The tale of Krishna's grandson, Aniruddha and Usha, the daughter of Banasura, is filled with magic, romance, adventure, intrigue and staunch loyalty. Usha falls in love with her dream vision of Aniruddha. Her friend kidnaps the youth and brings him to Usha. Eventually their romance blossoms over many games of Pagaday.
There are many such tales that feature gods and goddesses, epic heroes and heroines , kings and queens, warriors and their enemies playing a concentrated game of Pagaday which eventually settles the future of the protagonists. There is, for instance the tale of Nala and Damayanti, of Shiva and Parvati or the most well-known epic, the Mahabharata which does not need recounting.
From the world of fiction and mythology to the equally hoary history etched in ancient rock-cut temples, there is evidence that board games were an integral part of the lives of the people of India either as a pastime or to foresee the future itself. Yes, playing Pagaday or Pachisi on the eve of Deepavali is a time-honored tradition among a large number of the country's business community. The win or loss could indicate the future of the business itself!
Traditional board games have been around for centuries. A small yet significant movement that has emerged is the fostering of the traditional games tradition by Ramsons Kala Pratishtana with its annual expo of board games.
'Kreedaa Kaushalya' is an exhibition, a tradition, It is a jamboree, a carnival of celebration for the young and old alike to see and play a game or two. It will bring back endearing memories of playing such games at your granny's house during summer holidays.
