Pallanguzhi, a two-player strategy board game, has a rich history in South India, particularly Tamil Nadu, and is part of the broader mancala family of games. Its origins are not precisely documented, but its widespread presence suggests it's a very old game, enjoyed for generations. The name itself, meaning "many pits" in Tamil and Malayalam, reflects the traditional board with two rows of seven pits.
Ancient Origins: While a precise origin date is unknown, evidence suggests the game is ancient, potentially predating written records. Researcher Finds Stone Age Pallanguzhi Researcher Finds Stone Age Pallanguzhi Express News Service 16 Nov 2014, 11:53 am THOOTHUKUDI: Pallanguzhi (a traditional mancala game) holes dating back to the Stone Age were found at Pannamparai village in the district, claimed Thavasimuthu, an archaeologist. The holes were discovered during a ground study by Thavasimuthu and his students. Pallanguzhi is a traditional mancala game played in rural areas. It is normally played on boards and before boards emerged, people played the game by making holes in rocky areas. Thavasimuthu claimed that the holes represent a shorter version of Pallanguzhi, which is played even now. He added that the holes represent several things, including the earliest human settlements, the impact that the game had on human lives and also the adjacent trade routes. He further said that the game was even used to settle disputes between kings and had avoided several wars as the winner of the game was considered the winner of the dispute. After examining the holes, Thavasimuthu said, “The Pallanguzhi holes should be at least 10,000 years old.” He added that the holes would normally be made with axes but in the case of holes found at Pannamparai village, the holes were made using stones. He noted that by relating the age of the Pallanguzhi holes and the earliest possible human settlements, it could be discerned that men from Africa had first settled in the southern parts of Tamil Nadu. He added that similar holes were earlier found in Pazhani hills and they date back 25,000 years. Cultural Significance: Pallanguzhi is deeply ingrained in South Indian culture, particularly in Tamil communities, and is often associated with traditional gatherings and celebrations. Spread and Variations: The game has spread beyond Tamil Nadu to regions like Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Sri Lanka, and even Malaysia. There are also various versions and modifications of the game, including those like Raja Pandi, Seetha Pandi, and Kasipandi. Mancala Family: Pallanguzhi belongs to the broader mancala family of games, which are found across Africa, Asia, and parts of Europe. Potential East African Origins: The similarity between Pallanguzhi and other mancala games, especially in board structure and the use of cowrie shells, suggests a possible link to East African games that reached India through pre-colonial trade routes, according to MAP Academy. Role in Dispute Resolution: In some cases, Pallanguzhi was used to settle disputes between rulers, with the winner considered the victor of the conflict, according to The New Indian Express. Modern Decline and Revival Efforts: Like many traditional games, pallanguzhi's popularity has declined in recent times due to the advent of modern entertainment, but there are efforts to revive and preserve the game, according to The Times of India. II THE ORIGIN OF PALLANGUZHI Pallanguzhi game was initially originated during the period is Cholas ‘dynasty i.e. in India. It was played by the people on the premises of the Chola temple to spend time which became popular among Tamil people. It is believed that it originated from India where the game is played all over the country. Indians spread this game wherever they went for trading around the world. Even the words used in this game while playing were of Tamil or maybe Sanskrit origin. It has also been mentioned in some of the Copper Plate Inscriptions found in the period of Pallava king Simha Varman at his Pallankovil. It says that during that period, land was donated to a teacher who was a Jain named Vajranandhi. In that land there were four borders in which one of the borders was named ‘Pallanguzhi' which means garden with many pits. Pallanguzhi is played by two players. The board has 14 pits of two rows. The board is mostly wooden, brass or stone. The seeds used in this were mostly “cowry shells” (which is called as 'sozhi' in Tamil) tamarind seeds, or small pebbles as counters. The skills required in this Pallanguzhi game are mainly ‘quick maths’. Objective of the game The main and foremost objective of pallanguli is to collect more pebbles than the opponent. Description of the game The game board has 14 pits, where each player owns 7 pits. Small pebbles or seeds are used as counters. Three types of games played using pallanguzhi are: - (a) Kattam (b) 6 seeds game (c) 12 seeds game HOW TO PLAY PALLANGUZHI The stones or pebbles are put on the both sides of the board. The player who plays their turn first, picks the seeds from any of their respective pits. They usually start from the right side to the left side in anticlockwise. While moving around the player drops the seeds in the pits of both the sides simultaneously. Once the picked seeds are over the player can take the seeds from the next pit right after where they stop and vice-versa. If the player finds no seeds in the following pit next to the last seed dropped, the player captures the pits after an empty cup. If the player finds two empty pits after the last seed dropped will capture no seeds and their turn is over. The opponent will take over the game thereafter. The winner of the game will be identified by the storage of a higher number of seeds than the other player. POPULARITY OF PALLANGUZHI AMONG PEOPLE Pallanguzhi is a popular game among kids and old people. Among kids, the Pallanguzhi game encourages friendship, helps to learn numbers and to count, to improve eye-hand coordination of little children, and also improves the concentration of the young minds. It also helps learn children how to be strategic in an engaging way. Among old-age people, Pallanguzhi helps them to spend time with young people and also teaches them to play the game more interestingly with an expert manner. In Tamilnadu, even in recent times, Pallanguzhi is played by the girls who attained their puberty not to make them feel bored and alone. They usually sing songs whilst playing Pallanguzhi. Reminding us of our ancestors from the roots, Pallanguzhi as a traditional game are often interconnected to the culture and language of its land of origin. The mindset or actions which to-the-best facilitate winning in the form of behaviour. It is also a game which indirectly inculcates heritage and cultural values. The group play readily encourage people interaction so that the Pallanguzhi. It vastly provides child development as it teaches kids to work as a team and achieve group wins via teamwork. Pallanguzhi helps the never-endings to the circulation of blood by the usage of tiny seeds to be put into the pits which need nimble finger movements. So make optimal use of our own traditional games like PALLANGUZHI for your playtime. It may also help you to cover up golden virtues like patience and sharing. பல்லாங்குழி என்பது, பொதுவாக பெண்கள் விளையாடும் ஒரு விளையாட்டு. முதற் பூப்படைந்த பெண்ணின் தீட்டுக்குரிய காலத்திலும் கருவுற்ற பெண்கள் அமர்ந்து பொழுதுபோக்குவதற்கும் இந்த விளையாட்டை இப்பொழுது ஆடிப் பார்க்கிறார்கள். தமிழர்களின் பண்பாட்டு மரபினில் பெண்ணுக்குரிய சீர்வரிசைப் பொருள்களில் பல்லாங்குழியும் ஒன்றாக இடம் பெறுகிறது. பல்லாங்குழி ஆட்டம் பற்றி தேவநேயப் பாவாணர் 'தமிழ்நாட்டு விளையாட்டுக்கள்' என்ற தம் நூலில் முதன்முதலாக எழுதினார். பின்னர் பேராசிரியர் தாயம்மாள் அறவாணன் 'பல்லாங்குழி (திராவிட ஆப்பிரிக்க ஒப்பீடு)' என்ற விரிவான நூலை எழுதியுள்ளார். உலகெங்கிலும் பல்லாங்குழி ஆட்டம் சிற்சில மாறுதல்களுடன் பழங்குடிகளிடம் விளங்கி வருகிறது பல்லாங்குழி ஆட்டத்தினுடைய வகைகளாக நான்கினைக் குறிப்பிடுகிறார் பாவாணர். பேராசிரியர் தாயம்மாள் அறவாணன். பல்லாங்குழி ஆட்டத்தின் எட்டு வகைகளைக் குறிப்பிட்டு அவற்றின் வேற்றுப் பெயர்கள், குழிகளின் எண்ணிக்கை, ஒரு குழிக்காய்களின் எண்ணிக்கை மற்றும் அவ்வகைகள் ஆடப்படும் பகுதிகள் என விரிவான அட்டவணை தந்துள்ளார். தமிழ்நாடு முழுவதும் ஆய்வு செய்து எழுதப்பட்ட நூலாகும் இது[1]. பல்லாங்குழி ஆட்டத்தின் அடிக்கூறுகளை பின்வருமாறு வரையறை செய்து கொள்ள முடியும்: இருவர் ஆடும் பல்லாங்குழி ஆட்டத்தில் (பக்க எல்லைக்குழியாக இருந்தால் வலது கைப்பக்கக் குழியையும் சேர்த்து) குழிக்கு ஐந்து காய்களாக ஆளுக்கு ஏழு குழிகளாகத் துல்லியமான சமத் தன்மையுடன் ஆட்டம் தொடங்குகிறது. தன்னுடைய காய்களை எடுத்து ஒருவர் ஆட்டம் தொடங்குகிறபொழுது முதன்முறையாக சமத்தன்மை குலைகின்றது. எடுத்தாடுபவர் குழியில் காய்கள் இழப்புக்கு உள்ளாகின்றன. சுற்றிக் காய்களை இட்டு வந்து ஒரு வெற்றுக்குழி (இன்மை அல்லது இழப்பு) யினைத் துடைத்து அடுத்து முதலில் இட்ட ஐந்து காய்களுக்குப் பதிலாக நிறையக் காய்கள் ( பெருஞ்செல்வம்) கிடைக்கின்றன. ஆட்டத்தில் மற்றும் ஒரு இடைநிகழ்வும் ஏற்படுகிறது. ஒரு வெற்றுக் குழியில் ஒவ்வொரு சுற்றுக்கும் ஒவ்வொரு காயினையும் இட்டு வரும்போது அது நாலாகப் பெருகிய உடன் அதனைப் பசு என்ற பெயரில் அந்தக் குழிக்குரியவர் எடுத்துக் கொள்கிறார். இதன் விளைவாக ஆட்டத் தொடக்கத்தில் இருந்த ஐந்து காய்கள் (தொடக்க நேரத்து முழுமை) மீண்டும் ஒரு குழிக்கும் ஒரு போதும் திரும்பக் கிட்டுவதே இல்லை. காய்களை இழந்தவர் (காட்டாக 15 காய்கள் குறைவாகக் கிடைத்தன என்றால்) தன்னுடைய பகுதியில் மூன்று குழிகளைக் காலியாக (தக்கம்) விட்டு விட்டு ஆட்டத்தைத் தொடர வேண்டும். அந்தக் குழியில் எதிரி (வென்றவர்) காய்களைப் போட மாட்டார். சில இடங்களில் தோற்றவரும் போடமாட்டார். இப்போது தோற்றவருடைய குழி இழப்புக்கு ஒரு நிரந்தரமின்மை ஏற்படுகிறது. ஆட்ட இறுதியில் ஒருவர் தோற்றுப் போகிறபோது அவர் கையில் எஞ்சியிருக்கிற காய்கள் ஒரு குழிக்குரிய ஐந்து கூட இல்லாமல் நாலாக இருந்தால் குழிக்கு ஒவ்வொரு காயினை இட்டு ஆட்டம் தொடர்கிறது. இதற்குக் 'கஞ்சி காய்ச்சுதல்' என்று பெயர். கஞ்சி என்ற சொல் வறுமையினை உணர்த்தும் குறியீடாகும். தோற்றவர் ஒரு காய் கூட இல்லாமல் தோற்கின்ற போதே ஆட்டம் முழுமை பெறுகிறது. ஏழும் ஏழும் பதினான்கு சோலைத் தச்சன் செய்த வேலை அது என்ன? எனும் விடுகதைக்கு பல்லாங்குழி விடை. Pallanguzhi, Pallamkuzhi, Pallangulli, Pallankulli or Alagulimane is a traditional game played in South India particularly in Tamil Nadu and northern Sri Lanka. It is also called Mancala which is said to be originated in Egypt and a European game. Basically, Pallanguzhi when distorted into ‘Pal’ which means MANY and ‘kuzhi’ which means PIT or HOLE is translated as many holes. It is a game having a wooden board with many pits and SEEDS. The seeds could be small pebbles, stones, actual tamarind seeds, shells. In some places even actual pits are made in the ground and played by the men. There’s evidence of such pits in Egyptian pyramids in historical books. Pallanguzhi or Mancala is based on Mathematics and a very good game for children to learn hand and eye coordination along with counting and reasoning. In order to promote this age-old game, competitions of Pallanguzhi games involving women are held in Tamilnadu. The game is played between two players using a wooden board having 14 pits (holes). Each pit contains 6 seeds, in some places it is also played with 5 or 4seeds. The rule is to play in turns; the person with first turn can start by picking all the seeds from any of the holes from his/ her respective side. After picking the 6 seeds from say Pit A4 (see pic above), the player has to drop the seeds one by one in the succeeding pits i.e. pit A5, A6, A7, B7, B6, B5. Remember the game is played counter clockwise. The same player will continue to play by picking all the seeds from the pit next to the pit into which the last seed was dropped i.e B5. So player A will pick all the seeds from pit B4 and continue to drop in counter clock direction. There are some strategies and important things to remember: 1. If the last seed falls into a pit with an empty pit succeeding it, then the seeds in the pit beyond the empty pit are captured as a bonus by the active player. 2. If the last seed falls into a pit which is followed by 2 empty pits then the turn is over and the next player starts playing. 3. If in the process of dropping seeds, the pit count comes to 4 then the respective pit owner captures those 4 seeds as bonus and keeps it aside. 4. If there are no seeds left in any of the pits to move from either of the sides, then the round is over. The seeds remaining in opponent’s pits are captured by the opponents as bonus. In the next round the bonus seeds are filled into the pits with 6 seeds each. If any of the pits are not completely filled then that pit is considered useless and it is covered with a leaf or paper and not used in the new round. The extra seeds left are kept individually by the opponents. The game continues with the rules and ends with a winner having maximum number of seeds as bonus. In the past, the game, which is based on the concept of ‘sowing and harvesting’, was played using tamarind seeds, roadside pebbles or cowry shells. Today, if you order a set online, you might be unwrapping a neatly-packaged cardboard box, complete with a board made of highly-compressed waste wood, carefully-selected pure white pebbles, and an elaborate list of rules. There is elaborate mention of it in A Book of Historic Board Games by Damian Gareth Walker, and a documentation by Irving Finkel. K RAJARAM IRS 20425 ---------- Forwarded message --------- From: Srinivasan Sridharan <sridhsriniva...@gmail.com> Date: Sun, 20 Apr 2025 at 08:36 Subject: Another indoor game from Bharath! To: Rajaram Krishnamurthy <keyarinc...@gmail.com> One more interesying indoor game is known as பல்லாங்குழி! Sridharan -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Thatha_Patty" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to thatha_patty+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/thatha_patty/CAL5XZor3m3g1NFX52QdAV5DAo_iBy%2BU%3DMty7eP7HfhM0Oepghw%40mail.gmail.com.
