Bandar Killa (Qilla)—A Traditional Game of Pakistan Played With Shoes
Ah, the nostalgia of Bandar Killa (Qilla), a traditional game of Pakistan that filled the lives of 90s kids with lots of joy and happiness.
I was never a big fan of this game, because I would not make a good “bandar”—I was not good at defending the pile of slippers and then I would have to take a beating because running on one leg was not my forte. That said, I loved to play the game when I was not the “Bandar.”
In this blog, I will take you down memory lane and talk about the game of Bandar Killa, which is still played by children in villages and outskirts of big cities in Pakistan.
So, let’s get started.
History of Bandar Killa (Qilla)
While the exact historical origin of the traditional game of Bandar Killa is not known, it is widely believed that the game has its origin in the culture and tradition of Punjab.
| Did You Know? The term Bandar Killa comes from Punjabi, where “Bandar” translates to “Monkey,” and “Killa” refers to the large wooden nail or post used to tie cattle in the villages of Punjab. Another variation of the word “Killa” is “Qilla,” which is also a Punjabi/Urdu word and means “Fort.” |
Today the game is not only played in the villages of Punjab on the Pakistani side but also the Indian side. In the outskirts of big cities, where children do not have access to many digital or more sophisticated physical games, traditional games of Pakistan such as Bandar Killa still serve as a playful pastime for children.
How to Play Bandar Killa?
To play the game of Bandar Killa, all players take off their shoes/chappals and place them near the killa/post to which the rope is attached. The bandar takes one end of the rope in his hand and is meant to defend the Killa and stop other players from stealing the shoe. If the bandar tags another player, that player will now become the bandar and the game continues. And if players can steal all the shoes without getting tagged, then the bandar has to make a run for his life to a pre-decided point while hopping on one leg. If the other leg touches the ground, other players playfully beat the bandar with the shoes that they collected/stole earlier.
Watch kids playing the game of Bandar Killa in teh following video to get a visual description of how the game is played.
If you do not like the beating that the bandar has to take or the fact that it is played barefoot, you can check out the game of Pithu garam which is played with a ball and seven stones (geetian).
How to Select the Bandar for First Round?
Mostly one of the daring and agile players often volunteers to become the Bandar for the first round as he is confident that they can easily tag another person when they try to retrieve shoes. When there was no volunteer, we used to perform a simple action such as racing to a certain spot and the player who lose the race becomes a bandar for the game of Bandar Killa.
Sometimes, the first bandar was selected by ‘Pugan Pugai,’ which was an alternative to the modern-day coin toss.
| Pugan Pugai Pugan pugai is a traditional method of toss that is used when there are three or more teams/players and you have to choose who will take the first turn. To choose the bandar with pugan pugai, all players gather around in a circle and randomly place their hands in a face-up or down position. The player with the odd-hand face wins the toss. And the remaining players continue pugan pugai until there is one loser left, who will play the role of Bandar for the first round. |
Bandar Killa Rules
These are not hard and fast rules and can be molded depending on the situation. But the rules must be communicated before the game begins to avoid confusion and quarrels.
- Bandar cannot let go of the rope when defending the Killa. If bandar tags a player without holding the rope, it won’t count.
- It is up to bandar how to hold the rope. While it is generally held in one hand, some may decide to tie it around their waste and hold it in their mouth, freeing both hands, which increases the chances of tagging.
- If bandar tags a person, they will have to take become Bandar for the next round.
- In some cases, if the bandar touches loose clothing not attached directly to the body, the tag may not count. This rule usually applies when players are wearing their traditional attire, Shalwar Kameez.
- When all the shoes have been collected by the players, the Bandar will have some time to think about their strategy, while holding the rope.
- It is only when Bandar let go of the rope, he has to hop on one leg to the pre-decided point.
- Other players cannot hit bandar if he stands on one leg to take a breather.
- Players can only hit bandar when he brings his other foot to touch the ground.
- You can only hit bandar on his back and below the neck level.
- Bandar gets to decide who will become bandar for the next round.
- Until every player has become a bandar at least once, one player cannot become a bandar twice except when they get tagged.
One rule that I always used to stress when playing the game of Bandar Killa in my childhood was:
If some player hit the bandar in some place other than the allowed area or when the bandar is on one leg, all players start beating that player, until he runs to the pre-decided point. This rule ensured that bandar does not get hit wrongly.
How to Become a Good Bandar?
To become a good bandar, one has to be agile active, and quick.
Now let me tell you about one of my childhood friends who was the greatest bandar in our village (no pun intended). He was so good that every time he would volunteer to become the first bandar.
While defending the killa, he would act as if he is not looking to a certain side and when someone would try to retrieve a shoe, he will tag them immediately. He would often allow players to take away shoes saying that he won’t tag any one and sometimes he will and that person would have to become bandar for the next round. Sometimes this bandar would allow us to take away all the shoes and then when it was time for him to run, he will wait for an opportunity or create one by doing something like “oh look there” or create some other distraction and starting sprinting to the pre-decided point. Given that he was quite fast, other players were not able to hit. We used to end up throwing shoes at him while running behind him.
How Can You Set the Scene for a Bandar Killa Game?
To play the game of Bandar Killa, you have to find a flat ground free of obstacles and stuff that could injure players’ bare feet. Remember that the game is played barefoot—the shoes are used to play the game. once the ground is decided, you hammer the wooden needle/nail into the ground and tie one end of the rope to it. All players except bandar will take off their shoes/chappals and put them around the post. And the player taking the first turn at being Bandar will take hold of the rope and the game will begin.
What Material Do You Need to Bandar Killa Game?
To play the game of Bandar Killa all you need is three or more players, a small rope about 3 to 4 feet long, and a Killa (Nail or post to which one end of the rope is tied) and if players are playing their shoes on, you will have to arrange some other shoes or things to play the game with.
It is the simplicity of the game that makes it popular among children in rural settings.
Is Bandar Killa a Competitive Came?
Bandar Killa is a friendly game that is played only for fun. The game is only designed for fun, as there is no way of keeping score. The game is not played between two teams, as discussed above.
