Something old, something new
Kreeda has taken it upon themselves to package traditional Indian games and introduce them with an earthy ethnic chic. Play counters become conch shells. Game boards are canvas strips with bright screen-printed colours. Packaging is fashionably eco-friendly cardboard. Instruction sheets are determinedly uninteresting single line spaced back-to-back printed A4 sheets, without the slightest effort invested in laying out content to drawin a reader!
‘Chathurvimshati Koshtaka’ apparently means 24 boxes or squares in Sanskrit. The 8x3 battle grid is printed in vivid flat colurs on a stiff off-white rectangular strip of canvas. Each player gets eight shells each. In start positions, the shells are arrayed on either side of the battlefield, leaving the central row vacant. Players move one space at a time in any direction. Jumping over an opponent’s shell onto a vacant square beyond, effectively kills the opponent, and removes the fallen warrior off the battlefield. The purpose – annihilation of the enemy forces.
In a new twist to what seems like a variation of checkers on a smaller board and without king-making moves, there are couple of crossed out squares which are no-kill zones, and which curiously can accommodate one warrior each of the opposing sides. An interesting peace-keeping oasis which I find can be used to brutal advantage to launch all manner of devious attacks!
The problem with Kreeda games is their open packaging which tends to encourage opening of the boxes on retail shelves, damage to contents, and missing pieces. So open your box before billing. Once checked and bought, you’ll realise you’ve discovered a fabulous deal. Foolishly, I’ve avoided Kreeda titles till this one. Thankfully, there are several, and I intend to work my way through the whole lot.
I am gratified to learn from the instruction leaflet that our ancient texts encouraged board game play as a means to enhancing ‘brain power.’ Printed matter on the reverse of the box (present in some packs and not others!) assures me that this game board is carved on old temples across the country. A closer look at temple carvings is warranted the next time around!
— The author may be contacted at arup_kavan@yahoo.com
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