Mumbai varsity to host ancient games weekend

Ancient games are being revived in India through a major initiative in Mumbai.

The Centre for Extra-Mural Studies (CEMS) of the University of Mumbai in association with INSTUCEN Trust would be holding a meet on ancient games on June 16-17.

“This is going to be unique….there are several ancient games that people do not know about and we would like people to appreciate those,” said Mugdha Karnik, director, CEMS, and Trustee, INSTUCEN Trust.

Raamesh Gowri Raghavan, a researcher with INSTUCEN, said, “Board games have been played since antiquity in India. The earliest evidence for board games has been in the form of cubical terracotta dice excavated from several Harappan sites. Long dice and cowrie shells were also used as a dice in ancient times. There are plentiful references to board games in literature as well as in sculpture and painting; indeed, you can find game boards scratched into the floors of many old temples and caves, especially in South India.”

The 2017 edition of the Annual CEMS-INSTUCEN Trust Mega-Exhibition of Archaeology and Geology introduced a new section on Ancient Indian Games.

Games in store

1) Pachisi: Pachisi has been played in India for many centuries. One of the earliest mentions of Pachisi is in the Mahabharata, in the famous game of dice in which Yudhishthira lost to the Kauravas. It is called ludo or parcheese in recent times.

2) Tablan: A checkers-like game for two, it was once played in the districts of the princely state of Mysore, with both players sitting on the long side of the board.

3) Chaturanga: This game gave rise to chess. It was originally played with dice.

4) Navakankari/Naukhade: It is known as Nine Men's Morris in English. This game probably came to India with the Indo-Roman trade. Played the world over, it is a two-player strategy game requiring quick thinking and agile moves.

5) Wagh-Bakri (Tiger-Goat): Popular in South India, this game is called Ādu Puli Āttam in Tamil and Malyalam, Meka Puli Ātta in Telugu and Ādu Huli Ātta in Kanada. A variant of it is called Bāghchāl in Nepal.

6) Ali Guli Mane: It is an abstract strategy board game of Karnataka. It is known as Chenna Mane in Tulu and Pallanguzhi in Tamil. It means wooden board with holes.

7) Chaupar: It is a tougher version of Pachisi.

8) Mokshapattnam: It is called Snakes and Ladder in the recent times. It was basically a game of wisdom and was to learn about karma, moksha, kamas, destiny, desire, etc.

9) Sagar Gote: It is a classic favourite played with five big round seeds (Jage/Sagar goti). It improves concentration, hand-eye coordination and dexterity.

10) Ashtachamma: This game probably descended from the ancient Ashtāpad game. Traditionally, cowrie shells are used as dice: if all four shells land inverted, you make a score of four (chamma) and if all land straight you make a score of eight (Ashta) and get a bonus throw.

11) Vithi Dandu: It is played by a group consisting of minimum four people. It is popular across rural India with variations in name and scoring method.