10 Outdoor Indian Games On the Brink Of Extinction

Today, in the modern age of smartphones and a huge virtual world, classical Indian outdoor games are on the brink of extinction. Your parents or grandparents would strike into a stage of nostalgia at the very mention of these games. Kho kho, Pithu, and Galli danda are maybe known names to you, but the majority of kids today, have not experienced the bliss of them.

Ask them, and they will tell you a tale or two about the games mentioned below:

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1. Lagori or Pithu

At one time, it was one of the most popular games for kids in India. It involves a ball and a pile of stones (which are stacked on top of each other). Member of one team has to throw the ball to knock the stack of stones. Following this, the team has to re-built the stack, while the opposing team throws the ball at them. If the ball touches a person, s/he is out and the team continues to play without him/her. The game is played by two teams with any number of members.

2. Kancha or Marbles

This game is played with glass marbles that are round in shape. The motive is to collect as many marbles as possible by striking other marbles with the ones you have. It is still a very popular game among kids in rural areas. It can be played by any number of people.

3. Chain

This one's a classic children's game which is losing popularity now. The game consists of a 'denner', who has to catch other players. Once the denner catches a player, s/he becomes a part of the chain, then they have to catch the remaining players. This game is usually played with not more than 10 people.

4. Gilli Danda

The game is played with a small piece of wood, which is reduced on both sides ('gilli'), and a large piece of wood that is used to hit the gilli ('danda'). Players have to hit the gilli as far as possible, and members of the other team have to catch it. Gilli Danda is played in two teams. Its popularity in India once rivalled that of cricket.

5. Kho Kho

Kho Kho is played by two teams, who are required to chase down and tag the players of the opposite team to win the game. The chasing team has nine players in the field, who sit in a straight line with alternate players facing opposite sides. The chasing team has to catch the runners before time runs out.

6. Lattoo

This game involves spinning a wooden top known as a 'lattoo', which has grooves in the lower half and a nail at the bottom. A thick string is wrapped around the grooves on the lower half and pulling the string making the topspin.

7. Hopscotch or Stapoo

This one's a popular playground game. In Stapoo, the players have to throw a small object into the numbered spaces of a pattern of rectangles marked on the ground. Then, they have to hop or jump through the spaces to retrieve the object.

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8. Chhupam Chhupai or Hide-n-Seek

In this game, players hide in a marked area. They have to be found one by one by the seekers. The denner has to close his/her eyes and count, after which s/he tries to find other players.

9. Chor-Sipahi

In Chor-Sipahi, two teams play (one of thieves and others of 'sipahi'). The sipahi try and catch the chor, after which the turn changes. This game was the Indian equivalent of the western game 'Tag'.

10. Four Corners

In this game, four corners are designated, and a player is chosen as being 'it'. The rest of the players have to swap corners without being caught by 'it'. If a player is caught by 'it' or is without a corner to stand in, he becomes 'it'. It is a game often played by primary school children.