Know your Culture
-
Kabaddi
KabaddiA contact sport that goes by different names- chedugudu, komonti, ha-du-du, baibalaa, kauddi, hu-tu-tu , ha-do-do, chadakudu, kapardi, sadugudu , chakgudu! Kabaddi is a team game with seven players each in two opposing teams. Players take turns crossing onto the other team’s side, repeating “kabaddi, kabaddi” (or an alternate chant); points are scored by tagging as many opponents as possible without being caught or taking a breath before returning to one’s home territory. It demands high levels of strategy, physical fitness and stamina, as well as courage and teamwork.Origins of the Game & Associations with MythologyIt is believed that the game originated in prehistoric times, when the development of human reflexes was crucial for self-defense and hunting. The earliest references to the game can be found in an abhang by Tukaram mentioning that Lord Krishna playing Kabaddi as a boy. According to myths, the Pandava Arjuna had mastered kabaddi skills from Lord Krishna, and this helped Arjuna breach several enemy walls. Arjuna’s son Abhimanyu is said to have listened to Krishna’s tutelage while in his mother’s womb and inherited kabaddi skills and brought down a seven-tiered defence of the Kauravas, single-handedly. You can associate this with the kabaddi move of a single raider raiding the opposite side having seven defenders and returning to his side victorious. Buddhist legends state that Gautam Buddha was fond of playing a kabaddi-like sport during his leisure time. Kabaddi as an organised sportKabaddi was showcased by Indian players as a demonstration sport in the 1936 Berlin Olympics. The All India Kabaddi Federation was formed in 1950. Regular tournaments started being conducted for both men and women. The game was first included in the Beijing Asian Games in 1990. India has been consistently bagging the Gold Medal in Kabaddi in the Asian Games since then, except in the year 2018, when Iran took the gold.Pro Kabaddi League (PKL)An Indian men`s professional Kabaddi league was launched in 2014 and is the most popular kabaddi league in the world. Modelled on the format of the IPL of cricket, PKL has become hugely successful. The World Kabaddi Federation defines kabaddi as a combative sport that teaches the life lesson that offence is an individual effort whereas defence is a group effort.
-
Ball Badminton - Indian o...
Ball BadmintonWe know how a ball helped the Kuru princes get a great guru. Let’s look at a ball game that originated in India.The game of badminton, played not with the western shuttle cock but with a soft woollen ball, was played in India as early as 1856. The game was greatly patronised by the royal family of Thanjavur in South India.Ball badminton is a fast-paced game; it demands skill, quick reflexes, good judgment, agility, and the ability to control the ball with one`s wrist.Shuttle Badminton -The Indian connectionDid you know the game of badminton was originally known as ‘Poona’ after the Indian city of Pune in Maharashtra? This was where, the British army officers started playing the game in the mid 19th century. They took it back with them to England, and it was renamed as Badminton after a country house where it was played.However, even before that time, in South India, ball badminton was being played and was quite popular. It was invented in Tamil Nadu and became popular in other southern states. For a long time, ball badminton was preferred over shuttle badminton.Ball badminton is a team sport. In "fives" tournaments, a team consists of ten formally designated players, any five of whom play while the other five remain on the sidelines with the team manager, ready to play. Doubles tournaments use teams of three players. Ball Badminton sport is managed by the Ball Badminton Federation of India (founded in 1954) which conducts All India Tournaments.
-
Dhanur Veda - Archery
Dhanur Veda – Archery From the Vedic era (1500 BCE) to today’s Olympic Games, India has a fascinating relationship with Archery. In fact, the paintings/carvings at the Bhimbetka Rock Shelters in Central India place the connection even earlier, nearly 10,000 years ago! Dhanur (Dhanus-bow) Veda (knowledge) – the treatise on archery is contained in the text of Yajur Veda. It considers all aspects of archery, and one could infer the importance placed on the practice with its inclusion in the Vedic texts. Dhanurveda places emphasis on not only the physical fitness aspect but also the spiritual nature-the mental calmness required. Archery skill requires the mind, body and soul to be in harmony. When we think of Lord Ram, it is the image of Kodanda Rama (Kodanda is the name of his bow) that comes to our mind. Arjuna, the skilled archer of Mahabharata could accurately hit the eye of a bird figurine by just looking at its reflection in a vessel of water! The principles of precision, focus, control and repetition are the bases of Archery. Modern Archery featured at the Olympic Games from the early 1900s and became a permanent fixture from 1972. There are 4 types of bows - compound bows, longbows, recurve bows and bare bows. Ancient Indians used compound bows and long bows. Pinaka (aka ajagava)- the great bow of Lord Shiva is supposed to be so mighty that arrows shot from the bow cannot be intercepted. Archery is played as an individual sport as well as a team sport with teams of 4 players each. In April 2024, the Indian recurve team lifted the Gold in the Archery World Cup. Looking forward to medals and awards in Archery at the Paris Olympics. From the Vedic era (1500 BCE) to today’s Olympic Games, India has a fascinating relationship with Archery. In fact, the paintings/carvings at the Bhimbetka Rock Shelters in Central India place the connection even earlier, nearly 10,000 years ago!Dhanur (Dhanus-bow) Veda (knowledge) – the treatise on archery is contained in the text of Yajur Veda. It considers all aspects of archery, and one could infer the importance placed on the practice with its inclusion in the Vedic texts. Dhanurveda places emphasis on not only the physical fitness aspect but also the spiritual nature-the mental calmness required. Archery skill requires the mind, body and soul to be in harmony.When we think of Lord Ram, it is the image of Kodanda Rama (Kodanda is the name of his bow) that comes to our mind. Arjuna, the skilled archer of Mahabharata could accurately hit the eye of a bird figurine by just looking at its reflection in a vessel of water! The principles of precision, focus, control and repetition are the bases of Archery. Modern Archery featured at the Olympic Games from the early 1900s and became a permanent fixture from 1972. There are 4 types of bows - compound bows, longbows, recurve bows and bare bows. Ancient Indians used compound bows and long bows. Pinaka (aka ajagava)- the great bow of Lord Shiva is supposed to be so mighty that arrows shot from the bow cannot be intercepted.Archery is played as an individual sport as well as a team sport with teams of 4 players each. In April 2024, the Indian recurve team lifted the Gold in the Archery World Cup. Looking forward to medals and awards in Archery at the Paris Olympics.
-
Chaturanga
The Journey of ChaturangaDid you know that the game of chess is supposed to have originated in India around 600 AD as per eminent historians?· The ashtapada (8x8 board) of Chaturanga (the ancient forerunner to the modern chess) is mentioned in Harshacharita (Biography of emperor Harsha) composed by poet Banabhatta in Sanskrit in the 7th century. · Chatur and anga are Sanskrit names for four arms that are symbolic of the game of chess. · In its ancient usage, it was a game of strategy of the battlefield, the four arms representing chariots, cavalry, elephants, and infantry. In addition, there was a king and his minister. It was a game played like a situation of war. · There are sculptures where Lord Shiva and Parvati are seen playing a game like chess and Krishna and Radha enjoying a game of Chaturanga. (The National Museum in New Delhi also has a painting on this). · The game moved from India to Persia and became `Chatrang` and from there to the Arabic world as `Shatranj`. · Onwards to Europe and by the 15th century the modern version of Chess evolved. · The first World Chess Championship was held in the year 1886. · Today you can play chess with a computer!
-
Lgori Seven Stones
Lagori!Ever wondered what children used to do before X-Box, video games, cell phones and tabs? They had so much fun playing with their friends, both indoor and outdoor. Let us take a look at one of those fun games.Lagori, or simply Seven Stones is a super active outdoor game, which even Krishna played with his friends according to the Bhagavatha Purana. All it requires is a large open space, a rubber ball, seven flat stones and of course two teams of players.The stones are piled vertically one on top of the other. One team hits the pile with the ball and topples it. The other team tries to set right the pile while trying not be hit below the legs by the first team. The player who is hit by the ball is called out and cannot participate in re-piling the stones.Lagori was one of the demonstration sports featured in the 37th National Games held in Goa in October-November 2023. Try playing Lagori with your friends. Play safely.