Learn to play traditional Indian games with Kreeda

Discover the philosophies guiding life through traditional Indian games at Vinita Sidhartha's workshop Just Play on January 19.

What do the games aadu puli attam, dhadi, and anju katta dhayam have in common? The philosophies that guide life itself. Vinita Sidhartha, the founder of Kreeda games, an organisation that has been reviving traditional games, is set to show participants how to play the three games at her workshop Just Play: Life Lessons from Traditional Games. At the event, she will introduce participants to traditional Indian games, educating them about their history and significance.

“I’ve picked these games so that there is variety,” explains the Chennai-based Vinita, adding, “Dhayam is a dice game, while dhadi is a complex game of alignment; aadu puli attam is a hunting game.” At the workshop, participants will be divided into groups and Vinita will start by giving them a little background about the games, which come with instructions.

In between, she will also be reading from her book Just Play on what one can infer from the games.“The workshop is based on my book, in which I’ve divided everything into three parts, namely strategy, synergy, and survival,” explains Vinita. “Most games reflect one or all of these aspects. In life too, it is these aspects that are most important for survival. In any situation we find ourselves, it’s about strategy; it’s about survival skills. My book’s focus is on how games are a microcosm of life itself.”

Kreeda currently has 28 games in the market, and Vinita is in the process of researching and bringing out more. All of her games are made from natural, sustainable material such as cloth and wood.

Vinita’s tryst with traditional games started during her years as a busy mother who was juggling her career and children. She recalls how her grandmother pitched in with babysitting her children after school. “She would play traditional games with them,” says Vinita, adding that this activity helped bridge the 80-year age gap.

Vinita, who was eventually drawn to the games, started researching on them. Sometime in the year 2000, she wrote a series of stories on the subject for The Hindu’s Young World supplement. Her love for Indian games resulted in the birth of Kreeda, meaning ‘play’ in Sanskrit.

Just Play: Life Lessons from Traditional Games is on January 19, 3pm to 5.30pm. It is open for those aged over 14 and above. Visit thehindu.com/lit-for-life/workshop