Mawkyrwat, Oct 20: At a time when traditional games have become a thing of the past even in rural areas, an attempt is being made in Sngap Syiem College, Mawkyrwat to revive them.
The Sports Committee of the college during its College Week had organised events to give a new lease of life to dying traditional games of ‘La-Bam-Blang’, ‘Tied-di-Bit’ and ‘Dieng-Dang’.
Chairman of the committee Dr. S Ramsiej and Machester Jyrwa, a student, said these traditional games were an integral part of every child’s life in the past, until it was never played again. They said some still remember but how to play them is forgotten.
To bring about a change, they said the college decided to hold competitions of the three traditional games, as well as Mawpoiñ, into the college event.
Explaining the La-Bam-Blang, (tiger eats a goat) Jyrwa said it is played especially by men during free time. He said two persons can play at a time, involving four stones that signify goats and a tiger. In the olden days, people would use charcoal to draw a maze and like the game of chess the goats have to escape being eaten by the tiger. Now students have reconstructed a board to play the game.
‘Dieng-dang’ is a race on a single bamboo pole while ‘Tied-di-bit’ is how far a small stick placed inside a hole can reach when a player strikes it with a longer stick.
Ramsiej said the competition saw participants from all students who enthusiastically took part during the college week, which began on October 17.
He said through such events, students can take back the knowledge about these traditional games by teaching family and friends and inspire the young generation to play.
