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The Hindu
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
How Indian Board Games Are Embracing Local Culture, Cities, and Stories
On the wall of a school nestled deep in Ladakh's longest village Chuchot, is a mural painted by an artist from Coimbatore — a map of Ladakh. The map, painted by Varun Manoharan in 2019, attracted many passers-by who would often walk over, point and identify the specific village they hail from. They would stop, talk at length about their land, its inhabitants, both animals and otherwise, and what makes it special. 'They used the map to tell stories around the villages,' recalls Varun. Today, the mural manifests itself on a beautiful tabletop board game aptly titled A World Above the Clouds, inviting one to hike across the various villages of Ladakh, sometimes as a guardian of the region or a storyteller in pursuit of Ladakh's lost stories. Over the course of this journey, one gathers 'elements' and 'seeds', and pauses to learn about the region's ecological wealth. Created over five years spent living in different Ladakhi villages, this strategy game by Floating Rock Games for those over 14 also doubles up as an informal entry point to understanding conservation. Meanwhile, in a tile placement strategy game called Lakshadweep by Siddhant Chand, one gets to build an archipelago with houses, fisheries, hotels, ports, and coral ecosystems. What connects these two games? A World Above the Clouds and Lakshadweep are among a steady, long string of homegrown, modern board games that thrive in geographical and cultural specificities. They are vocally, and unabashedly Indian, often inspired by the topography, culture and socio-politics of the country, giving rise to creators who believe that relatability reigns supreme. While the pandemic and the subsequent push for 'Make in India' propelled many of these creations, a growing numbers of gamers are excited about this welcome change. This proliferation can be literally charted to the length and breadth of the country. Phalgun Polepalli of Bengaluru-based Mozaic Games, and one of the key organisers of the annual board game convention called TTOX in Indian cities, draws up a map through a list of these games. 'If you come down a little from Ladakh, there is a game set on the Taj Mahal in Agra and if you come further down, there are games based on Jaipur, while Gujarat has a kite-flying game; there is a game based on the Sunderbans in the East, and when you look at the peninsula, there are games coming out of Chennai, based on its food culture, or a game on Athangudi tiles. In Karnataka, there are many creators who are bringing out games based on Hampi.' Clearly, this is just the tip of the iceberg. The streets you know In order to design a board game that reflects the ethos of a specific place, a major pillar of research depends on capturing the city's nuances — from Bengaluru's 4am biryani to Mumbai's local transport or Chennai's beaches. Take for instance, Mighty Mumbai, a new game designed like a double-decker bus with quirky characters that one may encounter only in a city like Mumbai that celebrates hustle culture. From Sunil Sixer, the cricketer, to Zoya Zameenwala, the real estate magnate, the characters of Mighty Mumbai are quirky, carrying a personality that one typically associated with a city like Mumbai. 'I was inspired by two things: one was the city itself and how Mumbai attracts people from all over the country, people with dreams, desires and ambition. I find that the spirit of Mumbai is different from the other cities. The second aspect is that today, all of us are influenced by screens. I was very clear that I wanted to do a physical game — where we get to argue, play with each other and truly be in the moment,' says Darshan M, co-founder of Cherapunjee Innovations LLP. 'The game teaches you about life itself — the value of having friends, connections and mentors,' says Darshan. One may get pickpocketed, or tire oneself out looking for a PG in this gameplay that reflects life. Cherrapunjee Innovations's next game is going to be based on the start-up culture of Bengaluru. Another quirky game called Mumbai Connection, designed by Khurshad Batliwala, captures the tension and drama behind creating the most complex city train system, the Mumbai Local. One of the biggest challenges for creators of board games steeped in culture and geography is the responsibility of accurate representation. Mozaic Games' Vallamkali, a light strategy party game based on the boat races of Kerala's Alleppey traces a niche cultural event, the nitty gritties of which are lost on those from outside the State. 'As a designer or publisher, you have to take certain measures to involve that particular community right from Day 1. [For Vallamkali], we interviewed the oarsmen who participated in these races. We asked them the most nuanced details pertaining to even the design of the boats, how the movement works in the backwaters and so on.' This process is eye-opening for the creators as well. The beauty about this need to look inward is that the gameplay and the theme are woven together so closely, that if you remove the cultural context, the game would cease to make sense. Phalgun continues, 'Five years back, you would have games where you roll a dice and move from city to city, discovering different things. Now, there are games that have a modern twist to it. The DNA of a modern game is that it should be playable for over 1,000 times. Even at the 1000th time, it should feel like a fresh, new game.' Creators also point to an emerging trend that is still at its nascent stages — Western games adopting Indian themes. Imagine Dungeons & Dragons, but with Indian themes. 'We recently played a really spooky version that was loosely based on surrounding [the mythical serpent-like creature from Indian folklore] Nagin,' Phalgun adds. Uruttu on the other hand, is a Tamil version of Monopoly, loaded with regional references by Chennai-based graphic designer Dinesh Kumar. This version emerged from the need to make the game accessible to local gamers looking for leisure, more than intellectual stimulation. For Dinesh, it all started at a game night with family where he introduced a Kollywood twist to the card game UNO, replete with Vadivel dialogues and thalaivar references. Says Dinesh, 'When we are expected to understand Western references, why can't we speak about our culture, and build our own references?' And so, he made a Chennai-inspired board game, based on Monopoly. The city's unrelenting traffic, its most preferred mediums of transportation — autos and the metro — all make their way into this game. The game that was launched in Comic Con Chennai in February, has already sold 35 sets. Board games that take after cities, towns and culture, are sometimes accidental tools for tangible documentation. They are also collected as souvenirs, and are popular gifting choices. Says Darshan, 'The hope is that someone would request a blow up of Mighty Mumbai, as a souvenir, where it looks like a piece of Mumbai that you can take back home. Over time, the idea is to design it in such a way that people appreciate it for a long time. We want to keep doing limited edition boxes for festivals and important moments in Mumbai.' Documentation and awareness are at the centre of A World Above the Clouds which is now looking to do its rounds across local schools in Ladakh. Varun hopes that the board game will soon make its way to the curriculum. 'Teenagers grasp it very easily and it could be a very nice teaching tool. Some of the feedback that I have received is that the game makes them happy. It is very satisfying to hear that.'
The Print
21-05-2025
- Sport
- The Print
Khelo India Beach Games 2025: Bendre, Acharya lead hosts' golden charge in pencak silat
It was Bendre who first lit up the arena with a commanding performance in the senior men's tunggal (artistic) category. The first gold medals of the Games were decided in pencak silat competition with Daman & Diu winning two of the first three on offer at the scenic Ghoghla Beach. Diu, May 20 (PTI) Prasanna Bendre and Kirtana Acharya bagged top honours in the pencak silat to make a golden start for hosts Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu on Day 2 of the inaugural Khelo India Beach Games here on Tuesday. Showcasing fluidity, precision, and control in his routine, the experienced martial artist scored 420 points to take the first gold of the Games for the hosts. His teammate, Acharya followed it up in style, dominating the senior female tunggal event with a well-executed performance that fetched her 408 points and the second gold for the Union Territory. For Bendre, the victory added to an already impressive resume. A silver medallist at the 2022 Asian Championship in Jammu and Kashmir and a double bronze winner at the 2024 Asian and World Championships in Dubai and Abu Dhabi respectively, Bendre said the Games had the potential to leave a lasting legacy. 'These Games can help boost tourism in Diu. That will strengthen the economy and help improve infrastructure for sports,' he said, hopeful that the exposure would open new doors for local athletes. The only other gold medal of the morning session in pencak silat went to Punjab's Aaryan, who topped the senior male solo creative category with an impressive score of 560. Odisha's Sohil Gurung took the silver with 542 points, while Maharashtra's Vaibhav Valmik Kale (541) and Nagaland's Kevin (525) rounded off the podium. The pencak silat competition, making its debut in the Khelo India Beach Games, is judged on artistic presentation and creativity, rather than combat, and is a test of discipline and body control. The participation and success of the hosts' team added a special buzz to the opening contests on the beach. Beach soccer ======== Meanwhile, the beach soccer tournament, which had started a day earlier, continued with a string of lopsided group matches. Lakshadweep men's team thrashed Gujarat 19-1 in one of the most dominant results of the day, while Odisha women's team steamrolled Madhya Pradesh 18-0 in their opener. Beach volleyball ========== In beach volleyball, the day saw several walkovers and easy wins. Telangana men's team received a walkover against Andaman & Nicobar, while Tamil Nadu and Jammu & Kashmir both posted straight-set wins over the host team. In the women's section, Telangana, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, and Maharashtra all won comfortably, mostly via walkovers, underlining the need for greater depth and preparedness among participating teams. The first edition of the Khelo India Beach Games will conclude on Saturday. The Games feature six medal sports — beach soccer, volleyball, kabaddi, open water swimming, sepak takraw, and pencak silat — along with two demonstration sports, mallakhamb and tug-of-war. PTI TAP PDS PDS This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
India Gazette
20-05-2025
- Sport
- India Gazette
Khelo India Beach Games 2025: Golden day for hosts Daman and Diu on Day 1 of pencak silat competition
Diu (Daman and Diu) [India], May 20 (ANI): Hosts Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu had a golden start on Day 2 of the first Khelo India Beach Games in Diu on Tuesday. The first golds of the Games were decided in pencak silat competition, with Daman and Diu winning two of the first three. Pencak silat is a form of Indonesian martial art and it was great see a Union Territory hemmed by the Arabian Sea excelling in the open competition at these Games. Prasanna Narendra Bendre of Daman & Diu won the gold in the senior men's tunggal (artistic) event while Kirtana Manojkumar Acharya of the home team struck gold in the senior female category, as per the SAI Media press release. A third gold was decided in the pencak silat competition in the morning session at the Ghoghla Beach. In a solo event (artistic), Punjab's Aaryan won gold ahead of Odisha's Sohil Gurung. Pencak silat is an extremely technical sport with points awarded on artistic forms and creativity. Bendre is the most accomplished player in the region with a silver and two bronze to his name at international events, no less. He won the silver in the 2022 Asian championship in Jammu and Kashmir, while his two bronze came in the 2024 Asian championship in Dubai and the 2024 world championship in Abu Dhabi. Bendre really hopes these Khelo India Beach Games go a long way towards promoting tourism in Diu. 'That will be good for us. A better economy will help all sports and the infrastructure,' he said as quoted by the SAI Media press release. The beach soccer competition started on Monday, and there was a spate of one-sided group matches in both men's and women's competitions. Lakshadweep recorded one of the biggest wins when their men thrashed Gujarat 19-1. Odisha women blanked Madhya Pradesh 18-0. In these Games ending May 24, there are six - soccer, volleyball, kabaddi, open swimming, sepak takraw and pencak silat -- medal sports and two non-medal sports (mallakhamb and tug-of-war). Pencak silat results: Solo Creative Senior Male: Gold: Aaryan with score of 560 (Punjab), Silver: Sohil Gurung, 542 (Odisha), Bronze: Vaibhav Valmik Kale, 541 (Maharashtra) and Kevin, 525 (Nagaland) Tunggal Senior Female: Gold: Kirtana Manojkumar Acharya with score of 408 (Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu), Silver: Bhoomikajiten Drajain, 397 (Madhya Pradesh), Bronze: Edwina Lhinghoithem Hanghal, 387 (Nagaland) and Dolly Leishangthem, 380 (Manipur) Tunggal Senior Male: Gold: Prasanna Narendra Bendre with score of 420 (Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu), Silver: Raja Das, 397 (West Bengal), Bronze: Ravees Ahmad, 391 (Jammu and Kashmir) and Krishna Narsing Panchal, 382 (Maharashtra) Key beach volleyball results: Men: Telangana 2-0 Andaman and Nicobar (walkover), Tamil Nadu 2-0 Daman & Diu; Jammu and Kashmir 2-0 Daman & Diu Women: Telangana 2-0 Karnataka (walkover); Kerala 2-0 Maharashtra (walkover); Andhra Pradesh 2-0 Karnataka (walkover); Maharashtra 2-0 Daman and Diu. (ANI)
The Hindu
18-05-2025
- Sport
- The Hindu
Diu set to host inaugral Khelo India Beach Games
After a 12-day stay in Patna for the Youth Games, the Khelo India caravan now moves to Diu for the Beach Games set to kick off on Monday, May 19, on the Ghoghla Beach. Over 1000 athletes, men and women, from 36 States and Union Territories will be participating in six medal events: beach soccer, beach volleyball, sepak takraw, beach kabaddi, pencak silat, and open water swimming. Tug of war and Mallakhamb will be there as demonstration sports. This is the first time that the Beach Games are being held under the Khelo India initiative. Last year, Diu hosted the Games – organised by the local administration of the Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Diu and Daman – which saw Madhya Pradesh emerge as the winner. 'Every Khelo India event is a new opportunity for young boys and girls. Not just a sports platform, Khelo India events showcase the nation's capability to stage a repertoire of sports. Not just spotting talent, Khelo India is also generating awareness on sports and fitness,' said Mayank Srivastava, the Deputy Director General of the Sports Authority of India, ahead of the six-day tournament. ALSO READ | Days after ceasefire, India to play Pakistan in Baseball West Asia Cup The opening ceremony will be attended by Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya and Minister of State Raksha Nikhil Khadse. Praful Patel, Administrator, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Daman and Diu and Lakshadweep will also be among the attendees. Sportspersons like Sakshi Punia (kabaddi), Joginder Singh (hockey), Trupti Murgunde (badminton), Mamta Prabhu (table tennis) and Ravi Kumar Katulu (weightlifter) will also be present at the ceremony. A range of cultural programmes are also planned, including Gujrat's folk dance Garba, Northern India's Bhangra, Southern India's Kathakali and East's Bihu. Popular Gujrati singer Geeta Ben Rabari is also set to stage a musical performance. With Pearls – the dolphin mascot inspired by the mammal which is a constant feature at the Nagoa beach – cheering on with a surfboard in its hands, the athletes will hope this inaugural edition of the tournament under the Khelo India umbrella augurs well for the Beach Games community.
Hospitality Net
06-05-2025
- Hospitality Net
IHCL Opens Doors to Coral Pearl, Lakshadweep
Indian Hotels Company (IHCL), India's largest hospitality company, today announces the opening of Coral Pearl, Lakshadweep - IHCL SeleQtions in the Lakshadweep archipelago. The Coral Pearl, Lakshadweep - IHCL SeleQtions features 50 luxurious glamping tents, each a sanctuary of comfort with state-of-the-art amenities. Expansive glass panels provide panoramic views of the Arabian Sea, allowing guests to witness the riveting play of colours across the horizon. The interiors, adorned with subtle hues and natural textures, create a warm and inviting atmosphere, making you feel at home amidst the island's exotic beauty. Guests can indulge in a culinary expedition at Smok, the all-day dining restaurant featuring a curated menu of contemporary Indian, Continental, and Asian cuisines, or unwind at Calypso, the vibrant bar inspired by the deep-sea legends of Lakshadweep. As a gateway to marine wonders, the island invites adventure enthusiasts to explore its biodiversity through scuba diving, snorkeling, kayaking, and curated nature trails. Set in the Arabian Sea, Bangaram Island is a hidden gem with soft sands, swaying palms, and clear waters rich in marine life attracting travellers for an escape into nature. Hotel website
