India has a great heritage of sports that have kept people occupied for centuries. From royal courts to village squares, classic Indian board games are deeply embedded in the country’s culture and history. These games are more than just for fun; they often include strategy, arithmetic, and storytelling, which provide glimpses into India’s history.
Here are 10 Indian board games you should know about, each of which gives a unique experience and a peek into India’s traditions.
Indian Board Games List
1. Pachisi
Pachisi is a traditional Indian board games and is popularly referred to as the National Game of India. It consists of a cross-shaped board, and players move their pieces in accordance with the roll of the dice or cowrieshells. The aim of the members is to maneuver their tokens through the board and return to the board center ahead of their rivals.
Historical Importance:
It is believed that Pachisi began in the sixth century. The historical records available indicate that the Mughal emperor Akbar played the game in an enlarged version, wherein courtyards and dancers became the pieces.
Game Adaptation: Ludo is the modern, simplified version of Pachisi, which has been tailor-made for the modern age.
2. Chaturanga
Chaturanga is the precursor to modern-day chess, created in ancient India. The playing field is based on an 8×8 grid with objects representing various fractions of the Indian army: elephants, chariots, horses, and infantry.
Historical Importance
Chaturanga, one of the classic Indian board games, has historical origins dating back to the Gupta Empire in the sixth century. Remodeling would eventually give birth to modern chess later.
Why play it? Chaturanga enhances strategic thinking while giving one an eye-opening view of how one of the world’s most popular games took its origin.
3. Snakes and Ladders (Moksha Patam)
Originally referred to as Moksha Patam, this game had the purpose of the story behind the game to impart a lesson while depicting the journey of life. The ladders symbolize virtues that guide players towards redemption while the snakes symbolize vices that cause failure.
Historical Importance:
Initially created by ancient Indians to instruct young people about karma and dharma, the game was later adopted by the British to become the all-well-known Snakes and Ladders, an iconic example of Indian board games.
Why should I play it? It is an excellent technique to teach moral principles while playing a simple and entertaining game.
4. Ganjifa
This is a traditional card game with hand-painted circular cards. Many of the cards are aesthetically decorated to represent either mythological themes or life in the royal court. Ganjifa cards were made from ivory, tortoiseshell, or sandalwood and were elaborately decorated.
Why play it? This game mixes artistry with strategy, and it is an epitome of artistic representations of India’s rich legacy.
5. Aadu Puli Aattam
Aadu Puli Aattam, meaning “Goat and Tiger Game,” is a two-player strategy game from Tamil Nadu. One player has three tigers, and the other has fifteen goats. The aim is that the tigers “hunt” the goats, and the goats try to trap the tigers.
Historical Significance:
This game is popular in South India and symbolizes the balance of power between predators and prey.
Why play it? It is a great strategic game, teaching its players planning and flexibility.
6. Pallanguzhi
Pallanguzhi is one of the South Indian mancala games, which is played on a hardwood board with 14 pits, with the use of shells, seeds, or beads. The purpose is to gather as many seeds as possible.
Historical Significance
Pallanguzhi is a very common game that is played among women. They would play this in their houses and develop their counting and planning abilities.
Why play it? It’s an enjoyable way to build math skills and strategy.
7. Chowka Bhara
Chowka Bhara is another game called Ashta Chamma in certain places, where the objective of the game is to transfer your pawns to the center of the board and capture the other person’s pawns.
Historical Importance:
It has been part of Indian households for years and was always there in the celebrations during festivals and family gatherings.
Why play it? It has an element of luck and strategy so it is playable by everyone.
8. Navakankari (Nine Men’s Morris)
Known as Navakankari in India, it is a game of antiquity and an age-old strategic board game. The players will put their nine pieces on the board, making attempts to line up three so as to get rid of an opponent’s piece.
Historical Significance:
This has been discovered at archaeological sites, dating back to the Indus Valley Civilization.
Why Play It? It fosters strategic thinking and is easy to understand yet engrossing.
9. Pagade
This is a traditional dice game played on a fabric board. Game players roll cowrie shells with the intention of using the rolled number to move their piece from the outside of the board to the center.
Historical Significance
Pagade dates back to ancient days, since it featured in Indian epics such as the Mahabharata.
Why should I play this? Pagade is an interesting family game that incorporates elements of chance and strategy.
10. Alaguli Mane
Alaguli Mane is one of the most popular mancala games in Karnataka. Just like Pallanguzhi, it involves seed or shell sliding around a wooden board with two rows of pits.
Historical Value:
This has been played across generations as a sort of recreational exercise and, at the same time, a way of imparting primary arithmetic.
Why should I play this? It’s simply a timeless piece, with simple yet strategic depth.
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Conclusion
Indian board games are not only fun but also a gateway to the rich cultural and historical tapestry of the country. These games have stood the test of time, giving lessons about strategy and morality along with tradition. Rediscovering and playing these classic Indian board games is an excellent way to reconnect with one’s heritage while spending quality time with friends and family.