Gilli danda just got a makeover

When you're stuck indoors because of the downpour, we suggest you check out KEC Games' inventory of traditional handmade games from India and around the world. Hit nostalgia lane with Gilli Danda and Lagori, or play checkers like the ancient Egyptians. Game on!

Recently, Mumbai-based Gadekar sisters -- Manisha (43) and Vaishali (38) -- educationists and co-founders of KEC Games, were pleasantly surprised when a customer bought all their games from a retail outlet. The recipient was not a child but his 60 year-old mother. For over a decade, the sisters had been running the Kids Edutainment Centre (KEC) that provides experiential learning and cross-cultural interaction to kids aged four and above. "In 2007, we devised a Katha Kreeda module to recite stories to children and hone their creativity through games including Dhyaan Ramayana. The response spurred us to start KEC Games in 2009, after three years of research that was peppered with visits to villages across India," said Manisha.

Dandi Putli or puppets to promote an active imagination. Pics/ Rane Ashish

A different board game
The aim was two-fold: to promote fair trade principles among rural artisans and ensure they get a sustained income as well as to revive ancient games that are in danger of becoming obsolete. For the Gadekars, these games have a deeper significance as they believe they raise awareness about the culture and ethos of a region while honing gaming strategies, boosting emotional IQ, encouraging creativity and promoting networking.

"To develop the products we enlisted over a dozen craftsmen and collectives from across India. While we visualised each product, craftsmen executed the designs, often adding colours and designs to make the products more contemporary," Manisha added.

KEC Games' product range includes board games, cloth and paper dolls, wooden toys and magnets. They offer rhythm instruments such as castanets (percussion instruments mounted on wooden handles) and Clave (Cuban rhythm sticks) as well as games that promote hand-eye co-ordination such as Pacheta (Indian five-stone game), Mow Mow (Native American game which involves a diskette twirled with a string to create sounds). Their Lattoo (spinning top), Gilli Danda (stick game where the long stick or danda is used to flick the short stick or gilli) and Lagori (a ball is used to flick pieces of wood) will take you down nostalgia lane.

Around the world
Their Play Without Borders section includes games from all over the world including games such as Morabaraba (traditional African strategy game), Shishima (Kenyan game based on mathematical logic), Tsoro Yematatu (an alignment game from Zimbabwe), Bagh Chal (Nepal's national game devised by Himalayan herders based on their lifestyle) and Quirkat (an ancient Egyptian game similar to checkers). Also, try Chauka Bara, a strategy game devised in the sixth century in Karnataka. The games are eco-friendly -- all products are handmade using materials including wood, glass, jute, paper and lac. Every product is painted with soya ink and non-toxic varnish and packaged in recycled paper boxes as well.

At: Dhoop, 101, Khar Sheetal, Khar (W); Mother Earth, Sobo Central, Tardeo; Landmark, Andheri (W) and Lower Parel.
Cost: Rs 100 to Rs 750
Call: 9820488736
Log on to: https://www.facebook.com
/pages/KEC-Green-Games/ 115795251789516