The sports played in Punjab include the following:^[1]

Kabaddi

Punjab Circle style

This is the state game of Punjab.

Traditional Punjabi Kabaddi styles

Lambi Kauddi

In Lambi Kauddi (Punjabi: ਲੰਬੀ ਕੋੌਡੀ) ^[2] there are 15 players with a cicular pitch of 15-20 feet. There is no outer limit. The players can run as far they can. There is no referee. The raider will say "kauddi, kauddi" throughout the attack.

Saunchi Kauddi

Saunchi Kauddi (Punjabi: ਸੌਚੀ ਕੋੌਡੀ) ^[3] (also called Saunchi pakki/Punjabi: ਸੌਚੀ ਪੱਕੀ) can best be described as being similar to boxing. It is popular in the Malwa area of Punjab. It is unlimited players with a cicular playing pitch. A bamboo with a red cloth is dug into the ground which is paraded by the winner.

In sauchi kabaddi, the raider will hit the defender but only on the chest. The defender will then hold the raiders wrist. A foul is declared if any other part of the body is grabbed. If the defender hold the raiders wrist and restricts his movement, he will be declared the winner. If the raider loses the grip of the defender, then the raider will be the winner.^[3]

Goongi Kabaddi

A popular style is "Goongi Kabaddi" (Punjabi: ਗੂੰਗੀ ਕਬੱਡੀ) (silent Kabaddi) where a raider player does not speak and say the word kabaddi but just touches the opponent’s team player and the whom he touches only that player will try to stop the player. The struggle will continue till he reaches the starting line or acknowledge the defeat and loses a point, or if he safely reaches the starting line, he will get the point.^[4]

Traditional Punjabi Sports and Games

Male sports and games

• Rassa kashi- tug of war with two teams
• Kushtian - wrestling
• Khuddo khoondi - similar to hockey
• Gulli danda - similar to cricket
• Dand parhangrha
• Bandar keela
• Tibla tiblee

Female sports and games

• Thaal
• Kikli:This is another game, basically for women. Two girls clasp their hands and move in circle. This was a game, which was played by two or four girls and multiple of two thereof.

Kikli kleer di, Pag mere vir de, Daupatta mere bhai da Phitte mun jawai da

• Adhi chharhapa
• Gheeta Pathar: Some pebbles, stones or broken earthenware could be broken further into pieces and used for playing Gheeta Pather. This was a game, which did not involve running or jumping and was played sitting on the floor.
• Peecho bakree
• Hara samundar
• Khidu:The girls would sing along with Khidu (Ball), in fact these rhymes and game is suitable for the children: This was for the first round, there was the second and third till the end was reached by counting ten and singing the tenth song.

Games for boys and girls

• Kokla Chhapaki: This game is popular even today amongst the children. Both boys and girls play it. Children sit in a circles and a child who has cloth in hand goes around the circle-singing: It is a kind of warning for the children sitting in a circle not to look back. The cloth is then dropped at the back of a child. If it is discovered before the child who had placed it there had completed the round, the child who discovered the cloth would run after him and try to touch him with it till he sits in the place vacated by the one who had discovered the cloth.

• Chicho Chich Ganerian: This game is for both boys and girls. It is generally played by two teams and involves drawing as many vertical lines as possible.

• Lukan Miti (hide and seek): This was also played by both boys and girls and continues to this day. Two teams can also play this. One has to hide, the other has to seek but before doing it a call is given.

• Kidi Kada or Stapoo: This is a game played both by the girls and boys. It is still common amongst some of the children. This game is played with in small boundary (court), drawn on the ground and a piece of stone.

External Links

• Amateur Circle Kabaddi Federation of India [2]

References