Board games have a long and rich tradition in India. Many of the world’s first known board games were invented in India, and many are still played today, both in India and worldwide. The strategic and intellectual richness of Indian board games is well known. They frequently involve intricate rules and require players to consider their movements carefully. Many Indian board games have spiritual or philosophical meanings.
History
Over 4,000 years ago, India’s first known board games were devised. Monarchs and other aristocrats frequently played these games. Among the most famous early Indian board games were:
- Chaturanga: It is a four-player strategy game that is thought to be the origin of contemporary chess. The game takes place on a 64-square board with four pieces: infantry, elephants, chariots, and cavalry.
- Pachisi: It is a cross-and-circle game akin to modern ludo. The game is played on a 24 square square board. Players throw dice to move their pieces across the board and aim to reach the centre square first.
- Ashta Chamma: Similar to modern backgammon, Ashta Chamma is a board game. The game is played with two players on a 24-point board. Players roll dice to move their pieces about the board and compete to be the first to remove all of their pieces.
Throughout the Middle Ages and the Mughal Empire, Indian board games remained popular. New games were created at this time, while current games were improved. Among the most popular board games from this period are
- Chaupar: Chaupar is a cross and circle game similar to pachisi. The game is played on a 56-square square board. Players throw dice to move their pieces across the board and aim to reach the centre square first.
- Ganjifa: It is a deck of playing cards for various board games. Ganjifa cards are frequently decorated with exquisite pictures and are regarded as works of art.
- Ludo: It is a modernised version of the ancient Indian game pachisi. Ludo is a square board game with 56 squares and four players. Players use dice to move their pieces across the board to be the first to reach the centre.
Significance
Indian board games have always been significant in Indian culture. They’ve been used to teach adults and children about strategy, problem-solving, and sportsmanship. People of various ages and social classes have been entertained by board games. Many Indian board games have spiritual or philosophical meanings. Chess, for example, is frequently viewed as a metaphor for life, with the pieces symbolising various facets of the human condition. Pachisi is frequently portrayed as a voyage of self-discovery, with players moving their pieces around the board for enlightenment.
Many Indian board games are still prevalent in India and around the world. Some games, such as chess and ludo, have gained global popularity. Other traditional Indian games include Chaupar and Ganjifa. There has been a resurgent interest in Indian board games in recent years. This is partly due to the increased popularity of internet gaming. Various Indian board games have been modified for internet play, making them more accessible to people worldwide.
