**50 traditional Indian folk games**
Page Info
Writer AndyKim
Hit 3,116 Hits
Date 25-01-17 18:02
Content
**50 traditional Indian folk games** and activities that reflect the diverse cultural and regional heritage of India. These games are deeply rooted in Indian traditions and emphasize physical skill, strategic thinking, and social interaction.
---
### **Physical Games**
1. **Kabaddi (कबड्डी)**
- A team sport where players take turns raiding the opposing team's area, touching as many players as possible without being caught.
- **Cultural Note**: Played widely across rural India, it requires strength and agility.
2. **Kho Kho (खो-खो)**
- A team game where players take turns running and chasing while the opposing team sits in a line.
3. **Gilli Danda (गिल्ली डंडा)**
- A game similar to cricket, played with a small stick (gilli) and a larger stick (danda).
4. **Langdi (लंगड़ी)**
- A hopping game where one-legged players try to catch others.
5. **Kite Flying (पतंगबाज़ी)**
- A popular pastime during festivals like Makar Sankranti, where participants fly and compete with kites.
6. **Lagori (लगोरी)**
- A game involving a stack of stones that one team tries to knock down while the other defends it.
7. **Maram Pitti (माराम पिट्टी)**
- A dodgeball-style game where players try to hit others with a ball.
8. **Vallam Kali (വള്ളം കളി)**
- A traditional boat race, particularly popular in Kerala.
9. **Nondi (நொந்தி)**
- A Tamil Nadu hopping game played on drawn grids, similar to hopscotch.
10. **Mallakhamba (मल्लखंब)**
- A traditional sport where gymnasts perform aerial yoga poses on a vertical pole or rope.
---
### **Strategic Games**
11. **Chaupar (चौपड़)**
- An ancient board game, considered the predecessor of Ludo, played with dice and pawns.
12. **Pachisi (पचीसी)**
- Another variant of Ludo, played on a cross-shaped board.
13. **Ashtapada (अष्टापद)**
- An ancient board game that influenced chess and is played on an 8x8 grid.
14. **Carrom (कैरम)**
- A tabletop game where players use a striker to pot discs into corner pockets.
15. **Chaturanga (चतुरंग)**
- The precursor to modern chess, played with armies on a checkered board.
16. **Paramapadham (பரமபதம்)**
- A snake-and-ladder-style game with spiritual undertones.
17. **Aadu Puli Aatam (ஆடு புலி ஆட்டம்)**
- A Tamil strategy game where goats and tigers play against each other on a grid.
18. **Alugulimane (ಅಲುಗುಳಿಮನೆ)**
- A mancala-style game played with seeds, popular in South India.
19. **Dhabba Kuttai (धब्बा कुट्टा)**
- A tactical game of guessing and strategy.
20. **Pagade (ಪಗಡೆ)**
- A traditional board game similar to Pachisi, using dice and pawns.
---
### **Group or Partner Games**
21. **Hide-and-Seek (छुपन छुपाई)**
- A universal game with regional variations in India.
22. **Antakshari (अंताक्षरी)**
- A singing game where players sing songs starting with the last letter of the previous song.
23. **Chain Tag (चेन टॅग)**
- A tag game where caught players join hands to form a chain.
24. **Pithoo (पिट्ठू)**
- Similar to Lagori, involving knocking down and rebuilding a stack of stones.
25. **Rumaal Chor (रूमाल चोर)**
- A game where players attempt to steal a handkerchief without being caught.
26. **Stapoo (स्टापू)**
- Another variation of hopscotch, played on drawn grids.
27. **Kho-Kho Relay (खो-खो रिले)**
- A relay-style variant of Kho Kho.
28. **Circle Kabaddi (गोल कबड्डी)**
- A variation of Kabaddi played in a circular arena.
29. **Dog and the Bone (कुत्ता और हड्डी)**
- Players try to grab an object (bone) from the center while evading opponents.
30. **Bhoot Bhoot (भूत भूत)**
- A fun game where one player pretends to be a ghost and chases others.
---
### **Focus or Coordination Games**
31. **Spinning Tops (लट्टू)**
- Players spin wooden tops and try to knock over opponents' tops.
32. **Seven Stones (सात पत्थर)**
- Players stack and aim stones with precision.
33. **Kanne Mane (ಕನ್ನೆ ಮನೆ)**
- A game of balancing small objects on a moving surface.
34. **Chopar (चोपड़)**
- A coordination game involving throwing sticks and counting.
35. **Balancing Bamboo Poles (बांस का संतुलन)**
- Players walk and balance on bamboo poles.
36. **Ball Passing (गेंद पास करना)**
- Players pass a ball around in creative patterns.
37. **Goti (गोटी)**
- A marble-shooting game that requires aim and strategy.
38. **Lagori Challenge (लगोरी चुनौती)**
- A team variant of Lagori with added challenges.
39. **Kariyum Thondi (கரியம் தொண்டி)**
- A Tamil Nadu game of skill involving sticks and rings.
40. **Guccha (गुच्चा)**
- A precision-based game involving shooting stones.
---
### **Seasonal or Festival Games**
41. **Kusti (कुश्ती)**
- Traditional Indian wrestling, often showcased at village fairs.
42. **Sack Race (गन्ये दौड़)**
- A common game during school sports days.
43. **Tug of War (रस्साकसी)**
- A strength-based team game involving pulling a rope.
44. **Kite Battles (पतंग लड़ाई)**
- Competitors attempt to cut others' kite strings using their own.
45. **Gilli Danda Fest (गिल्ली डंडा उत्सव)**
- A celebratory version of Gilli Danda during village gatherings.
46. **Bullock Cart Race (बैल गाड़ी दौड़)**
- Races involving bullock carts, popular in rural festivals.
47. **Coconut Throwing (नारियल फेंक)**
- A festival game involving accuracy and strength.
48. **Matki Phod (मटकी फोड़)**
- A Janmashtami game where teams form human pyramids to break a hanging pot.
49. **Kolam Competitions (कोलम प्रतियोगिता)**
- A rangoli-making contest held during Pongal.
50. **Onam Tug (ओणम रस्साकसी)**
- A tug-of-war game during the Onam festival.
---
These games showcase India's diverse cultural and regional influences. Many of these folk games remain an integral part of festivals, family gatherings, and rural life, fostering community and joy.
---
### **Physical Games**
1. **Kabaddi (कबड्डी)**
- A team sport where players take turns raiding the opposing team's area, touching as many players as possible without being caught.
- **Cultural Note**: Played widely across rural India, it requires strength and agility.
2. **Kho Kho (खो-खो)**
- A team game where players take turns running and chasing while the opposing team sits in a line.
3. **Gilli Danda (गिल्ली डंडा)**
- A game similar to cricket, played with a small stick (gilli) and a larger stick (danda).
4. **Langdi (लंगड़ी)**
- A hopping game where one-legged players try to catch others.
5. **Kite Flying (पतंगबाज़ी)**
- A popular pastime during festivals like Makar Sankranti, where participants fly and compete with kites.
6. **Lagori (लगोरी)**
- A game involving a stack of stones that one team tries to knock down while the other defends it.
7. **Maram Pitti (माराम पिट्टी)**
- A dodgeball-style game where players try to hit others with a ball.
8. **Vallam Kali (വള്ളം കളി)**
- A traditional boat race, particularly popular in Kerala.
9. **Nondi (நொந்தி)**
- A Tamil Nadu hopping game played on drawn grids, similar to hopscotch.
10. **Mallakhamba (मल्लखंब)**
- A traditional sport where gymnasts perform aerial yoga poses on a vertical pole or rope.
---
### **Strategic Games**
11. **Chaupar (चौपड़)**
- An ancient board game, considered the predecessor of Ludo, played with dice and pawns.
12. **Pachisi (पचीसी)**
- Another variant of Ludo, played on a cross-shaped board.
13. **Ashtapada (अष्टापद)**
- An ancient board game that influenced chess and is played on an 8x8 grid.
14. **Carrom (कैरम)**
- A tabletop game where players use a striker to pot discs into corner pockets.
15. **Chaturanga (चतुरंग)**
- The precursor to modern chess, played with armies on a checkered board.
16. **Paramapadham (பரமபதம்)**
- A snake-and-ladder-style game with spiritual undertones.
17. **Aadu Puli Aatam (ஆடு புலி ஆட்டம்)**
- A Tamil strategy game where goats and tigers play against each other on a grid.
18. **Alugulimane (ಅಲುಗುಳಿಮನೆ)**
- A mancala-style game played with seeds, popular in South India.
19. **Dhabba Kuttai (धब्बा कुट्टा)**
- A tactical game of guessing and strategy.
20. **Pagade (ಪಗಡೆ)**
- A traditional board game similar to Pachisi, using dice and pawns.
---
### **Group or Partner Games**
21. **Hide-and-Seek (छुपन छुपाई)**
- A universal game with regional variations in India.
22. **Antakshari (अंताक्षरी)**
- A singing game where players sing songs starting with the last letter of the previous song.
23. **Chain Tag (चेन टॅग)**
- A tag game where caught players join hands to form a chain.
24. **Pithoo (पिट्ठू)**
- Similar to Lagori, involving knocking down and rebuilding a stack of stones.
25. **Rumaal Chor (रूमाल चोर)**
- A game where players attempt to steal a handkerchief without being caught.
26. **Stapoo (स्टापू)**
- Another variation of hopscotch, played on drawn grids.
27. **Kho-Kho Relay (खो-खो रिले)**
- A relay-style variant of Kho Kho.
28. **Circle Kabaddi (गोल कबड्डी)**
- A variation of Kabaddi played in a circular arena.
29. **Dog and the Bone (कुत्ता और हड्डी)**
- Players try to grab an object (bone) from the center while evading opponents.
30. **Bhoot Bhoot (भूत भूत)**
- A fun game where one player pretends to be a ghost and chases others.
---
### **Focus or Coordination Games**
31. **Spinning Tops (लट्टू)**
- Players spin wooden tops and try to knock over opponents' tops.
32. **Seven Stones (सात पत्थर)**
- Players stack and aim stones with precision.
33. **Kanne Mane (ಕನ್ನೆ ಮನೆ)**
- A game of balancing small objects on a moving surface.
34. **Chopar (चोपड़)**
- A coordination game involving throwing sticks and counting.
35. **Balancing Bamboo Poles (बांस का संतुलन)**
- Players walk and balance on bamboo poles.
36. **Ball Passing (गेंद पास करना)**
- Players pass a ball around in creative patterns.
37. **Goti (गोटी)**
- A marble-shooting game that requires aim and strategy.
38. **Lagori Challenge (लगोरी चुनौती)**
- A team variant of Lagori with added challenges.
39. **Kariyum Thondi (கரியம் தொண்டி)**
- A Tamil Nadu game of skill involving sticks and rings.
40. **Guccha (गुच्चा)**
- A precision-based game involving shooting stones.
---
### **Seasonal or Festival Games**
41. **Kusti (कुश्ती)**
- Traditional Indian wrestling, often showcased at village fairs.
42. **Sack Race (गन्ये दौड़)**
- A common game during school sports days.
43. **Tug of War (रस्साकसी)**
- A strength-based team game involving pulling a rope.
44. **Kite Battles (पतंग लड़ाई)**
- Competitors attempt to cut others' kite strings using their own.
45. **Gilli Danda Fest (गिल्ली डंडा उत्सव)**
- A celebratory version of Gilli Danda during village gatherings.
46. **Bullock Cart Race (बैल गाड़ी दौड़)**
- Races involving bullock carts, popular in rural festivals.
47. **Coconut Throwing (नारियल फेंक)**
- A festival game involving accuracy and strength.
48. **Matki Phod (मटकी फोड़)**
- A Janmashtami game where teams form human pyramids to break a hanging pot.
49. **Kolam Competitions (कोलम प्रतियोगिता)**
- A rangoli-making contest held during Pongal.
50. **Onam Tug (ओणम रस्साकसी)**
- A tug-of-war game during the Onam festival.
---
These games showcase India's diverse cultural and regional influences. Many of these folk games remain an integral part of festivals, family gatherings, and rural life, fostering community and joy.