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Also known as: Vettai, Athara Seiya, Goti ka Khel, Bagh Chal

Solah Seedi is a battle field game for two, where each player has 16 equally matched game pieces. The aim is to occupy enemy territory through strategic moves and planned efforts, thus defeating the opponent. An exciting game, popular across India. Look out for inscriptions of these boards in old temples and monuments – proof that it has been played for years.

Age : 8+

Also known as: The Top and String, Lattu, Bangaram, Pambaram

Spinning a top is a fun experience for children - a skill that unfortunately seems to be dying out. Kreeda’s bambarams are brightly coloured in the trademark red and yellow. The wooden nail with a slightly flattened tip makes it even safer for children.

Age : 8+

The thrill of rolling a cycle tyre along the road has long brought smiles of glee to young and old alike. There is always something magical about a wheel and how it rolls along.

A beautifully recreated version of the old cycle tyre – a cane hoop stick from Kreeda. Available only on the Kreeda website

Age : 3+

Also known as: The Tiger and the Goat, Puli-Meka, Adu-Huli Ata, Bagh Aur Bakri

This is a two-player game of skill, strategy, and thinking like chess. There are 3 tigers and 15 goats. The tigers try to kill the goats while the goats try to corner the tigers so they cannot move. This is a game requiring concentration and planning. Suitable for children over five and adults.

Age : 8+

Aslo known as: Eight and Four, Kattam Kali, Chauka Baara, Changapoo, Ettu Veedu, Kattam Kazhi, Aada Sada

Four players can participate in this game that's similar to Ludo. The purpose is to take your counters from the starting point to the safety of home. However, the game is traditionally played with cowrie shells instead of dice. To protect our biodiversity, we have discontinued the use of cowrie shells and we use game pieces made out of paper powder handmade by women. We seek your support in this initiative. This game is suitable for children over five and adults.

Age : 5+

Also known as: Nine Men’s Morris, Nav Kakri, Muhle

This is a strategy game in which the aim is to get as many points as possible by getting three pieces in a row. Two players are given 9 coins each. The players try to move them to get 3 coins in a row. Although the purpose is similar to noughts and crosses, the game is far more complex as coins can be moved and the opponent’s coins can be removed. Suitable for children over five and adults.

Age : 8+

Also known as: A Battlefield game in 24 Squares

This is a game drawn from an old book written in Sanskrit by Harikrishna, son of Venkatram in the late nineteenth century. It is interesting to read the first stanzas of the book and appreciate the importance he gave to play.

“I hereby describe the organization, structure and rules of this ancient shastra (games), the reason being that there is no such book available and the scholars do not study them. In this book there is a description of several board games, the intention of this shastra being that people will enhance their brain power by playing them.”

It was about the same time that Krishnaraja Wodeyar of Mysore developed and promoted many similar interesting games.

The game we have here is a simple strategy game described by Harikrishna as a game in 24 squares. We have used the Sanskrit description he has given as the name of the game. Chathurvimshathi Koshtaka simply means 24 boxes or squares.

This is a battlefield game where two players with eight coins each battle it out to gain control of enemy territory.

Easy to carry along and convenient to play anywhere. Priced reasonably, it makes great return gifts for parties or other occasions.

Age : 7+

Also known as: A Cup and Coin Game, Vamanaguntalu, Mancala, Olinda Kaluja, Aliguli Mane, Adu-guni Mane, Chenne Mane, Saat Kooti, Kutki-Boia

Played on a wooden board with 14 cups in it, this is a game of distribution and counting. Variations of the game appeal to different ages and make it challenging and exciting.

While Pallanguzhis were traditionally made of wood, our current need is to conserve forests and trees.

The new Pallanguzhi from Kreeda is made from MDF (Medium Density Fibreboard). This is a type of hardboard, which is made from wood fibres glued under heat and pressure. It can be made from almost any scrap wood that is normally of limited value.

So when you buy an environment friendly Pallanguzhi from Kreeda, you are doing your bit toward conserving the environment.

Age : 5+

Also known as: Pagade, Pachisi, Chaupar, Aksha Kreeda, Dayakattam, Chokkattan

Chaupad (A Traditional Indian Dice Game) - Perhaps no other game is played in so many different variations all over India as Chaupad. The variations often have slight differences in the board itself, the type of pieces used or the rules and methodology. One of a family of cross and circle games, Chaupad is believed by many to be among the oldest games from India. Legend has it that Emperor Akbar played it on giant boards with women from his harem moving instead of game pieces. This game is believed to be the source for the popular game - Ludo.

Age : 5+

Also known as: Snakes and Ladders, Moksha Padam, Gyan Chaupar

Parama Padam Sopanam (Steps to the Highest Place)

Parama Pada Sopanam means Steps to the Highest Place (where Parama Pada means highest place and Sopanam means steps). This is a traditional version of the popular game of Snakes and Ladders. The game was believed to be symbolic of a man’s attempt to reach God. The ladders represent virtues and the snakes represent vices. The snakes carry names linking them to stories from our epics

Kreeda has slightly modified the traditional game to appeal to today’s children. Done on a 2 feet by 2 1/2 feet canvas, the game is attractively designed and appealing. All the snakes in the games have names such as Bakasura, Kumbakarna etc. which are representative of certain vices. The instruction sheets with the game give a short story of these characters to make it more appealing to children and parents who may not know the tales.

Age :3+