Chatti

VINITA SIDHARTHA

This is an exciting game played all over the country. While it is called Chatti in Kerala, it is known by other names in different parts of the country. It is played in schools across Tamil Nadu and is known as Pittu.

You need: Seven or nine flat stones, a rubber or tennis ball and a big open area. The stones are placed one on top of the other and a circle is drawn around the pile. This is the chatti. Two teams with an equal number of players stand at the same distance from the chatti ... and the game begins.

How do you play: One of the teams throws the ball and tries to break the chatti. If the ball hits the chatti and is caught by the second team without touching the ground, the first team is out.

If the ball is not caught, the game continues.

The team which threw the ball tries to re-assemble the chatti. The other team tries to get them out by throwing the ball. If the ball touches any person in the team, he is out.

The game continues till all members of the team are out or till the chatti is rebuilt. Five or seven per team is most fun, but sometimes the game is played with more players and two balls.

Illustration by Malvika Mehra

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