India's contribution to traditional board games tremendous

Mysore, May 12 (UNI) India's contribution to the world of traditional board games has been tremendous and games such as Chaduranga, Paramapada and Pagade that originated in the country had now spread across the Globe.

This games are well known, but what was not really known was that a ruler of Mysore was internationally acclaimed for his contribution to these games and no book or catalogue had listed it. These traditional games were not complete without a reference to Mummadi Krishna Wadiyar one of the rulers of Mysore royal family.

These traditional games were said to be a tonic to the brain, enabling the players to enhance their mathematical skills, strategy and concentration. What was equally interesting was that these games entailed to production of boards and dice, which provide ample opportunities for artists to indulge in creativity. A few craft clusters in Amritsar, Saharanapur and Mysore exclusively created games accessories such as intricately carved wooden chess items.

Ramnsons Kala Pratishatna, an institute of craft of the city holding an exhibition of traditional Indian games, "Kreeda Kaushalya" in their institute premises from today and which would be open for the public.

Pratishatna sources told UNI that when cable television and other mass media such as radio and internet have caught the imagination of the masses, these games, which require the active participation of players, have receded into the background and risk being forgotten by posterity.

The institute said that "Kreeda Kaushlya" was not only in playing games but also in creating beautiful game boards, pawns and dice, said to be an attempt to re-establish the lost link between the tradition board games and the crafts, the exhibition would showcase a vast array of items crafted by artisans, in addition to board games and accessories, the exhibition would also display various paintings and art works depicting historic and mythological scenes of people at play.

UNI