Traditional Games of India

10 Traditional Games of India with Pictures and Names

Presently the youth has endless means for entertainment. They play indoor or outdoor games + in this digital world they also play online games on mobile and pass their time. But in this fast-paced world, the new generation has forgotten the traditional games which are not only a good source of entertainment but also best for mental and physical health. So we have compiled a list of 10 traditional games of India with names and pictures, so that you can know about the games and how they are all played!

Playing sports is a good thing as these make your body mentally and physically strong. And to keep your body fit, nothing is better than the classic old games which not only good for physical body development but also best for mental and brain exercise.

Here’s all about the 10 Traditional Games of India, offer a refreshing blend of fun, fitness, and camaraderie. Have a look at these desi sports list with images and name below:

1. Gilli Danda

A man playing Gilli danda and this images shows - Gilli, Danda and Gilli ka Ghar
Image Credit: Flickr.com

Gill danda is most famous classic game that still played in many village or town areas of India. It is played with 2 piece of wooden sticks and fall under the bat-ball game category where big stick (the danda) is considered as bat and small stick (the gilli) considered as ball.

This game is played between either 2 teams or 2 players where one would be the striker and other would be defender. The striker hits the Gilli with Danda and on the other side defender try to catch the Gilli in the air so the defending team can get the striker out.

More you can know about the Gilli danda game here, we have explained everything about this desi sport in detail, so don’t forget to read it.

2. Kabaddi

A player is in the field and chanting kabaddi kabaddi kabaddi

Kabaddi is very old and one of famous traditional games of India from Mahabharata times which is still played on many local, state, national and international level. Like other games, this game is played between 2 teams.  Each team has 12 players but on ground only 7 players play the game while other 5 sits on the bench as the substitutes and can be replaced with other players in breaks or timeout.

The Aim of this game to chant Kabbadi Kabaddi continuous in single breath and touch the other the players of opposite team and get them all out. We have covered about the Kabaddi and its rules in operate article, I encourage read both to know more!

3. Kho Kho

kho kho game

The game of Kho-Kho is also popular in India among teens, adults, and old age people. This was one of favorite game of girls but nowadays it is also played by boys on different occasions. This game is played between 2 teams, and it can be played indoor or outdoor.

At professional level, in the Kho-Kho game 12 players from each team is played but on ground only 8 play and rest 4 sit on the bench as substitutes.  The team who sit on ground having size 27 by 16 meters called chaser while the players of other team are called runners.

From runner team 3 players come on ground as a group, and the chaser will try to chase all of them one by one with the help of other players who sit on the ground by passing “Kho.” Once chaser team, tag all 3 runners… next batch of 3 runners join the ground.

The game is played in 2 innings of 9 minutes. After 1 inning, a 5 minutes break is given and then chaser become runner and runner become chaser. We have covered about the Kho Kho, Kho-Kho Ground, and its Rules in separate article so please read them too.

4. Pithu or Pithoo (Seven Stones Game)

Pithoo or lagori or Seven stone games is quite famous in India and world among kids and teens. It is played between 2 teams having players 5-7 in each team. In this game, 7 stones are placed in stack or pile form means the larger size stone would be at bottom, then next larger and 2nd, then third larger at 3rd and in last the smaller one which is the 7th stone would be on top.

Players from team 1, hits the pile of stone with a ball and their aim is to arrange all stones in the same order. While at the same time, the players of team 2 will stop them to not complete this arrangement and for this they have to tag the ball.

5. Chupan Chupai (Hide & Seek)

A girl is trying to hide inside a blue tub so seeker can't find

The game of Chupan Chupai also known as hide & seek which is popular in every part of India and played by nearly every age people. It is a traditional game which still played in many areas to get over from boredom. It can be played inside the house or outdoor in a specific zone.

In this game, a person called seeker close the eyes and count from 1 to 10. This counting can be from 1 to 50 or 1 to 100 and meanwhile the other players called hiders find a safe and secure hiding spots so the seeker can’t find easily or catch him in last.

Once seeker completes the count… he/she says are you ready I’m coming… and here the fun begins and the seeker needs to find all hiders.

Whoever the first hider found by seeker, he will become the next seeker… but there is a catch. The game isn’t over yet, the seeker has to find remaining hiders and if any hider says “Dhapaa” to seeker then the game will reset and seeker has to count again.

This is very interesting and fun-packed game that can be played anytime with 2 or more players. You can even play it with family members and enjoy some free time.

6. Kanche (Marbles Game)

Kanche is a traditional sport that is still played by many children or teens in town or village area. In this game, multiple sub games fall like Pill Chhot, Kali Jotaa, Chakari, Tana Maranaa etc. In home backyard, or in very small space it can be played with 1  or player individual or as team.

7. Stapoo

Stapoo is kind of hopscotch where 8 box creating in grid form – 4 box left side and 4 on right side. It can be played with more than 1 player inside home or outdoor.

To play this game a flat but in round shaped or square shaped stone, or wooden piece is required which player throw in box. The rule is… the marker aka piece of stone shouldn’t touch the border or any line or shouldn’t fall in another box, if it does touch or bounce in other box then next player turn will come.

So when this game is played, the player throw marker in box 1, and  on one foot first he pick marker and then jump to 2nd box and then 3rd. In 4rth and 5th box the player can be on 2 foot and later the player need to cross all remaining boxes i.e. the 6th, 7th and 8th on one foot.

If player does it without touching boundaries then he/she will play continue and this time the player throw marker in 2nd box. Now on one foot player jump on box 1, and then jump on box 2 and pick marker and then jump on 3rd box and then on 4rth. In 4 and 5th box player be on both foot and then again jump on 6th with one foot and then on 7th and 8th box.

In some stapoo game variations, instead of picking the marker the player kicks it with one foot from one box to another. Like for very first turn if he/she throw it in box 1, the on one foot the player will kick the marker from box 1 to box 2 and then box 2 to box 3 and so on till box 8 and finally from box 8 to out of grid. In this whole time, the marker should be in the box if it touch grid, then turn will over!

8. Kith Kith (Hopscotch)

This is same as stapoo, instead of grid structure having 8 boxes… the hopscotch has 10 box and rules to play this game is mostly similar to Stapoo game.  Here’s how the game of hopscotch is played:

  • Throw the object: The first player throws the object into the first square. 1
  • Hop through the squares: The player then hops on one foot through each square, skipping the square with the object in it.
  • Pick up the object: When the player reaches the end of the court, they turn around and hop back, picking up the object on one foot.

9. Kite Flying

The Kite flying game is usually played on some special occasions during Basant Panchimi festival or during the Independence day of India. In states, it is played on some special days where multiple players participate and fly kites and here when two kites are close enough, the flyers attempt to maneuver their kites so that the string of one kite cuts the string of the other

10. Aankh Micholi

Aankh Micholi

Anakh Micholoi also known as Blind Man’s Bluff is very interesting game which can be played inside home with family members or outside with bunch of friends. It is popular among kids, teens and adults. In this game, players close the eyes and find other players or tag.

In some variations, the eyes are covered by a black cloth and when the blindfolded player catches someone, they “tag” them by touching them. The tagged player then becomes the new blindfolded player and family members enjoy it a lot during their free time.

Final Words

In addition to that, in extreme weather conditions like too hot, too cold, or rainy when outdoor games not possible to play, the indoor games are preferred and here some of popular indoor games like Ludo, Snakes and Ladders, Raja Rani Chor Sipahi, Cards, Chess are played. These indoor games are quite good for metal skills and a person like kid, teen or adult can learn in better way.

Indoor games are still played by many people and they are all now available to play online on mobile. But friends if you want to stay physically fit and healthy, then you should play traditional games in your free time with your friends or family members.

Want know more about the classic old games? Please comment below and don’t forget to share the list of 10 traditional games of India with others on social media platforms and keep exploring https://greengroundsports.com/ for more updates related to sports.

Comments

No comments yet. Why don’t you start the discussion?

    Leave a Reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *