The Games That Children Played

The Herald - Review news from Goa

Email : pjn.hppl@axcess.net.in

Ram, Rai, Sai, soot loi....", does this ditty sound familiar to you? In the following article by Maria De Lourdes Bravo Da Costa Rodrigues sheds light on the various traditional games that were played in Goa, but have lost their popularity today.

Collecting data on traditional games played in Goa was on my mind for quite some time. Though it may not come as a surprise to many that most of the games have gradually lost its popularity in the cities, it is no denying the fact that these games are also no longer being played in the rural areas of Goa.

When interviewed, youngsters/teenagers were surprised to find that these games existed in Goa, for they had not played them at anytime. Even in areas like Siridao, I was informed that these games are played no more.

What may be the reason for this desuetude? The main culprit is television. Cable TV has taken over entertainment in every home in Goa. The youth watch the programmes and the sports telecasts by the television station. With so much of cricket on the TV and less of other games, the youngsters now play only cricket. Even football a traditional game, which was the most favoured game of Goa is relegated to the secondary position. Another reason could be that the students are busy with their studies and tuitions, and they have no time to play.

I have been able to identify 24 traditional games played in Goa. They have been grouped into indoors and outdoors games, though a definite dividing line cannot be drawn. Games like Five Stones and Tabblam were normally played by women, specially Hindu women, who used to seldom come out of the house.

Summer time is most ideal for outdoor games like:

Godde (with marble)
Bhianim ( with cashewnuts)
Goinda - bhal (stump and bail)
Logorio ( 7 tiles)
Utu - tu (Kabbadi)
Pottio (stick and stone)
Fottas
Bouro (top)
Mitt follio (Attya - Pattya)
Paryani Lobbio (hopscotch)
Dorchenim(Lock and Key and also catching took)
Lenco (asket and basket)
Langdi (hopping)
Kho - Kho
Appa - Lipa - Hide and Seek
Ringanim Matanca (with tenikot ring)

The indoor games included:

Cartaim- with empty cigarettes boxes
Konnxeanim- four corners
Fatranim - 5 stones
Tabblam
Tiktem
Damnim draughts

Some of the outdoor games like attya-pattya, paryani could also be played indoors, where the houses had big hall or verandahs.

GODDE - GAME OF MARBLES

The game was called Bodeanim Khellop or Gushinim Khellop. gup is like a punishment for the opposite team.

Number of players: The game can be played by two players, four players or six players etc. The game is more interesting when played by two on each side.

The game: A circle is drawn in the middle of the road (It was mostly played on the road) and it is called Bodo. The team who wins the toss opts to strike first. One man stands near the bodo with two marbles and the team which wins the toss goes to a distance of about 10 metres and each player throws a marble near the bodo. The marble that is thrown by the player enters the bodo or crosses or passes through it. In case it crosses or passes, the player standing near the bodo can drop down marbles from his hand and stop the passing/crossing marble. If that marble stops in the circle (Bodo), then, that player's marble is bodlo. It means that the player is caught or that he cannot play for sometime. In case the other player of the same team, has already thrown the marble and was in a good position to strike or even if he was far away from the circle, he has to go back and throw again. If he gets caught in the manner explained earlier then the other team gets a chance to throw. In case he succeeds in throwing the marble near the circle, then the three marbles which were already in the circle (one of the player and 2 of the opponents) are placed either on the circle, in the middle of the circle, or in a straight line keeping the opposition player's marble in the middle. Now, the player has to strike and remove the marble out of the circle. If he manages to remove all three marbles, he can continue with the game and the other player is also free to join him. He continues to strike the marbles of the opposite players. His partner picks up his marble as soon as it is out of the circle. When this player misses a hit, both the partners go back to the marked line and throw each one's marble preferably in the middle of the two marble so that they are equidistant because now the marbles are allotted to each one of them. Henceforth they are supposed to hit only the marble that is allotted to each one of them. If by mistake one player hits the other partner's marble even while throwing his marble, then it is said to be kus and all their good work is obliterated. Suppose they succeed in taking the marbles of the opposite players beyond the marked line and if at one point they miss their hits on their allotted marbles, then the game comes to an end. But now the gus starts, The losing players have to bring the marble with the elbow, holding the earlobe with the hand of the same side. The marble is to be brought in this way upto the Bodo. In case the marble falls into a hole or a ditch, then it is removed with both the elbows. Beside the above, there are different variants in the game of Godde.

Running around and catching a player was a common game played by children. There were different variants like (1) lock and key (2) catching the cook, (3) (4) Blind man's buff or (5) playing at corners.

In case of lock and key, the 'den' runs after the players, and if anyone feels he is going to get caught he sits down and 'locks' himself. He now becomes immune to the 'den's' touch. For this player to start running, again, another player had to come and touch him, and that is the "key" to unlock him. If the 'den' is successful in catching a player, before he sat, then this one would become a 'den'.

In catching the cook the 'Den' has to catch player to replaced him.

In Appa - Lipa - Hide and Seek, the 'den' has to find out where the other players have hidden. There is a spot marked for the 'den' to wait with closed eyes till the other players hide themselves. No sooner they say "ready", he has to go on a hunt. The players could in the meantime come to the "spot" and touch it and get out of the game.

Blind man's buff, played by any number of players, who stay around in a circle, with a 'den' to catch them. However, the 'den' in this case is blindfolded. If he is able to catch any player, then the latter replaces the 'den'.

Playing at corners or pillars - In this game each player would occupy spot at a corner or a pillar or simply a circle marked on the floor. The den would go round to find any spot vacated by any player to find another spot while the players exchange the spots. The "den" would hit on the head with his hand and say "tell, tell mateach tell" while going around.

LOGORIO - 7 TILES

The game is played by two teams. One team does the fielding and the other has to strike the tiles that are piled one on top of the other by throwing a ball. If the player is successful in breaking the pile he and his team mates run away. Because the opponents can hit any one them with the ball, in which case the team changes sides. Therefore the striking players try their level best to throw the ball . In case of a miss, the running team mates throw the ball as far as possible. In the meantime one or more of them try to remake the pile the tiles. Once all the 7 titles are piled, they shout "logori" and the game is over. When the tiles are struck if any opponent player successfully takes catch of the ball the striker is out.

LENCO- ASKET OR BASKET

Number of players: A group of 10 to 15 or more can play this game. The minimum should be 6.

The game: The player sit to make circle. One among them is the 'den'. The den has to go round the circle with a handkerchief hidden in his\her hand. She has to keep the handkerchief furtively behind one of the players. The players therefore have to be attentive to see whether the handkerchief is behind them. The player, behind whom the handkerchief is placed has to run around the circle to catch the 'den'. If the player touches the 'den' then the player is out, or the 'den' can go and sit in the place of the player before the player can get her out. When the 'den' is going round the circle she is accompanied by a song on the way: Asket or Basket, Green and yellow Basket, I wrote a letter to my mother on the way I dropped it .... If the player is not able to catch the den before sitting then he becomes the den, and game continues.

PARYANI OR LOBBI

This game can be played by any number of players but the minimum is two. The player throws a lobbi (a flat tilepiece or shell) in the first square and with hops takes it to the next square without the lobbi or the foot touching the line of a square. If it touches the line then the player is "out". The player has to take on the lobbi to all the squares on one side and come from the other side. This continues till all the squares are complete. Now the player has to throw the lobbi into a square by standing or sitting with his back. The square in which the "lobbi" has fallen, becomes the property of that player, and other players cannot step it. They have to jump over it. But before throwing he has to ask the other player whether from the up or down side or either standing or sitting. The game continues till all the squares are taken by the players. The one having the bigger number of squares in his possession, is the winner. AT the start the game the player throws the piece of tile or shell in the first square. Then she jumps over this square, without touching the line (she who touches the line is out). Then in the single square the players use only one foot (Langdi) and when she reaches the double square the player turns by jumping around and placing the feet in both the squares and follows the same sequence used for reaching to the last squares. Then she plays the second square from the start and follows the same sequence till she has played till the last square. The player bends to pick up with the hand the tile (shell) from the floor on the return to the start.

RINGANIM/MATANCA

This was played with a tennikoit ring and could be played by two opponent players or a group of players making one side. Whoever wins the toss would take the tennikoit ring. An area (a square) is marked for each side with a dividing line. Players of each side would stand in their respective half. The opponents who had possession of the ring would strive to hit the players on the other side. If the player took the the ring in her hands she was not out. She would then use the ring to hit back at the players the opposite side. If the tennikoit hit and fell on the floor the player was out. The game ends when all the players of a side are out.

POTTIO (stick and stone)

This game is played by any number of players but a minimum of two players. One player who is at the 'den' holds the stick horizontal in this hands and the other player has to throw the stick down by using his own stick and then before he is caught by the 'den' player he has to touch the tip of his stick on a stone and keep it there. If his stick is not on the stone and he is caught by the den then he is out. The players go on pushing the den's stick with their own and while in the process if the den catches the player he is out. He has now to be the den. The game continues till the players feel bored or it is time to go home.

BIYANNI (with cashewnuts)

Cashew nuts were used by youngsters to play during the summer time. There are two types of the games. One involves a group of players who stand at a distance from a tree or wall. They would then throw cashew nuts. Player whose nut is closer to the wall/tree, is to play first. He throws a bigger cashew but, which is called boto, against the floor to bounce on the wall / tree and tries to catch it. If he is successful, he wins the game and can take all the nut thrown by other players.

In the second game the players, place cashewnuts in a line, with the nut heading the line in a standing position. The players stand away from the line, approximately by 10 to 15 mts, to form a 'T' from the line. The players strike the nuts. The nuts in the line from the one hit by player are his. If the player hits the nut at the head of the line which is the first one all the seeds are won by him and the game starts again.

LANGDI

In this game there are two teams playing with each other. The ground is square in shape. Players of one team stand in the square, while the opponents play the game by sending one player at a time into the ground. This player has to hop (Langdi) and get into the square and try to catch or touch as many players as possible and come out of the square. The players which are touched have to leave the square. In case he puts his second foot down, before crossing the line, he is out. The next set is played by changing the position of the teams. The set is over when all players of either side are out.

GOINDO BAL

Two or more players make a team. A small slit is made on the ground. On that the bail is kept. The player places the stick on to slit in the ground and asks folle ? When the opponent replies folle' the bail is shot out. If it is caught by the opponent the player is out, if not the player plays by striking the bail with the goindos. He has to play three times, and at least strike the bail once, if not he is out. Points are counted depending on how many times the bail is hit with the goindo.

If the bail is hit once, one goindo makes one point, if twice one bail and if thrice, than half bail. The counting of points starts from the spot where the bail is upto the slit. The player can also be out of the game while playing, if the bail is caught in the air by the opponent. In this case he is given an option. He can come hopping with the bail in his hand upto the slit. If he successfully reaches the slit he can continue playing. The winner is the one who gets the highest number of points.

TIKTEM

This game is played by two players. Each player has Black and yellow Pawns. Alternately shells and stones can also be used. A square is divided into two smaller squares. Each player alternately places the shell/stone on the line at the joints and corners. The aim of the player is to complete a full threesome line i.e. tiktem. The second player makes it difficult to complete the line by placing his shell/stone. However, he also tries simultaneously to make his own tiktem. When a player completes a tiktem he can take the shell stone of the other player. The game is over when three tiktems are made.

CARTANIM

To play the game empty cigarette boxes were used by players, (normally two) to play. These were thrown from a distance and the aim was to throw a box on another one; If he succeeded to cover the other, fully or partly, he could take the boxes thrown by both the players.

FATRANIM - 5 Stones

These are normally played by women. The five stones are thrown on the floor, and the player has to pick one by one the stones, while simultaneously she had to catch the one she throws at the second time, then three and then four at successive times. Then the stones are thrown on the back of the palm, to fall on the ground. Thereafter the palm stands on the fingers spread out. The other hand picks up a stone, which is to be thrown up, and before it is caught, one stone at a time must be pushed under the palm. Finally, the stones are thrown up in the air and all the stones are picked together, after removing the palm. A variant of this game, is played with 10 stones instead of 5.

TABBLAM

The game is played by two players, each of whom is entitled to 12 chips of different colours usually yellow and black. There is a special board with lines and square drawn. They can be drawn also on the floor or on a table. There were twelve squares for each player, and they would place the chips on the respective side. To start the game the player will have to throw the four tabblam, (these are four sticks made of bamboo and one side would be marked or coloured). To start moving the chips the player has to throw the tabblam. Tabblam he got, i.e. all coloured was equivalent to 8 points.

Every time the player wanted to move a new chip he had to get a "tabbla" i.e. 3 coloured side on top and one on the reverse. He would move his chip to the side of the opponent and take the place of his chips. If the opponents' chip continued in the original position he would kill his chip and remove it of from the board. The game is over when all the chips from one side were placed in the opponents camp.

Such games are a thrill to watch, specially when children are playing. It would be pertinent to request the authorities to revive these games, specially in schools, lest they fall in oblivion. In fact the curriculum for Marathi schools organised in 1943 by the sub - Committee, appointed by the Goa Marathi Shikshan Samelan, it asked that from regional games like Atia - Patia, Kho -Kho and Langdi students should learn to play at least two. A strong aspect of these games is that the tools of the games are readily available unlike the modern games where bats, balls and other equipment cost a fortune. Its high time the State Government does something to keep these games alive.

Traditional Goan Games

I was saddened to see the review of the article by Maria De Lourdes Bravo Da Costa dealing with the demise of the traditional Goan games such as Utu - tu (Kabbadi), Pottio (stick and stone), Fottas, Bouro (top), Mitt follio (Attya - Pattya give way to more "sophisticated" electronic entertainment(TV, Cable, Video games and now for the "elite" youngsters, the Internet).

The sad part of loosing these games is not just the loss of such creative entertainment, but the active, two-way, person to person interactions and physical contact with other human beings that the traditional games enabled. They fostered planning, team building, negotiating, creativity in putting the materials together(You don’t just go and buy a Koinde Bal in a store, but make them from scratch from Bamboos) and many other skills that youngsters these days so badly need but won’t find on any Web Page or Newsgroup.

I wanted to add a few more toys that I remember making and/or playing with as a child in Goa:

ONE WHEEL BUS(A Bicycle tire)

"Driving" a bicycle tire with a stick. That was my bus. I never went anywhere without it. I especially enjoyed some of the long trips to the Grocery store(Posro) to buy oil "Tel". I would make several "virtual" stops along the way to pick up make-believe passengers. Since I was a lone ooperation, I played the role of a driver, "Kilinder"(cleaner) and the guy who collects the money. I did the whole bit like "Fatim voch ghe, hanga matshi, thuim matshi", yelled at old ladies who remained in their seats until the last minute,etc.

The lucky kids had nice new looking tires. The less fortunate had old ones that would assume the "number 8" shape if hit them too hard with the stick.

FOTAS

(Mentioned in D'Costa's article)We would make "Fotas" (a bee bee gun of sorts) with a bamboo. A shaft (with a handle and all) made from a bamboo cane is is passed through a hollow bamboo cylinder to fire a pellet. "Teflam" (a local fruit/berry) would serve as pellets. They would produce a nice "bang" when fired and give out a mist of pungent smelling juice from the fruit/berry. If you were hit with it from a close range, it could hurt you pretty bad.

ROBON

Robon was a sling shot made from a Y-shaped branch of a tree. Two rubber strips(usually from a bycycle or car inner tube) would be fastened to the tips of the Y and the other ends would be attached to a piece of leather. Robons ofcourse could also be bought in the market, but the good ones were always "home made".

PAPAYA FLUTE

This magical instrument is made from a stalk/branch(with the leaf intact) of a Papaya tree. You cut off a portion of the thick end(back end) of the Papaya stalk thus leaving an opening t blow into. Also cut away excess leaf taking care not to make a hole on the "thin" end(front end). You then make a thin cut along the length of the stalk with a razor. Then test it by blowing into the "flute". If the air doesn’t seem to pass freely, the cut needs to be deeper or wider. If the air passes too easily, the cut was too deep. If it was done just right, it will make a sound and you have a flute. Unfortunately, the lifespan of the flute is very short (a few hours). Once the stalk dries up, it stops making music.

TIN MOBILE

Take the cover of a Tin Can(not the kind opened with a can opener…)and nail it to the end of a long stick(bamboo works well). Leave enough room between the "wheel"(the Tin Can cover ) and the stick to allow the wheel to move freely on the nail. Then place it on the ground and push it from the other end of the stick. Yes, the tin can wheel tends to fall off once in a while when the nail gets loose, but that’s why God made Dads, the mechanics that can fix any problem.

LEAF WHISTLE

This only works with leaves of certain plants or trees. Select a tender leaf and fold it into a shape of a cigarette. Then blow into it. Makes a sharp noise.

And I could go on and on and so could the rest of you Im sure who grew up prior to the technology revolution in Goa. I often wish I could pass along some of these games/toys to my son, but it is really hard to do. The competition from Little Tikes, Fischer Price, Nintendo, and others is just too strong to overcome. Perhaps I could administer it to him in the form of bed time stories.

Jaime D'Mello

Email : jdemello@wavefront.com