Ancient Indian Sporting Heritage: 6 Games That Found Their Way Into Our Modern Lives

India is quite famous across the globe for its diversity, it has uniqueness in terms of food, culture,language, architecture, sports etc. Ancient India has a vibrant cultural history, which includes a diverse variety of time-honoured traditional sports. Despite the improvements in contemporary sports, these traditional games are still popular today, captivating the people with their historical significance, strategies, and health benefits.

India has witnessed a rich history of competitive and strategic ancient sports that still captivate many to this day. These games have been passed down through generations, hold a wealth of history, rules, strategies, and even fun facts that make them more than just recreational activities.

Today we explore six Ancient Indian sports that have stood the test of time, showcasing their sustainable appeal and the benefits they offer to the people.

Let's explore the top six Ancient Indian sports that are still followed today:

Chess (Chaturanga)

Chess, known as Chaturanga in ancient India, was believed to have originated in India around the 6th century (Gupta Empire, circa 6th century AD). It was a game of strategy that was designed as a strategy war simulation, symbolising four military divisions—infantry, cavalry, elephants, and chariots. In the modern era, it became more popular representing the pawns, knights, bishops, and rooks, respectively.

Rules and Strategies: Played on an 8x8 board, each player seeks to checkmate their opponent's king. The game demands mental agility, strategic thinking, and foresight. A player must plan moves, anticipate their rival's actions, and adapt quickly to changing dynamics on the board.

Trivia: Chess was considered an essential tool for the mental development of Indian royalty and scholars. Viswanathan Anand is an Indian chess champion who won the FIDE world championship in 2000, 2007, 2008, 2010, and 2012.

Benefits: Chess sharpens cognitive skills, improves concentration, enhances problem-solving abilities,critical thinking and fosters patience and resilience.

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Ludo (Pachisi)

Ludo, originally known as Pachisi and originated around the 6th century AD. It was played by Mughal emperors and nobles; it was initially enjoyed by four players in teams of two. It is one of the earliest board games, and ancient Indians played it on massive cloth boards.

Rules and Strategies: The objective is to move all four tokens from the starting point to the centre of the board. A throw of six grants an extra turn. Players must decide whether to focus on a single token or strategise with multiple tokens simultaneously.It combines elements of strategy, luck, and skill.

Trivia: The original Pachisi board was massive, often designed on cloth, and served as a communal board for players to gather around.The game inspired the creation of Ludo, a popular modern board game.

Benefits: Ludo promotes social interaction, teamwork, and patience. It also enhances cognitive skills, decision-making, and critical thinking, and patience. It can be an enjoyable way to exercise the mind.

Kabaddi (Hu-Tu-Tu)

Kabaddi, an ancient wrestling sport which is known as Hu-Tu-Tu. Kabaddi traces its origins to ancient India, it was initially played to exhibit strength and agility among the players. It promotes physical fitness and self-defence, currently Kabaddi has gained popularity throughout India and has become an integral part of various competitions. For instance the Pro Kabaddi League which started in 2014 and it has successfully completed nine seasons till the date. It is recognised as one of the most important leagues in men's professional Kabaddi across the world.

Rules and Strategies: Kabaddi is a team sport where one player from a team goes to the opponent's half, aiming to tag as many defenders as possible and return safely without getting caught. The defenders strive to stop that player by forming chains and holding hands. The raider must chant "Kabaddi, Kabaddi" without taking a breath while in the opponent's territory.

Trivia: Kabaddi is the national sport of Bangladesh and a popular traditional sport in South Asia. India is the first and only champion of Kabaddi having won the All Kabaddi World Cup six times since its first edition in 2004.

Benefits: Kabaddi promotes physical fitness, enhances reflexes, builds teamwork, and improves mental resilience and presence of mind. It enhances cardiovascular fitness and develops mental focus and coordination.

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Archery (Dhanurvidya)

Archery, known as Dhanurvidya in ancient India, was a revered skill utilised in warfare, hunting, and sport. It holds significant importance in Indian mythology and historical texts.

Rules and Strategies: Archery involves using a bow and arrows to hit a target. The sport demands precision, focus, and consistency in shooting.

Trivia: In ancient India, skilled archers were highly respected, and archery was considered an essential art for rulers and warriors.

Benefits: Archery improves upper body strength, hand-eye coordination, and mental concentration. It promotes patience and stress relief.

Snakes and Ladders (Moksha Patam)

Snakes and Ladders, originally known as Moksha Patam, was invented in ancient India as a reflection of life's ups and downs. It symbolised the virtues of good deeds and the consequences of misdeeds.

Rules and Strategies: Players roll dice to advance through the numbered squares on the board. Ladders represent virtues, propelling one upwards, while snakes represent vices, leading to a downfall.

Trivia: The game was used to teach moral values to children in ancient India.

Benefits: Snakes and Ladders instils moral values, teaches patience, and encourages perseverance. It also helps young children understand the concept of cause and effect.

Mallakhamb

Mallakhamb originated in the 12th century as a training exercise for wrestlers and warriors. It combines "Malla," meaning wrestler, and "Khamb," meaning pole, to describe the sport's essence.

Rules and Strategies: Mallakhamb involves performing acrobatic and gymnastic movements on a vertical wooden pole or a hanging rope. Participants exhibit strength, flexibility, and balance.

Trivia: Mallakhamb received global recognition when it was demonstrated at the 2022 Commonwealth Games.

Benefits: Mallakhamb enhances overall body strength, flexibility, and core stability. It improves body control and mental focus.

Embracing and preserving these ancient Indian sports provides us with an opportunity to celebrate our cultural heritage. Along with this, we can enjoy physical activity, and reap the benefits of improved health and mental well-being. From the raw power of Kabaddi to the strategic brilliance of Chaturanga, these traditional sports are not just part of India's history but also a valuable asset to our contemporary society.

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