Traditional games of Sri Lanka explained

Sri Lanka has several traditional games and sports, many of which are played during the Aluth Avurudda festival.[1] [2] Some of these games are similar to other traditional South Asian games.

Traditional games

Ankeliya

In Ankeliya, two horns are attached to a strong tree, and then a rope is thrown across both horns. Two teams tug at the opposite ends of the rope until one of the horns breaks off.[3]

Batta

Batta is a form of hopscotch in which players must hop through various boxes while moving a stone forward through the boxes. Stepping on the ground with a disallowed foot, stepping on the lines between the boxes, or moving the stone into a disallowed area causes a player to lose.[4]

Gudu keliya

Gudu keliya is a variation of gilli-danda in which one player attempts to knock a small stick on the ground up into the air by hitting it with a longer stick held in the hand, and then tries to hit the small stick as far as possible.[5] Opponents can catch the small stick before it touches the ground to make the hitter lose.

Kotta Pora

Kotta Pora is a pillow-fighting game in which two opponents sit on top of a pole which is balanced off the ground. Both players must keep one hand behind their back and, using a pillow held with the other hand, attempt to knock the opponent off the pole.[6] [7]

Kana Mutti Bindima

Players must attempt to break water-filled pots that are suspended off the ground with a stick while blindfolded.

Porapol gaseema

In this game, the players of two teams throw coconuts at each other, and use their own coconuts to block the coconuts thrown at them. As the game progresses, some of the coconuts eventually break, and by the end of the game, the team with the most intact coconuts wins.[8]

Variations of tag

Chak-gudu

Chak-gudu is a variation of kabaddi.[9]

Kili Thadthu

Kili Thadthu (related to the Tamil game of Killithattu) is a game in which two teams of six players compete in periods of seven minutes, with the teams alternating offense and defense in each period. To score, the attacking team's players must make it across the entire field without being tagged by the defensive players, who stand on lines drawn horizontally across the field.

Martial arts

Angampora

Board games

Olinda keliya

Olinda keliya is a form of mancala.

Peralikatuma

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Avurudu Games . 2023-01-13 . The Sunday Times Sri Lanka.
  2. Web site: Traditional Aluth Avurudu Games - Life Online . 2023-01-13 . www.life.lk . English.
  3. Web site: 2018-04-10 . 7 Traditional Outdoor Games You Can Play This Avurudu Season - Roar Media . 2023-01-13 . roar.media . en-US.
  4. Web site: Games we used to play . 2023-01-13 . serendib.btoptions.lk.
  5. Book: Craig, Steve . Sports and Games of the Ancients . 2002 . Greenwood Publishing Group . 978-0-313-31600-5 . en.
  6. https://www.lanka-deepa.com/article/glimpses-of-sri-lanka/trills/traditional-games-in-sri-lanka-avurudu-fun-and-games/348 Traditional Games in Sri Lanka - Avurudu fun and games
  7. Web site: Weerasooriya . Sahan . New Year games: Integral part of New Year Celebrations . 2023-01-13 . en-US.
  8. Web site: admin . eLanka . 2021-11-20 . Sri Lankan Folk Games-By Ama H. Vanniarachchy . 2023-01-13 . eLanka . en-US.
  9. Web site: Lanka . Team Next Travel Sri . 2021-10-10 . All About Sports in Sri Lanka and their Future . 2023-01-13 . Travel Destination Sri Lanka . en-US.