Traditional games of Andhra Pradesh

India has quite a number of traditional outdoor games which are played mostly by kids but still are cherished by other people of any ages, since it just reminds them of their own childhood days. These are absolute fun to play. Though with the advent of computer/video games and of late mobile games, kids prefer to spend their times indoors, but still these games are very popular.

Traditional childhood games

Some of the most popular childhood games are:

1. Greas and small towns all over India and Pakistan especially in Andhra Pradesh(known as karra billa),Tamil Nadu, Punjab, as well as Cambodia and Italy.

2. Hide and Seek (chupan Chupai, Chupa Chuppi): Hide and seek is a timeless game that has been played by children throughout the ages and even throughout the world. It isn't only children who enjoy it - a natural instinct for parents is to play a facial form of hide and seek with their children from the earliest age, as it teaches children about attachment and detachment in a safe and caring environment. Leaving aside the psychology, however the outdoor game provides wonderful interaction amongst children is easy to play and never gets boring.^[1]

3. Chain: This is a variant of Build Ups in which each person to be caught joins hands with "it," and the chain thus formed must chase the others as a pair. As more people are caught they too join hands with the "it" players, forming a lengthening chain. This variation is also called Blob. Only those at the ends of the chain are able to catch someone, as they are the only ones with a free hand. A variant has chains of four splitting in two.^[2]

4. Chor Sipahi: Players are divided into teams Chor and Police. Police seeks the Chor team and brings it to one place and then the teams are exchanged.

5. Kancha (Goti): Once famous as a Gully sport, kancha was favorite of many young boys in town and villages nearby. It has its own modus operandi; it is played using marbles called ‘Kancha’. The players are to hit the selected target ‘kancha’ using their own marble ball. The winner takes all Kanchas of rest of the players.

6. Seven Stones(Satoliya) (Pithoo Phod): This game is loved by the maximum number boys and girls; it is a funny simple and inexpensive game. It needs seven small flat stones; every stone size should be less than the other stone. Put these stones over another in decreasing order its looks like a small tower then hit it by cloths made handball form a fixed distance. Any number of people can play it. This game is also known as Pithoo in some regions of India.

7. Posham Posh:

8. Lattu: Spinning top or Lattu was once the most popular street game of India. It is still played in some of the inner colonies of old city area of Udaipur, lattu is a part of life for children in Indian villages. The game involves spinning a lattu (top) – a solid ‘turnip shaped’ wooden toy with a grooved lower half with two nails dug at the top and the bottom. A cotton string is wrapped around the lower half of the ‘lattu’ to make it spin.

9. Aankh Micholi: Eyes of one of the players are closed by handkerchief and s/he has to find other players in the defined area. Well!!!, sometimes this game is also played among the couples by their bumbs'. The eyes are closed by the handkerchief and then they with so many persons around they have to determine their partners. Well!!! not an easy games, an easy tip - Just before starting the game take a long deep breath and smell the fragrance of your spouse, may be good senses will save your day.^[3]

10. Vish Amrit: One of the players runs after others and gives them vish. As soon as vish is given the person stays there until teammates come to give him/her amrit. The game continues until all players have been given vish and no one is left to give amrit.

11. Langdi Tang: In a defined area one person hops on one leg and try to catch all the other players.

12. Kabbaddi: Kabaddi (sometimes transliterated Kabbadi or Kabadi; (Telugu: కబడ్దీ) is a South Asian team sport. The name is derived from the Tamil word (கை-பிடி) "kai" (hand), "pidi" (catch), which is translated into "Holding Hands".[1] Two teams occupy opposite halves of a small field and take turns sending a "raider" into the other half, in order to win points by tackling members of the opposing team; then the raider tries to return to his own half, holding his breath and chanting the word "Kabaddi" during the whole raid. The raider must not cross the lobby unless he touches any of his opponents. If he does so then he will be declared as "out". There is also a bonus line which ensure extra points for the raider if he manages to touch it and return to his side of the field successfully.

13. Kho Kho: Kho kho is played with two 12-player teams; one team (9 players) sits on ground between two poles and the other team sends three team members. The sitting team has to catch these players before time runs out.

Traditional adult games of Andhra Pradesh

Traditional adult games of Telangana & Andhra Pradesh include Gujjana Goollu, Toy Wedding, Ramudu Sita, Kothi Kommachi, Achenagandlu, Chendata, Chuk Chuk Pulla, Dagudu Mootalu, Gudu Gudu Gunjam, Daadi, Kappa Gantulu, Bomma Borusa, Bachaala Aata, Kiriki, London Aata, Tokkudu Billa, 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, and Goleelu Galli Cricket, Donga Police, Dili dhandu, Dagudumuthallu, kanlaki ganthallu, kothi kommachi, asta chemma, thokudu billa, raja rani, marble games (Goti), Posham posh, Spinning top (Bongaram), viri viri gumadipandu, kabbadi, kho kho, kappa gantulu, bomma borusa, bomma pellilu, amma nana atta, lingosha (Chendatta), gudu gudu gunjam, yedu penkallu (Lagori), pulli cut, Vaikuntapali (Snake & ladder), Nalugu stambalata, bandana bhomma, cycle tyre races, carrom board, chess, Shuttle,.

Some of the above have become extinct.

References

Indian Children's Games