Gilli Danda is a desi sport and very popular classic game that has been played in the villages and cities of India and other countries for centuries. This local game is not only a source of entertainment but also an important part of Indian culture. This game doesn’t need hi-tech or expensive equipment and can be played with long stick (Danda) and a small stick (Gilli) in an open space or backyard with 2 or more players.
To give you more details on Gilli-Danda sport, we come up with history, playing equipment, and rules. Let’s learn about this ancient game and understand how it is played, what are the benefits, and what’s the current status of Gilli Danda sport in India or in different part of world.
History and Importance of Gilly Danda
The history of GillyDanda game is very old and as per some scholars it is believed that game of Gilli and Danda is about 2500 years old and its roots go back to the Maurya period. Regarding its name, this game is known by various names in different parts of India such as ‘Dandi Billo’ in Gujarat, ‘Viti Dandu’ in Maharashtra, and ‘Kitti Kitti’ in Tamil Nadu.
This game not only popular in India by different names, but you can track its roots outside the India in various other countries. Though the playing style of this game is same with a long and short stick but its name is somewhat different and here’s the list of other names of Gilli-Danda sports which is popular as:
- English: Tip-cat
- Sindhi: Iti-Dakar (اٽي ڏڪر)
- Odia: guli-badi (ଗୁଲି ବାଡ଼ି)
- Regional variations: dabalapua (ଡାବଲପୁଆ), pilabadi (ପିଲବାଡ଼ି) in Phulbani, guti-dabula (ଗୁଟିଡାବୁଳ) in Balasore
- Bhojpuri: gulli-ṭāṇ
- Persian: alak-doulak (الک دولک)
- Bengali: dānggűli (ডাঙ্গুলি)
- Assamese: Tang Guti (টাং গুটি)
- Kannada: chinni-kolu (ಚಿನ್ನಿ ಕೋಲು)
- Malayalam: kuttiyum kolum
- Marathi: vitti-dandu (विट्टी दांडू)
- Konkani: Koyando-bal (कोयंडो बाल)
- Tamil: kitti-pul (கிட்டி-புல்)
- Telugu: Gooti-Billa, Karra-Billa, Billam-Godu, chirra-gonay (in Telangana)
- Punjabi: Gulli-Danda (گُلی ڈنڈا/ਗੁੱਲ਼ੀ ਡੰਡਾ)
- Saraiki: Geeti Danna (گیٹی ڈنا)
- Pashto: Ampra kaakay (am pra ka kay)
- Cambodian: Kon ko
- Indonesian: Pathel Lele
- Tagalog: syatong
- Ilonggo: awe petew
- Turkish: çelikçomak
- Zomi: ciang sat
- Vietnamese: “Đánh Trỏng” or “Đánh Khăng”
- Cuban: Quimbumbia
- Italian: Lippa
The importance of Gilly Danda is not limited to just one game. This game plays an important role in the physical and mental development of children. The activities involved in it like running, jumping, and aiming, increase the physical ability of a person which make them strong from inside and outside.
Also, this game develops the ability to make strategies and make quick decisions. You can think and enhance the playing skills and perform better in life!
Playing equipment and ground
The game of GilliDanda doesn’t need a heavy budget. This game just need three main things which are – 1st Gilli, 2nd Danda, and 3rd an open playing ground. In addition to that players are required, it can be played between 2 players or 2 teams.
Gilli and Danda
Gill and danda are just sticks and if you have a 2.5 feet long stick then you can very easily make 2 things out of that 2.5 feet long stick. You can cut the stick into 2 parts using a hand saw – keep the length of one part 2 feet which will be the danda and the rest will be the gilli.
If the size of the remaining part is still big then you can again cut it in half and make 2 smaller gilli as the ideal length of gilli is around 3-4 or 4-6 inches. You can get more details on Gilli and Danda size here as we have covered in detail and you won’t get confused.
- Gilli: It is a small wooden stick, which is usually 3-4 inches or 4-6 inches long. Both its ends are pointed.
- Danda: It is a long wooden stick, which is about 2 feet long. It is used to hit the Gilli.
If you are familiar with Cricket, then the wickets are the Danda, and bails are Gilli. However the shape of Gilli would be bit in oval shape as shown in the below given screenshot.
Gilli Danda Ground
Gilly Danda is an outdoor game, so you need open space of around minimum 500 sq yard so that you can hit the gilli to the desired distance. The playing field can be any open space like it can be a small ground, backyard space, park, vacant plot, or a school playground.
Make sure the ground is flat, grassy, and free from any obstacles. If something is bit odd or having stones, it is best clear the area else injuries can be happened.
Rules of the game and how to play
The rules for playing Gilli Danda are very simple. The striker has to hit the Gilli out of the circle with the stick and stay in the game without getting out.
Based on the zone or country, you may find some variation in the Gilli Danda gamae but overall the playing style will be same which is hit the Gilli, earn more score and win the game.
The game of GillDanda is played between 2 players or 2 teams. The number of players in each team can vary, but usually there are 2 to 5 players. The main rules of the game are as follows :
Rule 1: Tossing the Gilli
The player hits one end of the Gilli with the stick and tosses it in the air. So the one whose gilli is near the circle,will play first and you can count the distance of Gilli from Circle with Danda (Stick).
Alternatively, you can avoid it and toss with a coin. You can take a coin, toss it in the air, and start the game by deciding heads or tails.
Rule 2: Hitting the Gilli
Now it is time to start the game and here the striker (or team) has 3 chances to hit the gilli away from the circle. If striker misses all 3 chances, then party over and other team will join… however if striker successfully hits the Gilli and he remain in the game.
As you aware now that a player or team has only 3 chances… there is a rule to strike Gilli. You can’t simply throw the Gilli out of Circle with Danda… there is way to strike it and the way is…
- First Strike (Soft strike): Place the Gilli inside the circle, and strike it with danda. Don’t use too much force, it should be in the air for few seconds, so you can strike it hard.
- Second Strike (Hard strike): Now when the gilli is in the air, hit it hard with the stick and send it away from the circle.
Rule 3: Measuring the Distance and Award Points
The distance from where the gilli falls to the ‘gilli ka ghar’ is measured with a stick. The number of points awarded is the number of the length of the stick by which the gilli has fallen.
In some variations, the distance measured concept is not used and instead they mark the ground area like if the Gilli falls in this area, then 2 points will be awarded, if it lands in this then 3, or if it lands beyond this area or in this special zone then 4 points will be rewarded.
Meanwhile, the defending team makes a plan so that they can get the striker out.
Rule 4: Defending Team – Getting out
The job of the defending team is to get the striker out by either catching the gilli in the air or by hitting the Danda (placed on the circle border) with the Gilli. This is quite similar to catch out or run out in the cricket respectively.
So when the striker strikes the Gilli, the player of defending team try to catch the Gilli in air without touching ground. If the player successfully catches the Gill the striker gets out. But if he misses… the Striker gets the points (like 2, 3, or 4) and now the player of defending team needs to strike the Danda with Gilli.
So here… If the gilli falls on the ground, the striker then places the stick on the circle and the player of the opposing team tries to hit that stick. If they succeed then the striker will be out, but if he misses then the striker will keep playing again and again until you get him out
Rule 5: Winner
The team which scores more points will be the winner. In case if the scores are equal, you can play more. This is quite similar too Cricket or Football where match is played for few extra minutes!
Game strategies and skills
Gilli-danda is not just a game of strength, but it also requires a lot of skills, efforts, and strategies. Some important skills and strategies that you should know to master the game of Gilli and Danda are:
1. Accurate aim
Accurate aim is required to hit the gilli in the right direction and distance. This involves hitting the gilli at the right angle with the danda and sending it in the desired direction. The player must develop coordination between his hands and eyes.
2. Speed estimation
It is important to correctly estimate the speed of the flying gilli, especially when it is being hit in the air. The player must quickly assess the speed and flight path of the gilli so that he can hit it at the right time and in the right manner.
3. Fielding skills
The players of the opposing team need to have fast reactions and good catching ability. This includes catching the gilli in the air or on the ground, running fast and being in the right position to stop the gilli.
4. Teamwork
Coordination between team members is essential for good fielding and strategy making. Players must communicate effectively with each other, cover their areas, and play according to the team strategy.
5. Strategic thinking
Players must be able to change their strategies according to the game situation. This may include:
- Hitting the gilli in different directions to confuse the opposing team.
- Selecting shots based on the position of the fielders.
- Adopting offensive or defensive strategies according to the game score and time left.
- Identifying the strong and weak players of the opposing team and playing accordingly.
These skills and strategies make gilli-danda more than a simple game, requiring physical ability as well as mental agility and in today’s world it is important!
Benefits of Gilli Danda
Every game has some benefits and GilliDanda is not different. In this game you learn about the social skills, you can work on the communication skills, you can plan better, share your thoughts with other experts in same niche and boost the confidence to next level.
Apart from that, this is an outdoor game which helps a lot in improving physical health. You run, you walk and move every muscles of body. This increases strength and stamina which makes you fit among others. Additionally, this game helps to keep your brain active which is good for mental development.
Last, Gilli Danda game can be played without any expensive equipment, making it accessible to all. You can play it anywhere anytime in an open space.
Current status and future of Gilly Danda
Although Gilli Danda is a traditional game, its popularity is declining in modern times. Due to urbanization and the growing influence of technology, the new generation is moving away from this game.
But still a number of organizations and individuals are making efforts to keep this game alive. Gilli Danda tournaments are organized in many schools, local gaming centers, and youth clubs. Moreover, some states have recognized this game as their traditional games which played by girls and boys.
Gilli danda in recent news:
- Gilli-Danda game at Sanskrit University, Varanasi, commentary in Sanskrit: Students wearing dhoti-kurta took aerial shots, gilli fell up to 100 feet away
- Delhi university is also doing great job and in new session, desi games including gilli danda will be played.
There are various opinions about the future of Gilli Danda. Some people believe that this game will slowly become extinct, while some believe that with the growing trend towards traditional games, Gilli Danda may become popular again.
Conclusion
The game of Gilli Danda is not just a means of entertainment but also a symbol of our cultural and historical heritage. The classic childhood game has a unique blend of physical skill, mental skill, strategy, and teamwork, which makes it special and popular in many other countries as well.
In today’s digital age, where people spend most of the time in front of mobile or TV screens, it is extremely important to promote traditional games like Gilli Danda. These games are best for mental development, not only promote physical health but also keep us connected to our roots.
If you checkout the old books, you will find out that Gilli Danda game is a living part of our culture that has been passed on for generations. We should take responsibility to preserve this game & hand it over to future generations, so they too can enjoy this unique game & stay connected to their heritage.
Also, the moral and social teachings hidden in Gilli Danda can also help in our personality development. Through this sport we can not only achieve physical fitness but also develop qualities like cooperation, patience and leadership. The revival of such games will not only help preserve our culture but will also inspire today’s generation towards a balanced and healthy lifestyle.
