With this, I come to the end of this series of blogs – a 20 day countdown to Kreeda, completing 20 years. Like any stage performance, I cannot wind up this blog without introducing the principal characters – the games. No series on Kreeda can be done without the games. It is these games that have made Kreeda what it is, not just our efforts, but these wonderful games rooted in our tradition and culture.
I’m often asked to pick my favorite game. It’s like asking a mother to pick her favourite child – it can’t be done. Each of my games is special in a different way. Let me tell you why.
I love Aadu Puli Aatam because the concept of a hunt game, an asymmetrical game where two players have different game pieces and different goals and yet are evenly matched is an incredible concept. I love the concept of goats bonding together to face down this seemingly stronger tiger.
The game of Dahdi with all the puzzles it has given me has always been fascinating. I find the game in so many temples of Tamil Nadu. But no one remembers how to play. Across the border in the Telugu heartland, everyone plays Dahdi. What happened? Did it go out of fashion? Dahdi has always left me with more questions than I can answer.
Ashtaa Chemma, the dice game that is played in almost everywhere across India and exactly the same way, makes it a completely unusual game because rules are often different in different parts of the country.
Solah Seedi, the game that is played with such innovative boards. While the standard has two triangular extensions on a square board, I have seen four, eight and one where the square is done away with and you have just two triangles.
Chathurvimshathi Koshtaka, which I found in an interesting book by a 19th century author extolling the virtues of traditional games.
Kalanay Belanay, the strange and unusual game taught to me by a lady from Mangalore. It was an unusual event at a women’s group – a place where I did not expect to find any research and yet this game emerged.
Chaupad – what is believed to be perhaps the oldest and most popular game in India, a fabulous interplay of choice and chance.
Kattam Villayattu – a wonderful series of three in a row, games, each one with its own little twist and ideas.
Panch Kone, a single player puzzle, forcing you to think again and again and again.
Pallanguzhi, the wonderful game that’s played across the world and is still so popular in Africa. How did it come here? Did it get exchanged on trade routes? These are fascinating questions that come to me.
Gilli Danda – that unique game, which requires so much of skill and hand eye coordination.
Bambaram, with its ability to spin on a pinpoint unaffected by its surroundings. And then its cousin the Kaasht Bambaram with a wooden nail to teach younger children this fast-disappearing skill.
The colorful, beautiful Goli – just holding them in your hands is enough joy.
The Tamarind Seed Game – so many hours of excitement from such a humble handful of seeds.
Five stones – just stones and a game that can give you so much – developing skills, motor skills, concentration, hand eye coordination – what a tremendous invention.
The Hoop Stick – That beautiful hoop that you can roll along with just a stick, keeping control of it, moving it, negotiating obstacles.
The Coconut Shell Walk – stilt walking – fun and balance on a pair of coconut shells. What a wonderful way to use things that we would just throw out.
Githe – that absolutely gorgeous set of lac pieces that are made in the gullies of Rajasthan – colorful and beautiful for hours of play.
Paramapadam – that fascinating game from India, where every snake represents a vice and every ladder a virtue. The game that has morphed into the universally popular snakes and ladder, and lost the very essence of what is India, and yet remains one of the most popular games in the world.
The Bangle Game, beautifully woven bangles with bright colours with which we can play such an exciting series of games – tossing them and maneuvering them onto your fingers.
The Shell Game, or rather the game we play with shell shaped game pieces. A constant reminder of the efforts we took to ensure we are sustainable and not impacting our biodiversity.
And then, of course, the games we have created, The Ramayana Series – Vanavaas, Search for Sita, and Battle of Lanka – three wonderful games that take you through the stories of the epic.
Memories of Madras, – a card game based on and created as a tribute to the city I love.
This is what makes Kreeda what it is. Not just my efforts, not just the efforts of the team, not just the efforts of all the people who have supported us, but the games. The games from in Indian traditions and culture are the true heroes of the story. We owe it to ourselves, to our traditions and our roots to preserve these games and keep them alive for future generations.
Did You Kreeda today?
Ripples Of Life and Time 