very popular ancient time pass game, especially played by the children of Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh , is one of the 28 states of India, situated on the southeastern coast of India. It is India's fourth largest state by area and fifth largest by population. Its capital and largest city by population is Hyderabad.The total GDP of Andhra Pradesh is $100 billion and is ranked third...
. This traditional game is devoid of logic, but to children, it gives a picture on nuptial life. By 1960-1970s, this game was extinct because of Urbanization in India.
Boys get Cereals, Jaggery, Puffed rice (maramaralu) and salt etc., in little quantities from their elders. Girls place them in wooden toy kitchen set (Lakka Pidatalu)and perform an act of cooking the food on a stove and dropping down after it is cooked. Then they act as if they are eating food all together. The toy kitchen set, filled in with food, is termed as Gujjana Goollu.
After this, they decorate a couple of kiddy figures as bride and groom to perform a Toy Wedding. Following this, the children are split into two teams, one on behalf of the groom, and another on behalf of the bride. The two teams share these Gujjana Goollu among themselves. This is followed by emptying the pulp in Tamarind
Tamarind
Tamarind is a tree in the family Fabaceae. The genus Tamarindus is monotypic .-Origin:...
fruit shells, stuffing in the shells with rice, placing them in a fire stove and eating them after cooked grandly in the name of Gujjana Goollu.
Historically, the Gujjana Goollu game took birth at the time when Ramayana
Ramayana
The Ramayana is an ancient Sanskrit epic. It is ascribed to the Hindu sage Valmiki and forms an important part of the Hindu canon , considered to be itihāsa. The Ramayana is one of the two great epics of India and Nepal, the other being the Mahabharata...
and Mahabharata
Mahabharata
The Mahabharata is one of the two major Sanskrit epics of ancient India and Nepal, the other being the Ramayana. The epic is part of itihasa....
were written. This game is believed to be played by Rukmini and Garika in books like Vyasa's Bhagavata Purana
Bhagavata purana
The Bhāgavata Purāṇa is one of the "Maha" Puranic texts of Hindu literature, with its primary focus on bhakti to the incarnations of Vishnu, particularly Krishna...
and Allasani Peddana
Allasani Peddana
Allasani Peddana was a famous Telugu poet and was ranked as the foremost of the Astadiggajalu the title for the group of eight poets in the court of King Krishnadevaraya, a ruler of the Vijayanagara Empire.-Biography:...
's Manu Charitra. Today the toy kitchen set for this game is available only at Etikoppaka
Etikoppaka
Etikoppaka is a small village on the banks of Varaha River in Visakhapatnam district of Andhra Pradesh, India. This village is known for wood toys made with lacquer colors.- History :...
and nowhere else in India.
Toy Wedding
Toy WeddingWedding
A wedding is the ceremony in which two people are united in marriage or a similar institution. Wedding traditions and customs vary greatly between cultures, ethnic groups, religions, countries, and social classes...
(Telugu
Telugu language
Telugu is a Central Dravidian language primarily spoken in the state of Andhra Pradesh, India, where it is an official language. It is also spoken in the neighbouring states of Chattisgarh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Orissa and Tamil Nadu...
:బొమ్మలపెళ్ళి) (Bommala Pelli) is a game of nuptial activity with wooden toys performed by children of Andhra Pradesh. This game of recreational activity was completely extinct by the 1960s with the urbanization, industrialization and western culture influence in India.
Boys and Girls gather a 10 people toy set which includes figures of a bride
Bride
A bride is a woman about to be married or newlywed.The word may come from the Proto-Germanic verb root *brū-, meaning 'to cook, brew, or make a broth' which was the role of the daughter-in-law in primitive families...
, bridegroom and other personalities from wooden toy manufacturers. Children form into two groups, each with equal number of members to perform the marriage between a bride and groom. One boy from each group act as a wedding priest. The steps in the toy wedding go similar fashion to Hindu traditional wedding system which include Wedding looks, Engagement, Kanyadaan
Kanyadaan
Kanyadaan is an Assamese movie directed by Munin Baruah.-Story:The story is based on a joint family of a place called Bokulpur. The protagonist of the movie is the youngest son of the family who falls in love with a girl from a wealthy background of the town. He has three brothers and three...
, Mangalsutra etc. Toy Wedding ends with the groom tying Mangalsutra
Mangalsutra
A Mangalsutra is a symbol of Hindu marriage union in South Asia. It is a sacred thread of love and goodwill worn by women as a symbol of their marriage...
to the neck of the bride at an auspicious time.
Although this beautiful game has no logic, it psychologically gives a clear picture of the beauty of Indian traditional marriage system to growing children. Toy Weddings are often seen in Tollywood movies of 1950s and 1960s. Today the 10 people toy set is available only at Etikoppaka
Etikoppaka
Etikoppaka is a small village on the banks of Varaha River in Visakhapatnam district of Andhra Pradesh, India. This village is known for wood toys made with lacquer colors.- History :...
and nowhere else in India.
Ramudu Sita
Ramudu Sita (TeluguTelugu language
Telugu is a Central Dravidian language primarily spoken in the state of Andhra Pradesh, India, where it is an official language. It is also spoken in the neighbouring states of Chattisgarh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Orissa and Tamil Nadu...
:రాముడు-సీత) is a funny game played by children of Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh , is one of the 28 states of India, situated on the southeastern coast of India. It is India's fourth largest state by area and fifth largest by population. Its capital and largest city by population is Hyderabad.The total GDP of Andhra Pradesh is $100 billion and is ranked third...
until 1990s, and is extinct owing to Urbanization
Urbanization
Urbanization, urbanisation or urban drift is the physical growth of urban areas as a result of global change. The United Nations projected that half of the world's population would live in urban areas at the end of 2008....
.
The game requires writing the names of Ramayana
Ramayana
The Ramayana is an ancient Sanskrit epic. It is ascribed to the Hindu sage Valmiki and forms an important part of the Hindu canon , considered to be itihāsa. The Ramayana is one of the two great epics of India and Nepal, the other being the Mahabharata...
characters, with each character name exactly once, on few white slips of equal size, color and shape. Each of the slips are twice folded with names inside. The Ramayana characters commonly includes—Rama, Sita, Bharata, Shatrugna, Ravana, Hanuman etc.
The objective of the game is—the person who gets the slip with Rama
Rama
Rama or full name Ramachandra is considered to be the seventh avatar of Vishnu in Hinduism, and a king of Ayodhya in ancient Indian...
, drawn at random, has to guess the person who gets the slip by name Sita
SITA
SITA is a multinational information technology company specialising in providing IT and telecommunication services to the air transport industry...
.
One of the players shuffles down the slips on the floor . Each player picks up a slip at random. The players should not reveal the names of the slips to each other. Now the player who gets the slip in which the name Rama was written, has to guess the person who gets the slip in which the name Sita was written. The player scores a point if the guess is right and the game starts again. If the player mistakenly guesses a person who gets the slip in which Ravana
Ravana
' is the primary antagonist character of the Hindu legend, the Ramayana; who is the great king of Lanka. In the classic text, he is mainly depicted negatively, kidnapping Rama's wife Sita, to claim vengeance on Rama and his brother Lakshmana for having cut off the nose of his sister...
was written, he loses a point. The winner in this game is the player who wins maximum number of points.
Kothi Kommachi
Kothi Kommachi (TeluguTelugu language
Telugu is a Central Dravidian language primarily spoken in the state of Andhra Pradesh, India, where it is an official language. It is also spoken in the neighbouring states of Chattisgarh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Orissa and Tamil Nadu...
:కోతి కొమ్మచ్చి) (English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
: Tree Climbing Monkey) is a very funny outdoor game played by rural children of Andhra Pradesh. This game is played in the name of Kothi Kombe in Karnataka
Karnataka
Karnataka , the land of the Kannadigas, is a state in South West India. It was created on 1 November 1956, with the passing of the States Reorganisation Act and this day is annually celebrated as Karnataka Rajyotsava...
and Marameri kurangu in Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Pondicherry, and the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh...
. The game was extinct owing to urbanization.
At least 3 or more children, a small stick, and a ground with few trees are required to played this game.
The game starts with the Chain cut or Chain claps. In the chain claps all the children form a circle chain in standing position by holding their hands. All together they raise their hands and individually clap both hands, either with palm facing up and other palm facing down or both palms facing each other. It goes in rounds. Whoever claps distinct from others will be runner., and whoever claps uniquely in the last round will be the catcher and the others are termed as monkeys.
After the Chain claps, one of the monkeys draws a circle of 4 feet on the ground and throws the stick far away. While the catcher restores the stick back in the circle, all other monkeys climb the trees nearby. The objective of the catcher is to capture the monkeys on the trees, as long as the stick is in the circle. The catcher climbs any of the trees to capture at least one monkey, while the stick is in the circle. If any of the monkeys manages to dismount a tree and throws the stick far away, the catcher has to restore the stick and continue to capture the monkeys. The catcher cannot capture the monkeys while the stick is out of the circle. If the catcher manages to capture a monkey which is on the land by fate, then the game restarts with that monkey as catcher.
Achenagandlu
Achenagandlu (TeluguTelugu language
Telugu is a Central Dravidian language primarily spoken in the state of Andhra Pradesh, India, where it is an official language. It is also spoken in the neighbouring states of Chattisgarh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Orissa and Tamil Nadu...
:అచ్చెనగండ్లు) (also called Achamgilla or Chintapikkalata or Gachakayalata) is a favorite pass time game, especially for homely girls. This rural game is usually played with five small stones or seeds of Fevernut (Caesalpinia Bondoc) or seeds of Tamarind
Tamarind
Tamarind is a tree in the family Fabaceae. The genus Tamarindus is monotypic .-Origin:...
etc. This game is believed to have originated in ancient Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
. In ancient world, it was played by different countries. Other names for this game are: English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
- Knucklebones, Jackstones, Jacks, Dibs, Game of five stones, Onesies; Korea
Korea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
-Lee Young-Ah
The following is the variation played in Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh , is one of the 28 states of India, situated on the southeastern coast of India. It is India's fourth largest state by area and fifth largest by population. Its capital and largest city by population is Hyderabad.The total GDP of Andhra Pradesh is $100 billion and is ranked third...
. To decide who starts, a player throws five objects (say stones) into the air with one hand and tries to catch as many as possible on the back of same hand. The stones that were caught are then thrown up again from the back of the hand where they came to rest and as many as possible are caught in the palm of same hand. The other players do the same and the player who catches most stones starts the game. The game goes in anti-clockwise fashion.
In the first round, toss all the 5 stones in the floor. Then pick up 1 with your fingers and toss it in the air. Pick another one up and then catch the one you threw in the air. Pick each of them in turns. In the second round, pick 2 stones up at a time. In the third round, pick 3 stones at a time, then pick the last one up. In the fourth round pick 4 of them up. In the last step toss the stones into the air and catch them on the back of your hand. You have to snatch them off and try to catch them in your palm. The number of stones you caught in your palm is your score. If you failed to catch them its another player's turn.
Chendata
Chendata (TeluguTelugu language
Telugu is a Central Dravidian language primarily spoken in the state of Andhra Pradesh, India, where it is an official language. It is also spoken in the neighbouring states of Chattisgarh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Orissa and Tamil Nadu...
:చెండాట) (Punjabi
Punjabi language
Punjabi is an Indo-Aryan language spoken by inhabitants of the historical Punjab region . For Sikhs, the Punjabi language stands as the official language in which all ceremonies take place. In Pakistan, Punjabi is the most widely spoken language...
: Kokla Chapaki) is a funny game for children. In some states of India, this game is played in the name of Mama Che Patre or Uncle's Letter. The kerchief used in this game is termed as Chendu.
The game beings with the chain claps. The objective of the game is that 'Catcher' or 'It' who was decided in the chain claps, has to chase a runner by hitting with the kerchief. The playing members sit in a circle, keeping the eyes closed. The 'it' leaves his kerchief or scarf at the back of one of the players. It makes a round with out a sound, and hits the runner, the back of whom he placed the kerchief. It hits the runner with the kerchief for the first time. The runner has to escape from It in anti-clockwise direction around the circle of players making at least one or two rounds and take the place of It. Each round begins and ends at the place of the runner. If It manages to hit the runner with the kerchief in the second or third rounds etc., the game restarts with that Runner becoming It. If the runner successfully takes It's the place after escaping from the hittings, the game starts again with the same It.
Chuk Chuk Pulla
Chuk Chuk pulla (TeluguTelugu language
Telugu is a Central Dravidian language primarily spoken in the state of Andhra Pradesh, India, where it is an official language. It is also spoken in the neighbouring states of Chattisgarh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Orissa and Tamil Nadu...
:చుక్ చుక్ పుల్ల / వెన్నెలవత్తి ఆట)(also called Vennela Vatti Aata / Vannela Patti / Doodumbulla / Pilladee Vaata) is a funny game played by the children of rural Andhra Pradesh until late 1970s and 1980s. The game was extinct completely owing to Western influence, and Urbanization.
At least two members are required to play this game. A small stick or any Matchstick is the material required to play this game. Fine sandy area would be ideal to play this game. The objective of this game is that the Seeker has to guess the place where the match stick was dropped along with the sand.
Suppose that A and B are the players in the game. Initially A takes a match stick and covers it with a small pile of sand, about half meter in length. The objective of B, the seeker, is to guess the place of match stick in the sand. After guessing the place, B places both of his hands joined on the sand. At this moment, there are a couple of phases in the game.
First phase is that, if the match stick lies under any of B's hands, A loses the game.
In the second phase, if the match stick does not lie exactly under any of B's hands, A puts some quantity of sand along with the stick in the hands of B, whose eyes are closed with a kerchief. A carefully takes B to a nearest place. At the place A makes B to drop the sand and the stick. After this A brings B back to his place. B unties his kerchief and opens eyes. Now B has to discover the place where the match stick was dropped by him. B wins the game if he does it. If not B goes out of the game and A continues the game with others. The game enhances the power of intuition and discovery in children.
Dagudu Mootalu
Dagudu Mootalu (TeluguTelugu language
Telugu is a Central Dravidian language primarily spoken in the state of Andhra Pradesh, India, where it is an official language. It is also spoken in the neighbouring states of Chattisgarh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Orissa and Tamil Nadu...
:దాగుడుమూతలు) is a funny game similar to Hide-and-seek. Presently this game is out of existence owing to western culture influence. Dagudu Mootalu game requires at least 10 members. This game is played as follows: A member X closes the eyes of a member Y. We consider Y to be Cat and others to be Rats. X points the hands of Y towards each of the members who comes near one by one. X says 'Veeri Veeri Gummadipandu, Veeri paeraemi?'. Y has to guess the correct member when asked by X. If the guess is right, the other member from the group takes the place of Y. If not Each of the members pinch the nose of Y and hide at their safe places. X shouts "Dagudu Mootala danda kore, pilli vache yelaka bhadram, yekkadi dongalu akkade gapchip, sambaru buddi, kalloo moosi kaali kore, yekkadi dongalu akkade gapchip" and opens the eyes of Y. Now Y has to quest for the hidden members. The members have to come from their hideouts and touch X with out being captured by Y. The first member who is found and captured by Y takes the place of Y and the game restarts.
Gudu Gudu Gunjam
Gudu Gudu Gunjam (TeluguTelugu language
Telugu is a Central Dravidian language primarily spoken in the state of Andhra Pradesh, India, where it is an official language. It is also spoken in the neighbouring states of Chattisgarh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Orissa and Tamil Nadu...
:గుడు గుడు గుంజం) is a very funny game played by children in rural parts of Andhra Pradesh. The game was vanished by the 1980s and 1990s with the influence of western culture in India. The questions and answers in the game enhances the memory power in children. Two members say A and B place their fists one above the other, so that the point finger of the third member C can be fit in. C puts his point finger in the closed fists of A and rotates in it. While rotating his finger he says "Gudu Gudu Gunjam, Gunda raagam; Pamuni patnam, padaga raagam; Katte vaeyyana, Badde vaeyyana?; Vaenneelleyyana? Channeelleyyana?". Vaenneellu indicates hot water, and Channeellu indicates cold water. A can choose either Vaenneellu or Channeellu. A gets a hard pinch on his fist for Vaenneellu and a little pinch for Channeellu from C. A puts his hands at his back. Now the scene of C questioning and A answering, goes as given below.
| Question | Translation | Answer | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pilli, Nee Chetulaevi? | Cat! where're your hands? | Pilli Ettukupoyindi | Cat took them away |
| Ekkadi Daaka? | To where? | Golkonda Golkonda Golkonda or Golla konda a ruined city of south-central India and capital of ancient Kingdom of Golkonda , is situated 11 km west of Hyderabad.The most important builder of Golkonda was a Hindu Kakatiya King... Daaka |
To Golkonda |
| Golkonda Aemi Icchindi? | What did Golkonda give? | Guddi Gavva | Blind Cowry Cowry Cowry, also sometimes spelled cowrie, plural cowries, is the common name for a group of small to large sea snails, marine gastropod molluscs in the family Cypraeidae, the cowries... |
| Guddi Gavvanu Yemi chaesavu? | What did you do with Guddi Gavva? | Kummari ki Ichaanu | I gave it to a potter |
| Kummari Yaemi Ichaadu? | What did the potter give? | Kunda | a Pot |
| Kunda ni Yaemi Chaesavu? | What did you do with the Pot? | Maa Taata ki Ichaanu | I gave it to my grand pa |
| Mee Taata Yaemi Chaesadu? | What did your grand pa do? | Neellu taeboyi nootilo padaesadu | Dropped it in the well while drawing water |
| Nuyyi Yaemi Ichindi? | What did the well give? | Neellu | Water |
| Neellanu Yaemi Chaesavu? | What did you do with the water? | Mokkalaku Posanu | Watered the plants |
| Mokkalu Yaemi Ichayi? | What did the plants give? | Puvvulu | Flowers |
| Puvvulanu Yaemi Chaesavu? | What did you do with flowers? | Maa Appa Koppulo Paettanu | I put them in the plait of my aunt |
| Koppu Yaemi Ichindi? | What did the plait give? | Paenu | Lice |
| Paenu ni Yaemi Chaesavu? | What did you do with the Lice? | Gaedapakaesi Kukkanu | Squashed it to the door case |
| Gaedapa Yaemi Ichindi? | What did door case give? | Chekka | Wood |
| Chekka Yaemi Chaesavu? | What did you do wit the wood? | Poyyalo Padaesanu | I threw it in the fire stove |
| Poyya Yaemi Ichindi? | What did fire stove give? | Boodida | Ash |
| Boodidanu Yaemi Chaesavu? | What did you do with the ash? | Pentalo Padaesanu | I threw it the dirt |
| Penta Yaemi Ichindi? | What did the dirt give? | Yeruvu | Compost |
| Yeruvu ni Yaemi chaesavu? | What did you do with compost? | Chaenuki Vaesanu | Fed the paddy field |
| Chaenu Yaemi Ichindi? | What did the paddy field give? | Paccha gaddi | green grass |
| Paccha gaddini yaemi chaesavu? | What did you do with green grass? | Aavu ki Vaesanu | Fed the cow |
| Aavu Yaemi Ichindi? | What did the cow give? | Paalu | Milk |
| Paalu ni Yaemi chaesavu? | What did you do with milk? | Paramannam vandaanu | I cooked rice porride |
| Paramannam Yaemi chaesavu? | What did you do with rice porridge? | Vutti meeda pettaanu | I kept in on stove / almarah |
| Naakkooda Pettava? | Would you give something for me? | Laedu, Maavalla pilla vachi anta naaki poyindi | No, one of our girls secretly licked and went off |
This ends C questioning A. Again this is followed by C questioning and B answering, as above. The winner is the player who answers maximum number of questions. Based on the concept of hiding fists, a Tollywood movie with the title of this game was directed by Veeru Dwaith and produced by Ravi Kumar Reddy in 2010.
Daadi
Daadi (TeluguTelugu language
Telugu is a Central Dravidian language primarily spoken in the state of Andhra Pradesh, India, where it is an official language. It is also spoken in the neighbouring states of Chattisgarh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Orissa and Tamil Nadu...
:దాడి) is an ancient board game, originated in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
by name Nine Men's Morris
Nine Men's Morris
Nine Men's Morris is an abstract strategy board game for two players that emerged from the Roman Empire. The game is also known as Nine Man Morris, Mill, Mills, Merels, Merelles, and Merrills in English....
. The game is for two or four players. Two pairs of men use pieces of different colours. Each player uses 9 pieces. In other words there will be 9x4=36 tokens in the game. Players capture the opponent by forming mills. A mill is a 3 or more pieces of same color in a row, along a board line. For each mill formed, the player may capture the opponent's piece. It is removed from the board and cannot return. When one player has 2 or fewer pieces left on the board, the game is over and that player will lose the game. It is possible to form two mills in one turn, in which case two pieces are captured. To prevent a single mill from a decisive advantage, a mill is not counted if it is formed by moving a piece from a mill and moving it back in the immediately following turn.
Kappa Gantulu
Kappa Gantulu (TeluguTelugu language
Telugu is a Central Dravidian language primarily spoken in the state of Andhra Pradesh, India, where it is an official language. It is also spoken in the neighbouring states of Chattisgarh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Orissa and Tamil Nadu...
:కప్ప గంతులు) (English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
: Frog Jumps or Stone Skimming or Stone skipping
Stone skipping
Stone skipping is a pastime which involves throwing a stone with a flattened surface across a lake or other body of water in such a way that it bounces off the surface of the water. The object of the game is to see how many times a stone can be made to bounce before sinking.-Names:In North America...
or Ducks & Drakes) is a favorite pass time game for children. The game involves throwing a stone with a flattend surface across a lake, a pond or other body of water in such a way that it bounces off the surface of the water. The objective of this funny game is to see that how many times a stone can be made to bounce before sinking. Researchs has discovered that an angle of about 20 degrees between the stone and the water's surface is optimal.
Bomma Borusa
Bomma Borusa (TeluguTelugu language
Telugu is a Central Dravidian language primarily spoken in the state of Andhra Pradesh, India, where it is an official language. It is also spoken in the neighbouring states of Chattisgarh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Orissa and Tamil Nadu...
:బొమ్మ-బొరుసా)(English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
: Heads or Tails)or (Toss) is a time pass game of Probability
Probability
Probability is ordinarily used to describe an attitude of mind towards some proposition of whose truth we arenot certain. The proposition of interest is usually of the form "Will a specific event occur?" The attitude of mind is of the form "How certain are we that the event will occur?" The...
. A Rupee
Rupee
The rupee is the common name for the monetary unit of account in India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Pakistan, Mauritius, Seychelles, Maldives, and formerly in Burma, and Afghanistan. Historically, the first currency called "rupee" was introduced in the 16th century...
coin consists of a numeral value on one side and a figure on the other side. The side of numeral value is called Bomma (Head) and the other side is called Borusa (Tail). A person X holds a coin and asks another person Y to choose either Bomma or Borusa. X throws the coin which goes up and then falls on the ground. He wins the toss if Y's guess in wrong. He looses the toss if Y's guess is right.Bomma Borusa is still practiced at the beginning of team sports like Cricket
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
, Soccer, Hockey
Hockey
Hockey is a family of sports in which two teams play against each other by trying to maneuver a ball or a puck into the opponent's goal using a hockey stick.-Etymology:...
, to decide which team to play first.
Bachaala Aata
Bachaala Aata (TeluguTelugu language
Telugu is a Central Dravidian language primarily spoken in the state of Andhra Pradesh, India, where it is an official language. It is also spoken in the neighbouring states of Chattisgarh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Orissa and Tamil Nadu...
:బచ్చాలాట)(or Bachalata) game consists of two teams of boys each with 3 or more members. The game requires upper surface of old Cigar
Cigar
A cigar is a tightly-rolled bundle of dried and fermented tobacco that is ignited so that its smoke may be drawn into the mouth. Cigar tobacco is grown in significant quantities in Brazil, Cameroon, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Honduras, Indonesia, Mexico, Nicaragua, Philippines, and the Eastern...
boxes and inner papers in them. Each upper surface of cigar boxes equals to 10 inner papers of it. Players place their upper surface of old cigar boxes and inner papers one above the other in a circle drawn on the ground. The objective of the game is to hit the targets placed in the circle. The game starts with the players throwing their Bachaalu (cube shaped stones) to a distance from the circle. The player who throws his stone farthest from the circle, starts the game first. The player stands at a place (where his stone fell previously) and hits the pile in the circle once. He wins which ever come out of the circle. He is followed by another player who threw his stone next farther from the circle. The game continues until the last player who threw his stone nearest to the circle. Whoever wins the maximum number of cigar papers is the winner.
Variation: The player A who throws his stone farthest from the circle, starts the game first. The player B who throws his stone nearest from the circle, goes to the place where A's stone fell. B bends his back so that A climbs on him. Staying on B, A starts to hit the cigar targets placed in the circle, with his stone. He wins them which ever comes out because of the stone. As a strategy B keeps unstable so that A misses his target and B can left free. If A misses his target, A bends and the next player C climbs on A and hits from his place where his stone fell previously. The game goes on like this.
Kiriki
Kiriki is an addictive and fun dice game for 2 to 6 players. Participants have to collect points by rolling five dice for up to 3 times per single turn. Each roll generates a specific combination of numbers which the player is free to either accept or decline. However, each specific combination of numbers can be accepted only once. After 13 turns the game ends and the scores are compared. The player with the largest amount of points wins the game. This is a very rare game played by children in rural areas of Andhra Pradesh.London Aata
The very funny game is said to have originated at the time of British rule in India. At least 10 members are required to play this game. It starts with the chain claps. The catcher, decided by the chain claps stands near a wall, closes his eyes and faces the wall. He spells L O N D O N – LondonLondon
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. In the meanwhile the runners start to approach him slowly from their border line. Whenever the catcher looks back, all the runners remain like statues. If the catcher is able to make a runner A to move or laugh, then the game ends and A will become catcher in the next turn. If the runners are able to hit the catcher, while saying LONDON, and run away to their border, then the catcher will continue the game. If the catcher is able to touch a runner B, who is about to reach his border, then B will become catcher in the next turn.
Other games
Tokkudu BillaTokkudu Billa
-Introduction:Tokkudu Billa is a type of Hopscotch played by girls in rural villages of Andhra Pradesh. It is also played as Kunte Bille in Karnataka. Girls play this recreational sport by hopping on the squares...
, Karra Billa (Gilli Danda), Yedu penkulata (Lagori
Lagori
- External links :*...
), Vamanaguntalu (Pallanguzhi
Pallanguzhi
Pallanghuzi, or Pallankuli, is a traditional mancala game played in South India, especially Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala. Variants are called as Vamana guntalu and Kuzhipara...
), Naela Banda (Oonch Neech
Oonch Neech
Oonch Neech is a rural and urban street children's game and variation of Tag game played of North India and Pakistan. Oonch Neech translates Up and Down in English....
), Puli Joodam, Ashta Chamma - Board Game, Vaikuntapali (Snakes and ladders
Snakes and ladders
Snakes and Ladders is an ancient Indian board game regarded today as a worldwide classic. It is played between two or more players on a game board having numbered, gridded squares. A number of "ladders" and "snakes" are pictured on the board, each connecting two specific board squares...
), Nalugu Stambalata
Nalugu Stambalata
Nalugu Stambalata is a children's game popular in the 1960s and 70s, when the joint family system flourished in Andhra Pradesh, India.Children used to play this game in Manduva Logili houses, which are constructed with several wooden pillars and an open space at the center. The game was also...
, Nalugu Rallu Aata – Game of 4 stones
Nalugu Rallu Aata – Game of 4 stones
Nalugu Rallu Aata is a very ancient traditional outdoor 4-player game played by the children of the past generation, until late 1960s and '80s in many rural districts of Andhra Pradesh State. The origin and the birth of this game is unknown...
, Goleelu
Goleelu
-Introduction:Goleelu is a genre of marble games played by boys in rural parts of Andhra Pradesh and in few states of India. Now this Marble games are extinct because of Urbanization and advent of Cricket sport in India...
.