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Webimpulse
08 January 2014, 01:53 PM
Namaste all,

I keep mentioning I like video games, but for this topic I want to...unplug, so to speak. I want to talk about games that don't need electricity. ;) More specifically, I want to ask about the kinds of games that ancient India has possibly developed. I'm sure there have had to been some games that can be traced back to ancient India...

A Google search on the topic doesn't provide much information. Even Wikipedia has sparse information on the topic, with a few exceptions such as Parcheesi (which has been turned into a heavily marketed game by Mattel, I think). So I'm genuinely curious if anyone has any information on what games were developed or popularized in ancient India?

Jeffery D. Long
08 January 2014, 04:39 PM
The most famous one is of course chess; and six-sided dice have been found in the ruins of the Indus-Saraswati civilization. Gambling (using dice) is mentioned prominently in the Mahabharata and is referenced in the Rig Veda as well.

JaiMaaDurga
08 January 2014, 04:49 PM
Namaste,

How about Moksha Patam (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snakes_and_Ladders)?

JAI MATA DI

satay
09 January 2014, 03:34 PM
namaste,
Chess aka shatranj is in ancient indian game.

Ganeshprasad
09 January 2014, 03:45 PM
Pranam

The famous Snake and ladder is an ancient Indian game

I beg your pardon JaiMaaDurga has given this in its original name Moksha patam, I just notice.

Jai Shree Krishna

Viraja
09 January 2014, 06:00 PM
http://www.traditionalgames.in/home/property-games/pallanguzhi-pallankuli

I have played this game so much while young...