Traditional Sports and Regional Games for Promoting Fitness

The origin of sports and games dates back to the very inception of society. Some games began from the sheer need for survival - archery, for instance - and some from the need for social interaction, such as antakshari. The desire to express emotion laid the foundation for many dance forms and traditional games. These games are a reflection of the beliefs and culture of the society that created them.

India has always been a land of sports and games. Many games that originated here carry a distinct regional identity and are now played in many countries. India's sports history goes back to the Mahabharata period, when games such as chaupar and archery were already famous. Studies suggest that India invented many games according to the resources and demography of each region - for example, the boat race Vallamkali, famous in Kerala and still organised every year on the occasion of Onam.

How traditional games build fitness without equipment

Unlike many modern sports that need specialised equipment, courts or costly gear, most Indian traditional and regional games can be played with whatever is locally available - a stick for Gilli Danda, a cloth ball for Kho-Kho, bare hands and agility for Kabaddi - which is exactly why they spread so widely across villages and generations. Each game also happens to train a different mix of fitness components without the players ever thinking of it as "exercise": Kabaddi demands explosive speed, agility and breath control during a single raid; archery builds upper-body and core strength along with intense focus; Mallakhamb develops balance, flexibility and muscular strength through holds and poses on a pole; and the boat race Vallamkali builds cardiorespiratory endurance and team coordination among dozens of rowers pulling in unison. …