There are lots of indoor or outdoor games played by kids, teenagers and adults all across India but only a few of them are still being played for a long time. Although with the development of modern online gaming many people don’t play the traditional games anymore… but in many village or town area the classic outdoor game is still a big source of entertainment and which keeps people busy and keeps their body and mind completely fit. So, if you would like to know what are the popular Indian Traditional games, we will let you know about the 10 most popular traditional games of India with pictures and names.
These games you can play with friends and stay fit & active. You can also make a career in these games in professional zone by playing at state, National and International level. For example: The Kho-Kho or Kabaddi sports, you can make a professional career in these sports and promote game among other communities at National and International level.
Popular Traditional Games of India
India’s cultural and historical heritage is reflected not only in architecture and art, but also in our traditional games. Despite the advent of technology and modern sports, the traditional games of our country still hold a special place in the lives of people. These games not only provide entertainment, but also promote collectivism, mental skills and physical health. Let’s know about 10 such traditional Indian games, which are still popular among the people.
1. Kabaddi
Kabaddi is a game of India that has made its mark from rural areas to the international stage. It is considered a game of physical strength, speed and strategy. The main objective of this game is to go to the opponent’s area and touch the players and come back, that too without breathing.
This game is played with different names in many parts of the Indian subcontinent and it is a national game of Bangladesh. You can get more details on Kabaddi game here and learn how this game is played, what are the basic rules, what are the tricks to win the game without penalty.
2. Gilli-Danda
Gilli-Danda is a very popular game of rural India and also popular in Pakistan, which is very much liked among children and youth and with different names like Viti Dandu, Tip-Cat, Gulli Danda etc. It is played with the help of two wooden sticks – a short one around 4-6 inches called Gilli and a long one around 2 feet is called Danda.
The player strikes the gilli in the air with a long stick and tries to hit gilli as far as possible from the circle. This game is not only a source of fun but also improves accuracy and quick decision making ability.
In present time, the sports of Gilli danda is played in many sports related events in School or Colleges at professional level between 2 teams of different districts or states. Many states like Maharashtra, Bihar accept and promote these native sports like Gulel, and Gilli danda as these require less resources.
3. Marbles (Kancha Game)
The game of marbles is extremely popular among children, and teens in village and town. To play this game, small to mid size colourful glass marbles are used in this game. Players try to target and knock out other marbles with their marbles. This game not only improves the eye-hand coordination of children but also develops strategic thinking.
Some of the popular Kancha game like Pill Chot and Kali Jota are still the best games that people love to play anytime to win more marbles from the opponent player or players. All you need bunch of marbles like 7 to 10, then you can play the game. We have explained about what is Kancha game and how to play in separate article, If you haven’t read that yet we advice you must read to know more about the popular Kancha game.
4. Stapoo
Stapoo is a desi hopscotch game that you can play indoor or outdoor and it requires balance, coordination, and a bit of strategy. In this a grid of 8 box is created and player has to cross all box on one leg, but first the player has to put a wooden or stone shaped (squared or circular) object called stapoo in a box. For the first time, it would be box 1, and if player successfully crosses all remaining boxes on one leg without touching boundary line then next time the player has to put the stapoo in box 2 and this goes on till Box 8.
Note: In Box 4, and Box 5 the player can be relax, means he can stand on 2 legs.
This game has 2 variations:
- Basic: In this, player put stapoo in a box, and then on one leg pick it and then on one leg cross remaining boxes.
- Advance: This is bit interesting and thrilling, instead of picking the stapoo, the player has to move it another box with one leg. In short, the player has to kick the stapoo from box 1 to box 2 and box 2 to box 3 and so on until box 8. If the player’s foot or the stapoo lands on the grid then he is out.
5. Pitthu (Seven Stones)
Pitthu, also known as Saat Patthar or Seven Stones, is an exciting game played in every corner of India. To play this, a pile of seven stones is made and a ball is used. One team breaks the pile of stones and tries to re-set it, while the other team targets them with a ball to stop them. This game is a great example of teamwork and strategy.
The game of Pitthu is part of Indian sports culture from ancient or Mahabharata time. In many ancient books like Bhagavata Purana, It is mentioned that Lord Krishna used to play Pitthu game with his friends… and the same has been also shown in many Indian mythological TV series.
To play this game you need an open ground, and 5-7 players required in each team. Apart from that, you need 7 stones of different sizes the first one would be bigger and last one would be smaller. The team has to build the tower of stones in same order as it was to win game while other team job is to tag all player with ball to eliminate.
6. Chhuppan Chhuppai (Aankh Micholi)
Chhuppan Chhuppai or Luka Chhupi or Aankh Micholi is very interesting game where seeker counts number from 1 to 50 and meanwhile others the hiders hide themselves in a safe place so the seeker can’t find them. Once the seeker is ready to find the hiders, the seeker shouts Are you ready? I am coming…. and here the seeker starts to find the the hiders one by one and say I found you and this way whom the seeker found first would be the next seeker.
While playing, the hiders can safely change hiding places and move around within a selected range. If a hider tags a seeker or says Dhappa, the seeker will again count from 1 to 50 and find the hiders.
This Chhuppan Chhuppai game is a desi version of Hide and Seek game which is quite popular in USA, Europe, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. The playing style of this game in other countries is same , the one the seeker will find the hiders and hiders will hide so the seeker can’t find.
7. Pakdam Pakdai
Pakdam Pakdai is a simple game where a player has to catch other player. This is an endless game as each player objective is to catch other player. So, if in your group there are 7 players, then player 1 can catch any random player out of 6 and once player 1 catch other player, the other player now has to catch other player and it goes on.
This game requires continue running and some rest points. If catcher coming near you, you have to run but if you are in safe zone the catcher can’t do anything. The game usually ends when all the players get tired and trust me, it is one of the best sports, it builds strength and running skills in the individual.
8. Kho Kho
Kho Kho is a traditional tag game of India, in which fast running and teamwork are important. In this game, players of one team try to out the players of the other team by touching them. The rules and structure of Kho Kho make it special, and it is still played in schools and competitions.
In India, now Kho Kho is played at District, National, International level. Apart from that, domestic professional leagues like Ultimate Kho Kho is also played by many professional and new players. A number of players from different states participate in this game and make career opportunities.
9. Snakes and Ladders
Snakes and Ladders is a traditional board game of India, which has been a favorite among children and adults for centuries. This game is not only entertaining, but also teaches the ups and downs of life. In modern times, it has also started being played as mobile and computer games, but the experience to play on board is of next level.
This game can be played between 2 players or max 4 players and each player represent their position on the board with green, blue, yellow and red tokens (shape like a button). Apart from that, a dice is used where 1 to 6 numbers printed in form of dots – 1 dot means 1, 2 dot means 2…….. and 6 dot means 6.
- On a count of 1 or 6, you can unlock the token and place it on number 1 or in the start box. As you unlocked, you can get 1 extra turn to roll dice.
- Once token gets unlocked, you can move it ahead based on the numbers – 1 means next 1 box, 5 means next 5 box.
- If you get 6, you can roll the dice again… max up to 3 times. If 3rd time again 6 comes, the player turn ends and now the dice will be passed to next player. Means 6, 6, 6 is an invalid move only 12 points will be awarded… while 6, 6, 5 is a valid move and 17 points will be awarded.
- On the end of 1 role… if you get ladder, then use it as it allow players to move ahead faster by jumping multiple space. This way you can reach to your destination in much faster way.
- On the other hand, if you throw the dice and a particular number lands on the snake, you’ll fall down, making it harder to reach the goal.
- The goal is to reach at 100 and you can take help of ladder to do it fast.
- While playing, if your position matches with opponent’s position then you can cancel opponent’s token and you will get extra turn to throw the dice.
So, roll the dice and move the position of your token on the board until you reach 100. The player who reaches 100 first will be the first winner or winner. And finally, when playing the Snakes and Ladders game, you can speed up the climbing process by using the ladders, but make sure you don’t get stung by the snakes.
In the app based or computer based games, the token moves automatically and you don’t have to wait, also if token lands at ladder then it will auto move to particular number.In short all you have to do is roll the dice, rest of the work will be done by the application and that is why as we said earlier the experience of board based game is totally different from the app based game.
10. Langdi
The game of Langdi is very popular among children. In this, players try to catch other players by jumping on one leg. This game develops physical balance, stamina and mental skills. It is quite similar to Pakdam pakdai game, but instead of using both legs, only one leg is used to catch other players.
To make this game more interesting, some rest point or rest zone are also made where the tagger can be on 2 legs and catch other players. This gives an advantage and makes the overall game play interesting and thrilling and in many school, or colleges it is organized on annual sports day.
Conclusion
The traditional games of India are an integral part of our culture and history. These games not only promote physical health but also connect us to our roots. Their charm remains intact even amidst modern games, and it is our responsibility to preserve their heritage for the coming generation.
So why not enjoy these traditional games with friends and family this time and refresh your childhood memories, please let them know about these top Indian traditional games and don’t forget to share it with others!
