Kreeda Games

My neighbor?s son turned 6 years last month and my daughter was all excited to give him a Giftfor his ?HAPPY BIRTHDAY?. She came up with her ideas of buying him a Ball, Cricket Bat, Cycle, Guns, Hot wheels and so on as any 3 year old would think. Since he already has all the indoor games as well as cricket set, badminton racquet, football, different educational CD ROMs, it was becoming increasingly difficult to choose the appropriate gift for him that he wouldcherish and Nourish further.

Luckily in Bangalore, there is a Specialty Toy Shop called ?Sutradhar? ?They are the pioneers in stocking the rarest of the rare toys cum educational aids that are not available in any other high-profile toyshops. Whether its brilliant wooden toys like abacus, alphabets, numerals, rocking horse from Channapatna, hand made puppets or even the ancient traditional KREEDA games, the choice is enormous making it increasingly difficult to decide which is the BEST.

It was KREEDA GAMES which made a great impression upon me as I had never heard before of such a company which has taken great Effort to Research and Revive the old games, along with their history, origin, the rules followed while playing and most importantly to bring back the sameSPIRITwhich was once associated with these games. (They mainly cater to indoor games and have few outdoor games).

KREEDA in Sanskrit means, ?Play? and thus the value of the games is 3 fold:

1.RESEARCH:

a) This company is working closely with NGO?s who are in touch with the tribal and rural areas where these ancient games are likely to survive.

b) Also they coordinate with the old age homes to tap the childhood memories about these games from the aged people. It acts as a great Bond between Grand Children and Grandparents where we get an insight of their life and the values they cherished.

c) It makes an appeal to all who can remember the old games to share it with them as these games are in danger of being extinct and forgotten.

2.REVIVAL: Up till now they have designed and marketed 16 ancient games and plan to do more in future. But theessence can be realized only when we PLAY AGAIN & AGAIN involving all our family members and thus bring back the same Emotional Bond that existed generations ago.

3.CREATING AWARENESS: Kreeda conducts Workshops & lecture Demonstrations in schools for teachers and students & also hold inter-school competitions in Chennai and other Southern cities. Kreeda keeps in touch with its customers via e-mail to inform them about the new releases of games.

?ALL WORK AND NO PLAY MAKES JACK A DULL BOY??This famous proverb is a great reminder of the importance of all round development of a child. Games help in hand-eye co-ordination, develop sense-motor skills, to think & plan, sportsmanship and above all have FUN in playing.

The main advantage of Kreeda games is that they are very ENVIRONMENT FRIENDLY, EXTREMELY AUTHENTIC, and SOURCE OF LEARNING OF OUR INDIAN CULTURE AND HERITAGE. As they are suitable for all ages ..from pre-schoolers to elders, they pave way for great interaction amongst different generations.

The games include:

1.AADU PULI AATAM (The Tiger and Goat game): This is a 2-player game of Skill, Strategy, and Concentration and involves thinking like Chess. 3 Tigers and 15 Goats corner each other to win.

2.CHAUPAD: This is believed to be the oldest game of India involving cross and circles.

3.CHINESEPIEL GAME: A color identification game for very young kids was originated from the Indo-China border.

4.ASHTAA CHEMMA (EIGHT & FOUR): Four players play this game with Cowrie Shells instead of dice just like inLUDO.

5. DAHDI (In a Line): With 2 players having 9 coins each, they try to get as many as points as possible by getting 3 coins in a row.

6.PALLANGUZHI (CUP & COIN GAME): A wooden board having cup-like moulds is used for counting and distributing the seeds. Its very joyful, challenging and I have treasured this ancient game gifted by my grandmother.

7.FIVE STONES: Many players use properly rounded stones and this helps in hand-eye co-ordination.

8.CHIRMI: Originally from Rajasthan, the red seeds are used to hide them in sand and pave way for developing sensory skills for young kids.

9.FOUR SHELLS: The fast paced game by Cowrie Shells are played by the entire family

10.PARAMA PADA SOPANAM (STEPS TO THE HIGHEST PLACE): A traditional version of Snakes and Ladders represented the symbolic version of Man?s attempt to reach GOD?ladders being virtues & snakes being vices.

11.KALANAY AND BELANAY (BLACK AND WHITE ELEPHANT):Originally from Karnataka, its board game played with shells.

12. NAKSHATRA VILAYATTU (GAME OF STARS): A pocket game ideal for traveling.

13.VANVAAS: This is not an ancient game but has been specially created, innovated & designed by Kreeda based on Indian Mythology ?Ramayana. It begins with RAM and LAKSHMAN leaving Ayodhya and the hardships they face during their<B. b Vanvaas.<> This is a brilliant way of introducing the characters of this great epic to the children and the joy they get while playing.

14.NUNGU VANDI (TOY CART): Made of palm fruit, this is a fun game for small kids and its available only during summers in Chennai.

15.HOOP STICK: Rolling the Hoop along the way with the stick requires a certain skill and direction. It?s a good out-door game.

16.BAMBARAM (TOP AND THE STRING): This skillfully played game has tops painted brightly in red & yellow with non-rusty nails to ensure child?s safety.

Even <B.GILLI-DANDA b < SETS>are available at Kreeda.

Finally I chose The Tiger and Goat Game as a gift for the little boy and he is enjoying this challenging game.