Rediscovering fun games
ROHINI RAMAKRISHNAN
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Traditional games got a fresh lease of life at the “Come on Kidz” held recently.
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At the “Come on Kids”: Large dice, large board. Photo: R. Shivaji Rao
As the giant dice was rolled or rather thrown from a vantage point by the child, the parent moved accordingly. The game was the life-sized Paramapadam, in other words, Snakes and Ladders. The “Come on Kidz” that was held recently at the Chennai Trade Centre had a special platform for the traditional games of Tamil Nadu. As one entered the grounds, one was welcomed by the different folk dances. And then, spectators naturally stopped at the “Paanai udaithal
” arena, listening to the call of their roots as it were. A pot swung at a height, tempting the spectator to get blindfolded, hold the bamboo pole, take tentative steps towards the pot and swing the pole, confident that he/she was going to smash it to smithereens. But the pathetic sight of just two or three broken pots on the side was evidence enough to show that the pots “had the upper hand”. This did not dampen the enthusiasm of the crowd, in fact it did egg them on to vow “I can do it, just watch me” — kind of an attitude. A father carrying his three-year-old had his chance and was cheered, even as he failed by a few feet from the hanging pot. “It’s like being in our village during Pongal,” smiled Kumaresan, an auto driver. And yes, this was exactly the atmosphere of festivity that pervaded the Trade Centre premises.
Interesting games
“Traditional rural games heighten the agility of the mind and of the body,” says Dr. V. Balambal, who has done research on traditional games. And this was apparent as one watched the different games that went on at the centre. Inside the Trade Centre, the game “uppu urugai” was played with much gusto. Here mental alertness was called for as well as the willingness to sprint. Goli (marbles) was another game that had the fathers prodding their sons, “Here hit it like this” and crying out “no, not like that, like this,” as sons went way off the mark.
Many games had the stipulation that a parent must pair with the child, reiterating the fact, that traditional board games had a bonding factor. Grandparents, parents and children enjoyed a board game, and strengthened ties over much squabble and laughter. Mother-daughter teams playing “Pallankuzhi” and the grandmother whispering instructions to the granddaughter were a common sight.
The term “Pallankuzhi” notes Dr. Balambal means “Pal” — many and “Kuzhi”, pits. The boards come in different shapes and sizes, but basically have seven pits on each side of the boards and the two players sitting facing each other. The idea is to get as many “seeds” as possible. This game interestingly is played as “Mancala” in many African and European countries” and is used to teach arithmetic in primary classes. It also has a therapeutic effect on the physically challenged, especially in the coordination of hand movement. Cowries, tamarind seeds, pepper, bean seeds and other grain are used as play pieces. When the game is over, the edible play pieces can be munched!
These games are also played when people working in the fields take their lunch break. As they cannot afford boards or carry them, they draw the board on the sand or make the necessary pits by digging them. They use whatever is available as playing seeds, like pieces of sticks or pebbles.
When they have to resume work, they only have to smooth the sand. This game is also known as “Pandi” in different parts of Tamil Nadu and the one known as Seethaipandi is played by one person as it is believed that Sita played this particular game during her imprisonment in Asoka Vanam!
It was easy to see that Pallankuzhi was a favourite judging by the crowd that thronged the tables. One or two parents voiced their disappointment that they couldn’t buy these games, especially Pallankuzhi at the Trade Centre. But Malavika smiled as she said, “Ammamma told me there is one in the loft, I’m going to get it as soon as I get home.”
“Aadu Pulli Aatam” (The goat and the tiger) is another game of strategy like chess that called for quick witted moves. Games like these and “Dayakkattai” were drawn on the floors of temples, public halls and even on the “tinnai” of homes, so that people could play whenever they wanted to pass time. It was believed when it was drawn with limestone then the long-awaited rains would arrive.
The game “Paramapadam” was played especially during the night of Mahasivarathri, and the play denoted the philosophy of Hinduism and the karmic cycle of life.
As the evening drew to a close, the fervour at the gaming arena grew, with the healthy spirit of competition.
Though these traditional games had some differences in certain regions, they called for coordination, swiftness, analysis not only of one’s strength and weakness but also of the opponents and sheer calculation.
There had to be a balance of mind and body, whether it was a board game or otherwise, and this was what the visitors experienced at the Chennai Trade Centre, judging by their smiles.
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