Classic Odia Games That Will Make You Nostalgic
In the era of internet and modern gadgets, traditional Odia games have faded into oblivion. Spending most of their time in the virtual world, today’s kids are hardly aware of these games which once shaped the childhood of our parents and grandparents. These classic games were perfect to kill time and boredom. Now as the Covid-19 pandemic rages on and people are forced into self-isolation, why not revisit these games once again?
Here is a list of some forgotten traditional games which would tug at your heartstrings and make you nostalgic.
RUMAL CHORI
This was a popular game among children of yesteryears. A group of kids sit in a round circle while the ‘denner’ goes around and drops the ‘rumal’ (handkerchief) behind one of the members. The member now has to catch the ‘denner’ before he/she completes one complete round and takes the seat.
RAJA, RANI, CHOR, POLICE
This game requires four players. Chits containing ‘raja’, ‘rani’, ‘chor’ and police are shuffled and thrown. The players pick up the chits randomly. The ‘police’ has to search for the ‘chor’ among the remaining three players.
ANDHA PUTULI
Andha putuli or blindfold is a game of sheer amusement among people of any age group. A person who is blindfolded has to search for the rest of the people and whoever gets caught is the next one to be blindfolded.
KIT KIT
This is a one-player game where a rectangular pattern of boxes is marked on the ground. A player has to throw a stone or any object randomly in any of the boxes where he/she has to reach by hopping with one or both the legs according to the number of boxes in that particular row.
BATTI
Batti means marbles. The aim of this game is to collect as many marbles as possible by striking the opponent’s marbles.
BAGHA CHELI
This game is played between two players. One is supposed to collect four large stones (tigers) while the other assembles 20 small ones (goats). A 4X4 square grid is drawn. The player with the tiger opens the game. The game is over when either the tigers capture five goats, or the goats block the tigers from being able to move.
NAI KI PAHADA
This simple game is the most favourite among children. If the ‘denner’ says ‘pahada’, the rest of the players have to step up to a higher platform or rocks nearby. If he/she says ‘nai’, the players have to step down. The one making a gaffe whom the ‘denner’ touches becomes the next ‘denner’. This game is also known as ‘Kumbhira pani’ with slight variations.
ITIKILI MITIKILI
Picture © Edewcate Oriya Kids Rhymes
This game can make any toddler giggle in happiness. It has a rhyming verse which is sung while counting the fingers. The finger where the verse ends has to be closed and the person who closes all the fingers first is the winner.
BOHU CHORI
This game is the Odia version of Kabaddi. Two teams, each comprising around 8-10 people, are formed. Two boxes are made on the opposite ends of the demarcation line. The game requires the ‘groom’ to take the ‘bohu’ from one box to the other when the rest of the players are on the field.