Documenting Traditional Games in Temples of Bengaluru

From game boards in the Harappan site of Dholavira to paintings in Ajanta depicting people playing board games, to our epics where major events unfold around board games, India has a rich and deep tradition of playing various board games. These games and game boards form part of our city’s intangible heritage.

The main aim of this research, by INTACH Bengaluru Chapter, 2019, is to document the games which were played in temple complexes and elsewhere such as kattes (platforms around trees), mandapas, kalyanis and other vernacular structures. It will focus on the city of Bengaluru and its immediate surroundings. There are many temples which have engravings of game boards such as navakankari (Nine Men’s Morris), variations of aaduhuliaata (Tigers and Goats), vimaana, mancala etc, on their plinths, kattes, steps, edges of platforms etc.

The following games of temples were found and documented in detail.

ChowkaBarah is one of the oldest board games of India that is still played in some parts of the country. It is known as Chowka Bara in Mysuru and as Chakaara or Chakka in north Karnataka. This game is similar to ludo and can be played by 4 players. It is a game of chance that is played with cowry shells (called kavade in Kannada).

AaduHuli-(Bagh Aur Bakri) (Credits: KreedaKoushalya) (Found in Bull Temple) AaduHuli is a traditional board game from Karnataka, South India, inspired by hunting practices. The game involves 2 players, one controls 4 tigers and the other controls a flock of 16 goats.

Aadu Puli Aatam– This is a two-player game of skill, strategy, and thinking like chess. There are 3 tigers and 15 goats. The tigers try to kill the goats while the goats try to corner the tigers so they cannot move. Through this game, the players are thought the importance of teamwork, how united and well-guided goats can pause the movement of powerful tigers. And also how to feed on our prey efficiently.

SolahSeedi – is a battlefield game for two, where each player has 16 equally matched game pieces. The aim is to occupy enemy territory through strategic moves and planned efforts, thus defeating the opponent. It is a great way to improve strategic thinking and planning. There are very particular and fixed rules to this game, much like how battles were fought in real life in the olden days.

Dahdi -This is a strategy game in which the aim is to get as many points as possible by getting three pieces in a row. Two players are given 9 coins each. The players try to move them to get 3 coins in a row. Although the purpose is similar to noughts and crosses, the game is far more complex as coins can be moved and the opponent’s coins can be removed. Dahdi is a survival game where you need to anticipate your opponent’s moves.

In today’s time and age, the use of temple games is almost extinct. The condition of these engraved games is bad. Most of the impression games are diminishing and those whose condition is still good are not played at all. The whole purpose of these temple games was to promote community gatherings and activities in the temple complex. It was a recreational as well as a social activity. Most of the people visiting the temples are not interested anymore in playing the games. At the same time, there are initiatives to bring back these traditional games by organisations like Kaavde, KreedaKoushalya etc. Their main intention is to introduce future generations to these games and invest in the joy of playing them. These games are being brought back in the form of board games and kits. Spaces, where people can gather and play these games, are cropping up to replicate the community activities happening in the temple.

Check our ICH Archives link for more information:
https://icharchive.intach.org/Detail/collections/217