SPORTS
OF
INDIA
When it comes to culture, traditions and a
huge variety in them, India is in the lead. India‘s culture has given birth to
many traditional sports all over the country. These sports are still played,
and with great enthusiasm- be it in fields of its hamlets or in stadiums. Even
as today cricket ‘defines’ sports in India, the many ‘Sports of India’,
continue to showcase the richness of its culture and history as well. Sports
like badminton, chess, polo, and, some others like the snakes and ladders,
playing cards originated here.
Sports in India, down the ages were played mainly for physical fitness
and less for entertainment. The history of the sports of India goes a long
way…..
·
CHATURANGA: Indian game ‘Chaturanga’ developed
in the Gupta Empire, in India around the 6th century A.D. It is an
ancient strategy game, which is the common ancestor of the board games: Chess,
Shogi, Makruk, Xiangqi & Janggi.In the 7th century, it was
adopted as Shatranj in Sassanid Persia, which in turn was the form of Chess
brought to late Medieval Europe.
The pieces in
Chaturanga :
Raja: king
Mantri: general, ancestor of frez, early form of
Queen.
Rath:
crook. (Meaning chariot)
Gajah: early form
of bishop. (Meaning elephant)
Ashva: knight (Meaning
horse)
Bhata: pawn.
§ DHOPKHEL:
It is a traditional ball game played in the Indian state of Assam. The
game is played between two – 11 member teams.
§ INSUKNAUR: Insuknaur or the rod pushing sport is an
indigenous game of Mizoram state. It so happened that earlier the Mizo
community depended on shifting cultivation for livelihood. Their main crop was
rice. For husking rice, the Mizo used wooden mortar and pestle which were
called ‘Sum’ and ‘Suk’. During the break of their tiresome rice husking, which
was done mainly by women, the Mizo youngsters used this rice pounding pestle
‘Suk’ to exhibit their prowess. The game is played by 2 players each player
holding the rod under his arm as in the game of tug of war; each player tries
to push the opponent out of the ring.
§ JALIKATTU: Jalikattu is a bull taming sport
played in Tamil Nadu as a part of the ‘Pongal’ festival celebrations.
§ KABADDI: Kabaddi is a popular wrestling
national sport in India played mainly among people in villages.
§ KHO KHO: Kho Kho is a tag sport played by teams of 12
players who try to avoid being touched by members of the opposing team.
§ KUTTIYUM KOLUM: Kuttiyum Kolum (boy and cane) is a
traditional game in the Indian state of Kerala. The game is considered
dangerous and possibly has origins over 2,500 years ago.
§ LAGORI: Lagori is a popular game played mostly in
south India. It includes the piling up of 7 to 9 stones one on top of the
other. There are 2 teams. One team tries to break the pile of stones by hitting
it from a distance while the other team tries to resist it.
§ LANGDI: Langdi is a sport with Marathi ethos, where
a person from a team ties to catch up with the players of the opposing team by
hoping on a single leg and touching the opponent players in a bid to get them
out of the game.
§ SINGAPI: Singapi is a game played mostly in the state
of Karnataka. And other parts of North India like Ayodhya.
§ VALLAM KALI : It is a boat race in Kerala. The race
takes place during the season of ‘Onam’ in autumn. Many people take place in the
boat race which includes various teams of people each with a long boat.
§ YUBI LAKPI: It is
a traditional football game of the Manipur state.
Thus the
number of medals and trophies earned by India do not solely spell out its real
talent of sports. Sports for India have always meant its culture, part of its
history, and fitness and not just achievements. Although the scenario seems to
be changing these days, India’s traditional sports are, indeed, its true
treasure, many of which unfortunately remain neglected and limited only to its
villages, which accept no responsibility of keeping them alive over the years
-in today’s world of urbanization, the advancing technology and the video
games.
