All About Gulli Danda: A Traditional Game of Pakistan
Have you ever played Gulli Danda?
If you are nodding your head in affirmation, you had a wonderful childhood.
Of all the traditional games that I used to play in my childhood, Gulli Danda, also known as Tip-Cat, was my favorite until I was hit on my head with a flying “Gulli” and got three stitches. But let’s skip this hurtful memory and explore the many happy memories associated with the game of Gulli Danda that filled our childhood with fun and joy.
Let’s explore the thrilling game of Gulli Danda and learn its history, how to play, and the rules of the game.
History of Gulli Danda (Tip-Cat)
The history of the origin of the game of Gulli Danda also spelled as Gilli Danda, is not well documented but given that the game has been played in various parts of South Asia—including the Punjab region of ancient India—it is believed that it emerged in ancient India. From India, the game spread to its neighboring countries and as the colonizers came to India, they spread the game to many of the western countries as well.
Today the game of Gulli Danda is played in rural parts of Pakistan and many other countries including Afghanistan, India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Cuba, Cambodia, and Italy.
Gulli Danda is quite like the game of baseball and cricket, where one player is batting and other players are fielding—trying to catch the ball and stop it from getting to the boundary. Because of the sheer resemblance, many trace the origin of baseball and cricket to the game of Gulli Danda.
Given that in different variations of the game of Gulli Danda, the gulli is replaced with a ball, there might be some truth to it.
How to Play Gulli Danda?
Gulli Danda is often played between two teams but if there are not many players, it is played individually, just like in street cricket.
To play the game a small circle of about four feet in diameter is drawn and the gulli is placed in its center in an inclined manner so that its one end is in the air. After positioning the Gulli, the hitter flicks the Gulli in the air by slightly hitting on the end that was in the air. And then before the gulli falls on the ground, the player tries to hit it again with the Danda to throw it as far as possible. If the hitter fails to hit the Gulli, he will get two more chances and if he fails to hit the Gulli, he is rendered out and the next player comes to hitting.
If the player successfully hits the Gulli, the fielding team tries to catch it before it falls on the ground, just like in the cricket and baseball fielding team tries to catch the ball. If caught successfully, the player is rendered out and the next player comes to strike.
If the fielders fail to catch the Gulli, then the strikers place the danda in the center of the circle and one of the fielders tries to hit the danda with the Gulli, just like in cricket fielders try to hit wickets to run out the player. And if the gulli hits the danda or even if it falls within the circle, the player is declared out and the next player comes to turn.
If the Gulli falls away from the circle, the striker measures the distance between the circle and the gulli with the danda, and the number of dandas is considered the score—1 danda length distance= 1 point/score. If the gulli is too far away from the circle, the opposing team offers a certain number of points without measuring. But if the striker thinks that he is not being offered fair points, he can decline the offer and go on to measure his points.
At the end of the play, whichever team scores more points wins the game. When playing individually, the player who scores the most points wins the game.
Other Names of Gulli Danda
Gulli Danda is played in many regions of Pakistan and many parts of the world with some variations. This is the reason that it is known by different names in different regions.
Language | Other Name of Gulli Danda |
Saraiki | Geeti Danda |
Sindhi | Iti-Dakar |
Pashto | Lappa Duggi, Ampra kaakay |
Persian | Alak-Doulak |
English | Tip-cat, one-a-cat, piggy, pussy |
Bangladeshi | Danguli khela |
Nepali | Dandi Biyo |
Assamese | Tang Guti |
Tamil | Kitti-Pul |
Italy | Lippa |
Cuba | Quimbumbia |
Other variations of Gulli Danda
There are many variations of Gulli Danda played across the world. During my, childhood, I played various versions of the game myself.
In my childhood in the village, we used to play with two sticks as discussed above. But after I was hit in the head with the gulli and got like three stitches, we dropped the tapered and sharpened Gulli and replaced it with a ball. Instead of the circle and inclined placement, we started using two blocks or bricks. The bricks were arranged in such a way that a ball could be placed on top of it and there was a place for the Danda to get between the crack between the two bricks. The striker would lift the ball in the air with the Danda/stick and swing to hit the ball as far as possible and the rest of the gameplay was the same. but no instead of hitting the Danda or circle, the fielders were supposed to hit the bricks or get the ball so close to the bricks that it is less than the length of the Danda/stick to out the striker. This variation of Gulli Danda is known as “Double Eent” or “Double Bricks.”
When players neither have the ball nor the tapered Gulli, the Gulli was replaced with a smaller stick the size of a gulli but without tapered or sharpened ends. This variation was just like the one discussed above with only the ball being replaced by a simple small stick.
Yet in another variation, when the fielder tries to hit the two bricks, the striker tries to defend it with the danda/stick and tries to hit the Gulli as far as possible. In this variation, if the Gulli touches the striker on the body, he is rendered out.
FAQS About Gulli Danda
What Materials Do You Need to Play Gulli Danda?
Gulli Danda is played with two sticks: a short stick (Gulli) about 3 to 5 inches long and tapered at both ends and a long stick (danda) about 2 to 3 feet long.
How to Decide Who Strike First in Gulli Danda?
Sometimes coin toss is conducted to decide who strikes and who fields, but traditionally, captains of the two teams would bounce the Gulli on danda/stick and the captain who did the most bounce will be allowed to choose to either field or strike. It is like footballers often doing toe bounces to decide who will start the game.
How Many Players to Play Gulli Danda?
The game can be played with two players but the more the merrier. If there are enough players, they are divided into two teams. Otherwise, the game is played individually.