narikuravar children's games in ashakulam settlement, villupuram

By arts management students,

Dakshinachitra

The Games People Play

Field Work in Asha Kulam, Vizhupuram

Documenting the children’s games of the Nari Kurava community and suggesting methods

of documenting their children’s games for the future generation


Dakshinachitra

Methodology of Field Work

• Informal chat with children of different age groups – exploring the games they play.

• Informal chat with adults and elders – exploring and comparing the games that they played during their times

• Sharing a few games which were known to us and played in other parts of the country and asking if that sort of a game is played by them

• Exploring the games taught by the school H.M –Ms. A. Raisunnisa, M.A, B.Ed, M.Phil


Dakshinachitra

Methods of Documentation

• Notes

• Photography

• Videography

• Audio Recording

Guided by:

Prof. Peter J. Claus

Prof. Muthukumaraswamy

Prof. Eric Miller


DakshinachitraMembers

Dilip Kumar, Shreya Singh, Sanjeev Sharma, Shifali Sharma,

Nirmalaa Shrethar, Sunanda Gour, Preetam Bera


Dakshinachitra

Acknowledgements

Our Sincere Thanks to

• Prof. Muthukumaraswamy, Prof. Peter J. Claus & Prof. Eric Miller

• Prof. Bharathi• Mr. King Kong• Mr. Lighter• Raja• Manickam• Lavanya & Sindhu• Men, Women & Children of Asha Kulam• The School Head Mistress


DakshinachitraGame 1 – Lock / Kaai

Played with Iron Marbles 1 big and 2 small

• Objective: To hit the two thrown small marbles with a big striker marble and win the bet

• No. of Players – depends on participation

• Chances – Each player gets 3 chances

How to Play:• Throw the small marbles in a distance,

usually within a box marked in a place.• Throw the striker to hit the marble

chosen by the viewers (‘edhiru’ , ‘mela’)

• If the player strikes it in 3 chances, he wins the bet and takes the money.


DakshinachitraGame 1 – Lock / Kaai


Dakshinachitra

Game 2 – Jaan Vaikradhu

Played with Iron Marbles 1 big and 2 Small

• Objective: To place 2 marbles in a ‘jaan’ (an unit of measurement), by throwing.

• No. of Players – depends on participation

• Chances – Each player gets 3 chances

How to Play:• Throw the small marbles in a distance.• Throw the striker to hit a marble, take

the hit marble on hand and throw that in a distance next to the placed marble on ground.

• Now measure the distance of two marbles, if its measures exactly 1 jaan (from the little finger to thumb when wide open), then he / she wins the bet and takes the money.


Dakshinachitra

Game 2 – Jaan Vaikradhu


DakshinachitraGame 3 - Hand Crossing &

Twirling

• Played by holding crossed hands

• Objective: Fun by enjoying the speed

• No. of Players – 2

• How to Play:• Two players hold their hands crossed

and start whirling at speed which is tolerable by them.

• When it feels dizzy stop the game for a while and then continue with the same person or others.

• Sometimes they sing film songs while twirling.


DakshinachitraGame 3 - Hand

Crossing & Twirling


DakshinachitraGame 4 - Hopping

• Played by hopping with a leg and jumping within boxes

• Objective: To jump between the boxes by pushing a piece of stone without them touching the border lines of the boxes.

• No. of Players – 2

• How to Play:• A box is drawn with 2 columns and 4

rows.• Each player selects a side. • Player 1 throws a stone piece in the

first box and jumps into the box, pushes the stone to the next box with his / her leg.


DakshinachitraGame 4 - Hopping


DakshinachitraHopping – level 2

• If the stone is within the 2nd box without touching the lines, then player continues, else quits.

• If the move is right, then the player pushes the stone to the 3rd box, then to the 4th box, then outside.

• From the 4th box, the player has to jump on the stone pushed outside and step on it rightly to win the game.

• After winning level 1, the player closes his eyes, lifts his head facing up, places the small stone on his forehead and walks through the boxes with the legs wide open.

• The objective is to cross the boxes without touching the lines, with the eyes closed and come out.


DakshinachitraLevel 2 - Hopping


DakshinachitraGame 5 - Kabadi

• Played by two groups, each group trying to eliminate the opponent.

• Objective: send all the opponents out of the game

• No. of Players – 5 in each group

• How to Play:• A box is drawn with a centre line with

one group on each side. • One player from one group goes to

the opposite side and has to touch an opponent (with hands or legs) by calling Kabadi, Kabadi (non-stop).

• The chances are timed, because if he/she stays there for a long time, the opponent group might trash him/her.


DakshinachitraKabadi – contd..

• If the player is not able to touch the opponent, he returns and the opponent team gets the chance.

• If the player is caught by the opponent group, he /she has to try to get back to his side somehow, atleast be able to reach the central line calling Kabadi-Kabadi.

• It is timed, otherwise the player gets eliminated.


DakshinachitraGame 5 - Kabadi


DakshinachitraGame 6 - Bongu

(singam)• Placing coins in a pit and players

using a stone striker to toss the coin to head

• Objective: To toss the coin to head with as many coins as possible and take them

• No. of Players – usually 2, it could be more too.

• How to Play:• A small pit about 3 inches deep is dug. • Few coins are placed in the pit and hit

with the striker stone in order to get the coins dispersed out of the pit to start.

• Then the player has to get the coin tossed to head, by hitting with the striker stone to win.


DakshinachitraGame 6 - Bongu

(singam)


DakshinachitraGame 7 – Aadu puli

Aatam

• Objective: To Protect the Goat from the Tiger

• No. of Players: any no.• How to Play:• Form a human chain,

placing the goat (the person) in the centre.

• Tiger is placed outside.• Tiger asks permission to

come inside by singing a song

• Then tries to catch the goat• The players try to guard the

goat by not letting the tiger in

Puli: Sangili Pungili Kadhava Thira

Group: Thiraka Maatom

Puli: Aatukutiyai kandeergala

Group: Kandom

Puli: Yenge

Group: Veetirkulle

Puli: Varalamaa

Group: Varalaam


DakshinachitraGame 7 – Aadu puli

Aatam


DakshinachitraGame 8 - Go-Go (kho-kho)

• Two groups - Players sitting in a line, in a distance. The opponent has to knock the other group out of the game.

• Objective: To knock the opponent group out of the game.

• No. of Players – 4 or 5 in a group. It can be more too.

• How to Play:• A straight line is drawn and circles are

drawn over it in some distance.• 1 group will be the runner, the other

will be catcher.• The catcher group will sit in the circles

and one will be the catcher.• The other group will be running around

the catcher group sitting on the ground


DakshinachitraGo-Go (kho-kho)

• The catcher can only go in full circles around the seated group.

• The runner can go in between the seated members.

• The catcher has to touch the opponents and send all of them out of the game.

• Once group 1 is out, they have to honor the 2nd group by putting little sand on the foot of the opponent group and ask for their husband’s name.

• (wishing they get the person of their wish as their partners)


DakshinachitraGo-Go (kho-kho)


Dakshinachitra


DakshinachitraGame 9 – 4 corners

• This game is played in 2 variations.• Four players and 1 catcher• Objective: The catcher should try to

get into the corner of the players, while they exchange their positions.

• No. of Players – 5• How to Play:• A straight line is drawn in intersection

and four circles are drawn on the sides of the line.

• The catcher stands in centre and tries to get into the corners of the players while they exchange their positions.

• The person in that corner will become the next catcher.

• Variation is with the placement of corners.


DakshinachitraGame 9 – 4 corners


DakshinachitraGame 10 – Jaan Kutty

• Jumping in different heights• Objective: To jump in

different heights and pass through every body

• No. of Players – 4 or 5 • How to Play:• Players sit next to each other,

leaving gaps, with their legs stretched in front.

• One player (the lead) jumps in between the legs and completes one level

• Next level is up by placing the other leg over the one leg



(Pacha kuthirai)

• Level 3 is to place one hand over the two legs

• Level 4 the next hand over the 2 hands and 1 leg

• Level 5 the person sitting his knees tied

• Level 6 they shift the height• Level 7 they bend down on

knees • Level 8 they shift the height• The lead player should jump

different levels without touching them or falling on them



(Pacha kuthirai)


DakshinachitraGame 11 – Chitti Mitti

(Blind man’s bluff)

• Objective: Catch people with eyes closed

• No. of Players: any no.• How to Play: One person closes

the eyes of the catcher and sings

“Chitti Mitti DoloAngaana Puttaana Ole

Dekh”• Then the catcher tries to catch

the rest of the people with the eyes closed and also guess who the person is.


DakshinachitraGame 11 – Chitti Mitti

(Blind man’s bluff)


DakshinachitraGame 12 – Modhiram

(ring)

• Objective: Guess who has the ‘ring’ in his hand amongst the group.

• No. of Players: 2 groups - any no.

• How to Play:

• Form 2 groups and assign lead for each group.

• Start is decided by a toss.

• The leader of group 1 will close his eyes and face away from the groups.

• The Players of group 2 will keep their hands behind them.

• The leader of group 2 will go behind them placing the ring in his hand.



(ring)

•He / she will pretend as if he is placing the ring in everybody’s hand, but he will actually place it only in one person’s hand.

•The players will put their hands in front folded and shout “Hoo-Haa”.

•The leader of group 1 has to guess who has ring in his hand.

•If he guesses right he gets points and the other group takes turn.



(ring)


DakshinachitraGame 13 – Killu (Pinching)

• Objective: To Guess who pinched his / her nose and tapped on head

• No. of Players: any no.• How to Play:• Form 2 groups and assign lead

for each group.• Start is decided by tossing a

coin.• The leader of the toss-winning

group will give names for all the players (Vegetables, fruits, etc)

• Then he / she will choose a player from the opposite group and close his / her eyes.



• Then the leader will call a name by calling

“Pappaali Papaali vandhu killitu po”

• The person named as Papaali will go pinch the player’s nose and tap on his / her head and return to his place and sit.

• Now the person who was pinched has to guess who is Papaali. If the guess is right then that group gets points.

• Then the other group takes turn.


DakshinachitraGame 14 – Uppu

• Objective: more of fun than any target.

• No. of Players: any no.• How to Play:• Players form a line and assign

one person to be a Lion and one person to be a man

• Rest of the players are goats.• The Lion goes to each person in

line and asks for different groceries.

• First he /she starts by asking “Uppu” (Salt).



• Everybody says “No” and the Lion curses everybody.

• Except the last person, because he gives what the Lion wants.

• Then Lion asks for other groceries again one by one.

• Finally the Lion asks for the Goat. Every body says no. Now the last person imitates the goat’s cry.

• Lion goes to catch the goat. The man tries to protect the goat by running in a line (in chain).

• The Lion also chases them and tries to catch the goat.


DakshinachitraGame 15 – Ottakam

(camel)

• Objective: more of fun than any target.

• No. of Players: any no.• How to Play: • All players stand one behind the

other with bent knees and couched shoulders.

• One of them climbs onto a person’s back and goes on a camel ride.


DakshinachitraGame 15 – Ottakam


Dakshinachitra

In Conclusion…

• The Narikorava community does have its own unique culture and customs

• The children retain some of their traditions in play• However, they have taken to many games from the popular

culture around them• These games promote personal interaction, fellowship,

bonding, fairplay and life lessons (on winning & losing) while they have fun

• Sadly, many of these games are no more in vogue among the TV-addicted generation of children in urban India

• We can help them rediscover the joy of these games by showcasing the games at Dakshinachitra


Dakshinachitra

Thank You

These five days of living with the Narikoravas – interacting, observing and documenting the children’s games – were truly a rewarding

experience.


Dakshinachitra

narikuravar children's games in ashakulam settlement, villupuram

Education

small stone

stone striker

striker stone

small objective

small marbles

head objective

boxes objective

piece of stone