Traditional games of Andhra Pradesh

India has a number of traditional outdoor games which are played mostly by children but are still cherished by other people of any age, as it reminds them of their childhood days. These are usually enjoyable to play. Though with the advent of computer/video games and lately of mobile games, children prefer to spend their times indoors, however these games are still very popular in the Andhra Pradesh. They are also played in great and small towns all over India and Pakistan especially in Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Punjab, as well as Cambodia and Italy:

Traditional childhood games

Some of the most popular childhood games played are:

1. Hide and Seek (छुपने छुपाई, छुपा चुप्पी chupne chupāī, chupā cuppī): Hide and seek is a game that has been played by children throughout the ages and even throughout the world. It is not 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. This outdoor game provides interaction amongst children it is efficient to play.^[1]
2. Chain: This is a variant of Tag in which each person to be caught joins hands with "it", and the chain is formed by chasing 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]
3. 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.
4. Kancha (Goti): Once famous as a Gully sport, Kancha was a favorite of many young boys in nearby town and villages of Andhra Pradesh. It has its own modus operandi; it is played using marbles called a "kancha". The players are to hit the selected target "kancha" using their own marble ball. The winner takes all of the "kanchas" from rest of the players.
5. Seven Stones (Satoliya, Pithoo Phod): This game is enjoyed by a number boys and girls; it is an entertaining, simple and inexpensive game. It needs seven small flat stones; every stone size should be less than the other stone. Players put these stones over another in decreasing order until it looks like a small tower. It is then hit it by a handball covered in cloth from a fixed distance. Any number of people can play this game. This game is also known as "Pithoo" in some regions of India.
6. Posham Posh:
7. 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 the 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.
8. Aankh Micholi: Eyes of one of the players are closed with a handkerchief and they have to find the other players in the defined area. The eyes are closed by the handkerchief and then they with many people around, they have to determine where their partners are. Sometimes this game is also played among the couples by their bumps. It is not an easy game, so before starting the game, players take a long deep breath and smell the fragrance of their spouses, where it is believed that the senses will save their day.^[3]
9. Vish Amrit: One of the players runs after the others and gives them a "vish" (poison). As soon as the "vish" is given, the person stays there until teammates come to give them the amrit. The game continues until all players have been given the "vish" and no one is left to give the "amrit".
10. Langdi Tang: In a defined area one person hops on one leg and tries to catch all the other players.
11. 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-piṭi, hand-catch), which is equivalent to saying "holding hands". 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 their own half, holding their breath and chanting the word "Kabaddi" during the whole raid. The raider must not cross the lobby unless he touches any of their opponents. If he does so then he will be declared as "out". There is also a bonus line which ensures extra points for the raider if he manages to touch the lobby and return to their side of the field successfully.
12. 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

Traditional adult games of Telangana and 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 (Snakes and Ladders), Nalugu stambalata, bandana bhomma, cycle tyre races, carrom board, chess, Shuttle.

Some of the above have become extinct.

References