Page 51 - KYTE INDIA E-MAGAZINE
P. 51
Dayakattai
It is a dice game played by 2 or 4 players. It originated in Tamil Nadu (a
southern state of India) and is comparable to another dice game from the
country called Pachisi. There are many types of Dayakattai. The word Daya
is derrived from Tamil word "Thayam" meaning firstone.The game employs a
pair of long dice that are shaped like long cuboids, the Dayakattai. These dice
also go by other names such as Daayam and Daala
Chauka Bara
It 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). The players attempt to race their pawns from the
starting point to the safety of home. The game improves eye-to-eye
coordination and teaches to make strategies.
Let us try and introduce at least some of these
board games to our kids.