Top 10 Traditional Games of Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh referred to as the “Rice Bowl of India” offers a treasure trove of traditional games that have entertained generations for centuries. This state is a fusion of culture and traditions and is a landscape where traditional games are more than just entertainment; they’re a vibrant tapestry woven with the state’s rich cultural heritage. So step away from your screens and join me as I unfold the treasure of these hidden Traditional games of Andhra Pradesh which are more than just our childhood pastimes, they are a woven story of memories, laughter joys, and deep connection to tradition that have been passed on generations one after the other.

Join us on a journey through the vibrant world of Andhra Pradesh’s traditional games, where simplicity meets ingenuity, and every game tells a story. Witness the deep connections and games from Kabaddi to Aankh Micholi.

Top 10 Traditional Games of Andhra Pradesh

In the Bustling state of Andhra Pradesh, the charm and excitement of Traditional games are still alive in the deeper and rural areas of Andhra Pradesh, technology and fancy gadgets might have replaced these Traditional Games of Andhra Pradesh with modern ones but they aren’t completely vanished, the rural areas and people take on the responsibility and pass these deeply rooted games and childhood pastimes to their upcoming generations keeping the craze for the traditional games alive and refreshing.

1. Kho Kho

The most popular and well-known game in India and almost every region of it. It is famous with the regional names and might not be so famous with the “Kho-Kho” but that doesn’t limit or impact anything. It is one of the traditional ancient sports that has been played by our ancestors and then is passed on to future generations.

How to play and Rules of the game

• A rectangular field with a central line dividing it and poles at each end.
• It consists of two teams of chasers and defenders with 12 players each, as 9 players per team on the court (8 seated, 1 active chaser).
• There are two innings each with two turns lasting for 9 minutes.
• The chaser can switch with a seated teammate by touching their back and shouting “Kho”
• Points are awarded for tagging defenders or defenders staying on the court for a specific time.
• Winner would be the team that scores the most in the given 9 minutes of the time.

2. Goleelu(Marbles)

marbles/Goti/Kancha a traditional classical game of the Andhra Pradesh. This game has captivated the attention of young boys from the regional rural areas of Andhra Pradesh for generations now. Played on dusty streets and village squares, Kancha requires nothing more than a collection of marbles (called “kancha”) and a competitive spirit.

How to play and rules of the game:

• Any open space becomes the ground for the game battle.
• Players dig a pit and spread marbles in a fixed place.
• After the game setup players go 2 yards away and then aim to hit the marbles.
• The players kneel down and then hit these marbles aiming them for the pit.
• The one who can conquer the maximum number of the Goli/marbles will win the game

Learn more: Traditional Games of West Bengal

3. Kabaddi

A Traditional and ancient sport with its original roots in India and has gained immense popularity worldwide but sadly this so worldwide fame is losing its roots as people and children are shifting to online games. kabaddi is a fast-paced sport that is sure to pump up your adrenaline. This is a game of strength, agility, and quick thinking.

How to play and rules of the game

• Raiders enter enemy territory to capture opponents before returning safely.
• Defenders strategically aim to stop raiders.
• Typically played for 40-60 minutes with halftime breaks.
• A game that tests tackles, strength, agility, and determination.

4. Posham Pa

An outdoor traditional game of Andhra Pradesh played with 3 or more players and is very common among rural India for 4 to 8-year-olds. This game develops pattern-building in children while they walk to a rhythmic song. It offers good social interaction with children.

How to play and rules of the game:

• Two players form a “gate” by joining hands raised high.
• Other players sing a song while running in a line under the gate.
• When the song ends, the players forming the gate close it, “catching” a player inside.
• The caught player is eliminated or answers a secret question to join a team (depending on the variation)
• This continues until all players are caught.

Song sung by the children while playing the game

“Poshampa bhai poshampa 

Lal quiley me kya hua

Sau rupaye ki ghadi churai

Ab toh jail mein aana padega

Jail ki roti khani padegi

Jail ka paani peena padega

Ab toh jail me aana padega! “

5.Hopscotch( Tokkudu Billa)

The Tokkudu Billa is a type of hopscotch played by the girls of the rural areas of Andhra Pradesh. This game is a source of recreation for the girls of rural areas where they enjoy and have fun playing with it. The objective of this game is to capture a maximum number of boxes by hopping and using a coin. This is an outdoor sport played by drawing squares in the field, but due to the advent of technology and increasing burdens of education children are unable to have some leisure time that they can spend playing these traditional games.

How to play and rules of the game:

• Stand outside the grid and drop the coin on 8.
• Start from 1 and hop to 7 to pick up the coin in 8 while still hopping.
• Throw the coin out of the grid, not too far, and then jump on it.
• Throw the coin into box 7.
• Hop from 1 to 6.
• While standing in position 6, pick up the coin from box 7.
• Hop over box 7, moving directly from box 6 to box 8, then hop out of the grid.
• Repeat steps 4 through 7 with the coin thrown into boxes 6, 3, 2, and 1, respectively.

Read also: Top 10 Ludo Apps to Ludo sign up ₹20, 25 Rupees

6. Aankh Micholi

A popular and common game that is played in almost every region of India and is not just limited to the areas of Andhra Pradesh. In this a player is made blindfolded with the help of a cloth known as “Denner” and then asked to find all the players. This traditional game is mostly enjoyed by children of age group 5 to 12 and can be played by boys and girls.

How to play and rules of the game:

• One player called the “Denner” would be identified and will wear a blindfold.
• The Denner tries to catch other players without being able to see.
• Other players move around, trying not to get caught.
• Players can make noise to help the denner find them.
• Denner chance can be over when he/she catches all the other players.
• Then the first person to be caught becomes the next Denner.
• The game continues until all players agree to stop

7. Pachisi

Pachisi is a game for two, three, or four players and can usually be played in two teams One team has yellow and black pieces, the other team has red and green. The team which moves all its pieces to the finish first wins the game. This game can be played with teams or individually and is played with simple equipment like cowries or sometimes even tamarind seeds and dice or pashe.

How to play and rules of the game:

• Move all your pieces around the board counterclockwise before opponents.
• Start your game from Charkoni and then end it by taking all your tokens to the Home center.
• Throw the cowries/pashe/dice and sore highest moving ahead in the game
• Turns rotate clockwise and the player with the highest score starts the game.
• Player that turns all the tokens to the home wins the game.

8. Seven stones(Satoliya, Pithoo Phod)

Sven stones also known as the Satoliya or Pithu in some regional areas of Andhra, is a classic game that is both entertaining and filled with fun. This game is quite easy to learn and is very popular among small children, though there is no age specification for playing it is generally played by young people.

How to play and rules of the game:

• Gather seven different stones of similar shapes and sizes
• Arrange them like a tower and then take a cloth ball to hit those stones.
• There are generally two teams that play this game together.
• One is the hitting team and the other is the opponent team.
• A player from the hitting team hits the stones arranged in a tower and then runs away.
• Now the real task is to keep the stones as they were before hitting and the game revolves around this.
• Where hitting team tries to restack the stones and the opponent team tries to hit them.

There aren’t any rules for this game regarding fouls or winning but one can follow their regional rules or game specification. But make sure every stone size is less than the other stone

9. Hide and Seek

A common game among children of a young age and is generally played at night but can be played in the morning or afternoons if you have a good place to hide. The players close their eyes and try to find their co-players, this game is purely for entertainment and fun purposes and does not have many technicalities to get into before anyone wants to play.it is a simple, entertaining, and fun game that will make you feel good and happy.

How to play and rules of the game

• A Dai/seeker closes their eyes facing a wall or any surface and then counts to 100 or 50 whatever they together decide.
• While the seeker counts all the remaining players scatter and find hiding spots.
• To win and eliminate the turn of being a seeker find all the hidden players before anyone shouts “Dee” before you find them.
• If Dai finds out any hidden person without them saying “Dee” then that first person to be found becomes the next Dai.
• And so on the game continues until players are tired.

10. Lattu(Bongaram Aata)

Famous with the regional name- “spinning top” this game used to be the most popular game on the streets of Andhra yet still is played in the rural regions. Lattu is a part of life for children in Indian villages.

How to play and rules of the game:

• This game involves spinning “Lattu”- a wooden Top
• The top is turnip-shaped with a grooved lower half.
• A cotton string is attached to it which the players spin around.
• Whosoever spins for the longest time wins the game.

There aren’t any particular rules to play this game, it is of local origin and just played for fun purposes, by the older generations and is carried as it is  by the new generation

Know more: Top Traditional Games of Punjab

Conclusion

While modern games have taken up the gaming and childhood game times, children are limited to indoor games and all-time screens. But with our guide on the Andhra Pradesh traditional games, we have tried to make you aware of the past and forgotten fun games that once ruled the streets.

The traditional games of Andhra Pradesh are a legacy waiting to be shared. They’re a bridge between generations. So get your family, and friends and pick up a traditional game from these. Have fun and Let the laughter and competition fill the air, and together, keep the spirit of these traditional games alive for generations to come.”

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