Did you know?
Chess grew from an old Indian game called chaturanga. Its pieces stood for the four parts of an ancient army: elephants, chariots, horses and foot soldiers.
Modern polo comes from a fast horse game played in Manipur, called sagol kangjei. The Imphal Polo Ground is said to be the oldest polo ground in the world.
Badminton was once called 'Poona'! British officers in India played it in the town of Poona (now Pune), where its first rules were written in 1873.
Try this: Grandparents' Game Hunt
Ask your grandparents or older neighbours which games they played as children. Was it pitthu (seven stones), kanche (marbles), hopscotch or something else? Write down each game's name, how many players it needs and one rule. Then teach your favourite one to your friends during break time!
Go further: How Chess Pieces Changed
When chaturanga travelled from India to Persia and then on to Europe, some of its pieces changed. The elephant slowly turned into the bishop. The king's counsellor (adviser), called the mantri, became the queen. In the old game, it could move only one square diagonally! Today the queen is the most powerful piece on the board. Next time you play chess, imagine your bishop as an elephant!