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GODD’DE—Marble Games --- BODDE AND MILLAM. In the months of May/June we played the marble games called ‘Bodde’ and ‘Millam’.The God’de ( marbles)were easily available in the grocery shops in Cotula or Arrarim These games were played mainly on the vast stretch of the red mud roads which were then not infested with heavy traffic except for bullock cart or a cyclist. The game was called “Boddeamnim Khelop” or “Gushinim Khellop” The “ Gush” is like a punishment for the opposite team. The game can rather be played by two, four or six players. However, the game is more interesting when played by two on each side. Mode of Playing. To play the game, a circle is drawn in the middle of the road ( It is mostly played on the road) called “BODDO”. The team who wins the toss opts to strike first. One man stands near the ‘boddo’( circle) with two marbles. The team that wins the toss goes to a distance of about 10 metres and each player throws a marble near the ‘Boddo’. The marble that is thrown by the player enters the ‘ boddo’or crosses or passes through it , in which case the player standing near the ‘ boddo’, can drop down marbles from his hand and stop the passing/crossing marble. If that marble stops in the ‘boddo’, it becomes the ‘bodlo’. This means that the player is caught or that he cannot play for sometime. Thus even if the other player of the same team, had already thrown a marble, with an advantageous position to strike or say if he was far away from the circle, he has to go back and throw the marble again. If he gets caught in the ‘ boddo’ like his team member, then the other team gets a chance to throw. In case he succeeds in throwing the marble near the circle, then the three marbles which were already in the circle ( one of the player and two of the opponents) are placed either on the circle, in the middle of the circle, or in a straight line keeping the opposition player’s marble in the middle. Now, the player has to strike and remove the marble out of the circle. If he manages to remove all the three, he can continue with the game and the other player is also free to join him. He continues to strike the opposite player’s marbles. His partner meanwhile, picks up his marble as soon as it is out of the ‘boddo’. Now if this player misses a hit, both the partners go back to the marked line and try to throw their marble between the two marbles so that they are equidistant, since the marbles are now allotted to each one of them. Henceforth they are supposed to hit only the marble that is allotted to each one of them. If by mistake one player hits the other partner’s marble even while throwing his marble, then it is said to be ‘ kus’ and results in dismissal, If they succeed in taking the marbles of the opposite players beyond the marked line and if at one point they miss their hits on their allotted marbles, then the game comes to an end. Now the ‘ghus’ starts. The losing players have to bring the marble with the elbow, holding the earlobe with the hand of the same side. The marble is to be brought in this way up to the ‘BODDO’. In case the marble falls into a hole or a ditch, then it is removed with both elbows. Of course, there are different variants in the game of ‘Godd’de.’. Fr. Nascimento Mascarenhas Vasco da Gama, 06/06/2004.. |
