Most Popular Tamil Nadu Ancient Indian Games

Ancient Indian Games: How to Play, Rules, and Their Origins

India, one of the oldest civilizations in the world, is also the birthplace of many traditional games. These games were a source of entertainment and a medium for learning life skills like logic, physical agility, morality, and social bonding. Many of these games are internationally recognised. In this blog post, let’s explore the origin, how to play, and the rules of the most popular ancient Indian games, especially from Tamil Nadu and other parts of the subcontinent.

 

1. Chaturanga (Chess Ancestor)

 

Origin: 6th century CE, Gupta Empire, Northern India
Modern Version: Chess

 

How to Play:

 

The game was initially played by four players and included pieces representing elephants (Gaja), chariots (Ratha), horses (Ashwa), foot soldiers (Padàti), and a king (Raja). It was played with dice and involved strategic alliances.

Over time, Chaturanga evolved into Shatranj in Persia, and finally into the modern chess we know today.

Chess became internationally recognised when the World Chess Championship was formally established in 1886. The game is now governed by the FIDE (Fédération Internationale des Échecs), founded in 1924.

• First World Champion: Wilhelm Steinitz (1886)
• Recent Champion: Ding Liren (2023)
• Young Indian Challenger: D. Gukesh, who won the 2024 Candidates Tournament and will challenge for the 2025 World Chess Championship

In the Ancient period, Players used dice to determine moves, but now, by following some principles, chess has become an international game. Do you want to know A Historical Timeline of The Birth and Rise of Chess?

 

Basic Rules:

 

• Players formed temporary alliances.
• Capturing the king was the objective.
• Strategy and planning were essential.

 

2. Pachisi (Ludo’s Root Game)

 

Origin: 4th century CE, India (played in royal courts)
Modern Version: Ludo

 

How to Play:

 

Played on a cross-shaped board with 4 arms. Each player had four pieces, starting from the outer area, moving inward. Movement was based on the throw of cowrie shells.

 

Basic Rules:

 

• 4 players; 2 vs 2 often.
• Capture the opponent’s pieces by landing on them.
• First to move all pieces to the centre wins.

 

Historical Note:

Mughal Emperor Akbar played Pachisi with live people as pieces on a giant board in Fatehpur Sikri. Pachisi is currently known as LUDO, pachisi vs ludo, which game u play more?

 

3. Gilli Danda

 

Origin: Over 2500 years ago, Ancient India
Played In: Villages across Tamil Nadu, Bihar, Maharashtra, and UP

 

How to Play:

 

• Gilli Danda is over 2500 years old and involves hitting a small wooden stick (gilli) with a larger one (danda). The game tests timing, aim, and reflexes. It is often considered the predecessor of cricket.

  While not an official sport, it has been showcased in India’s Rural Sports League.

  • Revival Efforts: Tamil Nadu’s Rural Olympics (2023)
  • Inspired Sports: Cricket and baseball

Still enjoyed in rural India as a cricket alternative. Small kids in the village are also playing this game now.

Do you know where cricket began in the world?

4. Kabaddi

 

Origin: 3000+ years ago, Tamil Nadu (also found in Mahabharata references)

 

How to Play:

Kabaddi originated over 3,000 years ago in Tamil Nadu. It is a contact sport played between two teams of seven players each. A "raider" from one team enters the opponent's court, tries to tag players, and return to his side—all while chanting "kabaddi" without taking a breath.

The game was officially recognised internationally when it was included in the Asian Games in 1990. It is governed by the International Kabaddi Federation (IKF), which was formed in 2004. The sport also has its own league, the Pro Kabaddi League (PKL), launched in India in 2014.

• First Asian Games Champion (Men): India (1990, Beijing)
• Recent Pro Kabaddi Champion: Puneri Paltan (2024)
• Top Player: Pardeep Narwal, the highest scorer in PKL history

An international sport with the Pro Kabaddi League and part of the Asian Games. Record-breaker Pardeep Narwal announced his retirement from the Pro Kabaddi League.

 

5. Pallanguzhi

 

Origin: Tamil Nadu, Sangam Era (around 3rd century BCE)
Played by: Mostly women during festivals like Navaratri

 

How to Play:

 

• Pallanguzhi is an ancient Tamil game traditionally played by women during festivals. The game involves a wooden board with 14 pits and a set of seeds or shells. Players take turns distributing seeds counterclockwise and collect seeds based on the final pit landing.

  Pallanguzhi has no official international tournament, but its variant, Mancala, is popular in Africa and North America. The World Mancala Championship has been hosted annually since 1996.

  • First Mancala Championship: Held in the USA (1996)
  • Recent Recognition: Cultural festivals in Singapore, Malaysia, and South Africa

 

• If the last seed lands in an empty pit, the player captures seeds from the opposite pit.
• The game continues until all pits are empty.
• The one with the most seeds wins.

Improves arithmetic, memory, and planning.

Also, find some details about the Oldest heritage places in Tamil Nadu.

6. Thayam (Thaayam)

 

Origin: Tamil Nadu, Ancient Era (referenced in the Mahabharata)
Similar to Ludo, but with local dice and spiritual themes

 

How to Play:

 

• A cross-patterned board drawn with chalk or cloth.
• Used tamarind seed dice or wooden cubes.
• Players roll the dice and move coins across the board, aiming to reach the finish point.
• As per Tamil Nadu tradition, thayam will not be rolled after 6pm or on any festival days, but there is no scientific reason or history behind that.
• Now, this game is not traditionally played by Indians, but in different formats, it's available 

• Rolling certain numbers (usually 1 or 5) gives extra turns.
• Opponent's coins can be "cut" by landing on them.
• First to finish moving all tokens wins.
• Played in Tamil Nadu, Sri Lanka, and Malaysia during traditional events

 

7. Paramapatham

 

Origin: 13th century Tamil Nadu (spiritual tool)
Modern Version: Snakes and Ladders

 

How to Play:

 

• A square grid with numbers, ladders, and snakes.
• Ladders represent virtues (e.g., truth, charity).
• Snakes represent vices (e.g., pride, anger).
• Players roll the dice to move.

 

Basic Rules:

 

• First to reach the top square (moksha/liberation) wins.
• Landing on a snake pulls you down.
• The ladder takes you ahead.
• Now, this Snakes and Ladders game is online too

Taught karma, dharma, and moksha to children in a fun way. Same paramapatham also not played after 6 PM but exceptional on one day, ie. In vaikunda egathasi. Only in Vaikunda Egathasi is this game played the whole night without sleeping. 

It was taken to England during colonial times and modified into the game of Snakes and Ladders. While it is not a competitive sport today, it has gained international fame as a board game played worldwide.

• Global Version Introduced: Late 19th century in England
• Governing Body: None (played casually or educationally)

8. Aadu Puli Aatam (Goats and Tigers)

 

Origin: Tamil Nadu, 2000+ years ago
Also Called: The Game of Hunt

 

How to Play:

 

• The board has interconnected triangles.
• 3 tiger tokens vs 15 goat tokens.
• Tigers try to "eat" goats by jumping; goats try to trap tigers by blocking paths.
• By using these game rules, different games were introduced 

 

Basic Rules:

 

• Tigers move one space per turn.
• Goats are added gradually and only block, not jump.
• If all tigers are trapped, goats win.

It has no formal international league but has been featured in Indian Heritage festivals in the UK and Singapore.

• Purpose: Teaches planning, group effort, and logic

 

9. Silli Kodu

 

Origin: Tamil Nadu, rural regions
Played By: Children in open fields or during school breaks

 

How to Play:

In this game, flat stones (silli) are placed inside a circle, and players use a larger stone (kodu) to knock them out. It improves eye-hand coordination and focus.

It has been revived through local school competitions in Tamil Nadu and is gaining attention through heritage festivals.

Recent Inclusion: Tamil Nadu School Games (2024)

 

10. Nondi (Hopscotch in Tamil)

 

Origin: Ancient Tamil Nadu, mostly among girls
Similar to: Hopscotch, played with numbers and hopping

 

How to Play:

 

• Nondi is a hopping game mostly played by girls. A small stone is thrown into a numbered box pattern, and players hop on one foot to retrieve it without stepping out.

  There are no tournaments, but it is taught in Tamil schools and physical education classes internationally.

  • Known As: Hopscotch (globally)
  • Cultural Promotion: Featured in Tamil culture weeks in the UK and Canada

 

11. Uriyadi

 

Origin: Tamil Nadu
Traditionally Played On: Krishna Jayanthi (Lord Krishna’s birthday)

 

How to Play:

 

Uriyadi is a festive game from Tamil Nadu played during Krishna Jayanthi. A pot is hung high, and blindfolded players attempt to break it with a stick while others try to mislead them. It's a fun group activity that celebrates agility, hearing, and focus.

There is no international federation for Uriyadi, but it is now featured in Indian diaspora events globally.

• Recent Winner (2024): Suresh M. from Chennai broke the pot in 9 seconds
• International Appearances: India Day events in the USA, Singapore, and Mauritius

 

Final Thoughts

 

These games from India’s glorious past weren’t just for entertainment—they were educational, cultural, and deeply meaningful. Reintroducing traditional games in schools, communities, and even through mobile apps can preserve India’s priceless legacy while offering an alternative to screen-based play.

 

These games connect us to our roots and reflect our intelligence, culture, and creativity. While not all have professional tournaments, many are being revived through education, apps, and cultural exchange programs worldwide.

Promoting these games internationally can preserve our heritage while offering healthy, screen-free fun for the next generation.