Traditional games have always been part of the Indian culture since centuries. If looked at these very closely, one would surely find many striking similarities in most of the famous games played all around the world. For eg: Cricket or Baseball can be called as an improvised version of the traditional 'Gilli Danda'. Then, we also have the famous games like Polo, Rugby, Boat Racing which are again the improvised versions of many other traditional games played in many remotest parts of India. These are:Kalari Payattu: Kerala's martial art form, Kalari Payattu, is very similar to Karate.
Chaupar: A very similar but more skilful, complex and may be a little older than Pachisi, a game called Chausar, Chaupar or Chaupad is also popular among Indians.
Pallanguli: Pallanguli is a game played mostly played by Tamil women, both in Southern India and Sri Lanka and it is known as the number game. Men also sometimes play it for gambling purposes. The board has 14 cups, each player controlling seven.
Gilli Danda: Cricket or Baseball played with sticks instead of bats or balls, is exactly the structure of Gilli Danda. Gilli Danda is played with two wooden sticks - a gilli and a danda.
Asol Aap: Asol Aap or Canoe Race is an indigenous game of Andaman and Nicobar islands. In this game, a canoe having a length of almost 100' is used.
Vallamkali: Celebrated in Kerala, the festival of Onam is well known for the famous snake boat race that is organized on the occasion.
Gella - Chutt: Gella - Chutt is a famous indigenous game of Tripura. Interestingly, the number of participating in a game of Gella - Chutt differs in the various places the game is played.
Hiyang Tannaba: Hiyang Tannaba is a very famous boat race, which takes place in Manipur, and is an essential ingredient of one of their prominent festivals - Lai Haraoba.
Inbuan: Inbuan is an age-old game played in Mizoram. The game bears a striking resemblance to combat wrestling.
Insuknawr: Insuknawr or rod - pushing is an indigenous game of Mizoram. Played only by the male population of Mizoram.
Kang Shanaba: Kang Shanaba is an indigenous Manipuri game played on the day between Manipur's New Year's Day and the Ratha Jatra festival.
Kho-Kho: Kho-Kho is one of India's very famous traditional games and is also known as a 'Standing Game'. This is the sport where players chase and try to touch a person.
Kirip: Kirip (Nicobarese wrestling) Kirip is an indigenous wrestling form of the Nicobarese tribe. The game begins with the wrestlers clasping each other from behind using their hands- the grip should not be relaxed till the match is over. In this game, the wrestlers must try and push the opposition to the ground using their legs. As soon as a player's back comes in contact with the ground, he loses the match. The game is played in 5 rounds.
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