Games are a part of Indian history and its diverse culture. A wide variety of games is known to be played across all regions in India through generations by people of all ages. The inscriptions on the temple floors and walls and references to traditional games in the epics and mythological stories depict the culture of playing games as an important activity of the Indian society. Games in India are played not just to fulfill the social need but also to teach important values like planning, strategizing, leadership, teamwork, perseverance, tolerance etc.
Indian games have evolved significantly over thousands of years. Many of the traditional games are no more played in cities where outdoor space is a constraint and are only played in the rural areas of the country. Some of these traditional games that require minimal equipments are now ironically termed as “Street Games,” and are played by people who are unable to purchase games from the market. Games like Chess, Snakes and Ladder, Ludo, etc. are believed to have originated in India and then transmitted to other countries where they were further modified into the present day version. Furthermore, various new games have been introduced into the culture to suit the current need of the society like Doctor Doctor Help Us, Carrom, january February, etc.
However, one thing common with all games is that they are designed to provide enjoyment while developing both physical and mental skills. They are used as tools to improve concentration, hand eye coordination, motor skills, sensory skills, logical thinking, strategy building skills and math skills. Most importantly, games provide a mode of interaction among people of varied generations.
