Every nation of the world has its own games and sports. They are as necessary for life as food and drink. A man eats and drinks of fulfill his hunger and quench his thirst. But he takes part in games and sports to build up his body and character. As parents, our busy lifestyles make us feel satisfied when we entertain our kids with electronic gadgets like television or tablets. We fail to realize that children have to play outdoors for their physical wellbeing and emotional happiness.
Getting dirty outdoors playing some of these traditional games for kids is much healthier than staying inside and playing with gizmos.
There are many types of local games of Bangladesh. Ha-du-du, Dariabandha, Kanamachhi, Gollachhut, etc are examples of Bangladeshi cultural sports. Young children mostly take part in these unique cultural games during their leisure period.
Ha-du-du
Ha-du-du is a very popular game. It is a game that is played in the open field. It is a game of joy not only to the players but also to the spectators. It costs minimum but gives maximum joy and thrill. This game requires a small plain ground.
The ground is divided into two equal parts. A line is drawn across the mid field. The young and strong boys of the villages play Ha-du-du. There are two teams. Each team has equal number of players. The players stand face to face on a line. Each team stands within one part of the ground of the opponent party. He utters du-du all the time holding his breath control. He tries his best to touch one or more players of the opponent party. If he is successful in his attempt and comes back to his own area, the touched players are called dead. And if he is caught within the area of the opponent party, he is called dead. In this way the game goes on. The game comes to an end when all the players of a party are dead and the other party wins.
Kanamachhi
Kanamachhi is popular village game. A number of children stand in a circle. One of them becomes the kanamachchi. He is called so because a piece of cloth is tied over his eyes and he cannot see. He runs after children. If he can touch anybody, then the touched person becomes the new kanamachhi.
Dariabandha
It is another village game. In this game a field is made under certain rules equally divided with lines keeping equal distance from each other. The players are divided into two equal teams. One team stands outside the field and each of the players of the other team stands on each line facing at least one opponent player. The players standing outside enter into the field one by one and try to pass across the field to the end. If any player of a team can cross the field from the starting point to the point and vice-versa, the team concerned wins the game.
Gollachhut
Gollachchut is another village game of Bangladesh. It is played between two teams. There is equal number of players in each team. A team stands at a fixed point on one side of the field. The players of the other team stand scattered in the field facing the team standing at the fixed point. If the players standing at the fixed point can cross three fields untouched, they win the game.
Nouka-Baich
Nouka-Baich/Boat-race is a popular entertainment of the village people. Generally a boat-race is held during autumn on the occasion of any village festival. Special and speedy boats known as Baichary are made and kept for this sporting purpose. People from far and near gather at the spot. A boat race starts in the midst of shouts and thrills. It provides an innocent pleasure.
Lathi-khela
Lathikhela is also a popular village game. This game requires some skills, tricks and techniques. Experienced people of the villages take part in this game. This game is a source of great joy to the spectators as they can enjoy the game so much.
Ekka-dokka
Also known as satkhela and chiriya in some regions, is chiefly played by girls across the country. The game is played on a rectangular court drawn on the ground. The rectangle is further divided into four or six rectangular or square cells.
At some places, the fourth or sixth cell is split into two and is called the ‘rest.’ The cells are known in order as ekka (first), dokka (second), tekka (third), chaukka (fourth), pakka (fifth) and lasthi (sixth). Each player has a marker, either a piece of flat stone or potsherd, known as chada, ghunti, diga, khopla etc.
One player at a time tosses her marker into a cell and starts hopping from one cell to the other. The object of the game is to throw the marker into the consecutive cells, pick up the marker and hop through all the cells. If the piece rests on a line or falls outside the boundary of a cell, the player loses her turn. She is followed by the next player. The player who advances her piece successfully through all the cells wins the game.
Golap-Tagar
Golap-Tagar a team game, with an equal number of players on both sides, and played by both boys and girls. The chiefs of the teams are called ‘kings.’ The teams stand fifteen to twenty feet apart, separated by a boundary. At the start of the game, the king names his players after flowers or fruit.
Then the king blindfolds one of the players of the opposite team and calls one of the players of his team by their flower or fruit name, for example, ‘Come, my Rose,’ or, ‘Come, my Jasmine.’ Then Jasmine or Rose goes over and flips the player on his forehead. The blindfold is then opened and the player has to guess who touched him on his forehead. If he succeeds, he jumps ahead, and if he fails, the opponent’s player does so.
The game continues till one team captures the land of the other. The opposing team members then lift the winning king across the boundary. In another variation of the game, the members of the losing team carry the winning players’ piggy-back across the boundary. The game is also known by other names such as Baurani, Chadankhela (Murshidabad), Tukatuki (Mymensingh) etc.
Country games are very interesting indeed. They can be played without spending too much money. Large fields are also not needed most times. The village games give sufficient exercise to the limbs of the body. They are the source of innocent joy and pleasure. They make us strong, healthy and active. The village games keep people busy, tension free and delightful. They can spend their leisure in them. These remove their boredom, monotonous routines of life and fatigue.
(Altaf Hussain, Chairman Green Club, Manikgonj)
