Uffangali (Seed-blowing Game)
Games have been played from the beginning of time. One of the oldest games in India is Uffangali. No one is really sure where the name comes from, but in the South Indian language Kannada, gali means wind and uff means blowing. This is a very simple and versatile game that can be played nearly anywhere and with very little equipment. It is great for kids and adults of all ages, and any number of people can play. Here is how to play the game:
• First, gather as many friends as you would like. Any number of people can play, but you need at least two.
• Place a handful of seeds on a flat, smooth surface. Dried beans or sunflower seeds work well.
• The players should sit in a circle around the seeds.
• Each player then blows as hard as they can one time on the pile of seeds.
• All of the scattered seeds should be picked up by that player and added to his or her own pile.
• The seeds must be picked up without touching any other seeds. When they bump another seed their turn is over.
• Each player takes a turn blowing on and collecting seeds until there are no seeds left in the middle pile.
• The player who has collected the most seeds wins.
Many ancient games require very little equipment, because they didn’t have any! Even today, it can be difficult and expensive to get something like a basketball or a soccer ball. That doesn’t mean that people don’t play these sports. They are just very creative in how they create a ball out of the things they find around them, or invent their own games to play. The only limit to the amount of fun they can have is their own imagination. All you need are a few friends, some creativity and maybe some help from nature.
