The benefits you get by participating in games and outdoor activities during your leisure, are numerous. Increased physical activity, reduction of stress, freshness of mind, joyfulness, law-abidingness, patience, fairness, having a good sense of responsibility, willingness for team work and leadership are some of these benefits that help in the development of one's personality.
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Folk games are games that have been popular within a particular society for many generations. Their development is influenced by the social, religious, cultural and economic backgrounds of the society.
In grade 6 you learned about engaging in minor games in order to enjoy yourselves.
Since folk games are in harmony with culture, people naturally find it easy and enjoyable to participate in them. Folk games also strengthen your feelings for your nation and make you value and protect your cultural heritage. Unlike games from foreign countries which may need expensive sports equipment, locally available, inexpensive equipment can be used for folk games.
• Simplicity
• Brings joy and happiness
• Participation is easy
• Equipment required is minimum and inexpensive
• Competition is much less
• Allows group participation
• Existence of a religious or cultural background
• Makes no discrimination based on gender in most games
• Has an aesthetic touch
• Brings physical and mental relaxation
• Creates unity
Folk games can be divided into two groups
1. Outdoor folk games
2. Indoor folk games
Folk games can be further grouped according to the type of participation,equipment required and other factors.
Games without equipment
Games with equipment
Pair games
Group games
Adventurous games
Women's games
Children's games
Youth games
Games associated with agriculture
Games associated with dancing
Games associated with religion
Games associated with invoking
blessings
Pancha damima
Nerenchi edima
Olinda keliya
Eluwan kema
Wala kadju gasima
Kili thattu
Kitti pullu
Vaar ottam
Raban gasima
Onchili pedima
Coppara Coppara Pipingya
This game which can be played by more than ten participants is mostly seen in villages. It's mostly played by children. They sit in a circle and one child carrying a twig walks round the circle.
The seated children and person going round chant alternatively;
Those seated in the circle : Coppara Coppara Pipingya
The person going round : Passa baluwoth desanya
Those seated in a circle : Ko nano panawa
The person going round : Yata leeye panawa
those seated in a circle :Kalagedi? Kalagedi?
The person going round : Bothala? Bothala?
The person going round the circle quietly places the twig behind one of the persons who are seated. The person behind whom the twig was left, chases the person who was going round and tries to hit him with the twig. If he is unable to catch the person, the person who was going round will complete the circle and sit down. If any of the persons who are seated look back they too get a blow. The person who gets the blow is the next to walk round.
Iniweta Peralima
Iniweta Peralima
This game is like cattle breaking through a strongly built fence. One team forms a fence by holding hands of each other. The other team acting like cattle claps and sings their part of the song given below and moves forward. The children who form the fence give their reply with their part of the song.
Cattle : Ahasata inimang badina gonek athe
Fence : A lakune gong apa dutuwe nathe
Cattle : Bandiye ralage gong banak athe
Fence : A lakune gong apa dutuwe nathe
Cattle : Amberum galayata gombanak athe
Fence : A lakune gong apa dutuwe nathe
Cattle : Thambili walla gene yanna gonek athe
Fence : A lakune gong apa dutuwe nathe
Cattle : Karate udin panalaya ada yanne
Fence : Avata mokadei yanna no dennei
After singing the song the cattle team say "ottui"(ready) and simultaneously they try to topple the fence. The fence team tries their best to protect the fence.
If they topple the fence by any chance, the cattle team wins the game.
Mewara keliya
Mewara keliya
A few of the girls in the game go outdoors and hide a bangle. They huddle around the place while trampling it with their right foot. One or two others come and go round the group singing a song inquiring about a lost bangle. The other group swear that they have not seen any such thing.
Those in round : Sare sadisi pethi pera nelana kala wala giyado mage meweraya
Others: Nano numba pal numbe daruwan pal ape dutuwe nathe mewaraya
Those in round :Koswathukande kos kadana da wala giyado mage mewaraya
Others: Nano numba pal numbe daruwan pal ape dutuwe nathe meweraya
Those in round : Mungwathukande mung kadana da wala giyado mage mewaraya
Others: Nano numba pal numbe daruwan pal ape dutuwe nathe mewaraya
Those in round : Kahawathu kande kaha kotana da wala giyado mage meweraya
Others: Nano numba pal numbe daruwan pal ape dutuwe nathe meweraya
Those in round :Kotana polana kala pol ambarana kala wala giyado mage meweraya
Others: Nano numbe pal numbe daruwan pal ape dutuwe nathe mewareya
Those in round :Kalei gosilla dara kadana da wala giyado mage meweraya
Others: Nano numbe pal numbe daruwan pal ape dutuwe nathe meweraya
Those in round :Nanna yana thena naana thenedi wala giyado mage mewaraya
Others : Nano numba pal numbe daruwan pal ape dutuwe nathe mewaraya
Those in round :Ala wathukande ala kotana da wala giyado mage mewaraya
Others: Nano numbe pal numbe daruwan pal ape dutuwe nathe mewaraya
Those in round : Lindata gohilla wathura adina kala wala giyado mage mewaraya
Others: Nano numba pal numbe daruwan pal ape dutuwe nathe meweraya
Those in round : Gedera wate athugagena yana kala wala giyado mage meweraya
Others: Nano numba pal numbe daruwan pal ape dutuwe nathe meweraya
Those in round : Menna methanadi me sabayedi wala giyado mage meweraya
Others: Nano numbe pal numbe daruwan pal ape dutuwe nathe mewaraya
After singing the song one or two of those who were going round shout "Ottui"(ready) and then bend to pick the bangle. At the same time the others bend to pick the bangle. When every one struggles to take the bangle a lot of time is spent. As the others who keep trampling the bangle stay huddled together, they take time to bend. However whichever group is quicker picks up the bangle. Those who get the bangle win.
Ath hangeema (hiding hands)
Ath hangeema (hiding hands)
This folk game that does not need any materials can be played by two.
Athuru mithuru Dambadiwathuru rajakapuru settiya
Alutha gena manamalita hal pathak garala
Ihalagetath bedala , pahala getath bedala
Kukula kapa dora mulle, Kikili
kapa weta mulle
Athak ganing settiyo
Olinda keliya
Olinda keliya
Olinda thibenne koi koi desei
Olinda thibenne Bangali desei
Genath sadanne koi koi desei
Genath sadanne sinhala desei
Gasata palachchada bola koi neno
Gasata palachchai kiru budu neno
Karal sedichchada bola koi neno
Karal sedichcai kiri budu neno
Ek pethi wechchada bola koi neno
Ek pethi wechchai kiri budu neno
Depethi wechchada bola koi neno
Depethi wechchai kiri budu neno
Thun pethi wechchada bola koi neno
Thun pethi wechchai kiri budu neno
Eluwan kema (goat game)
Eluwan kema (goat game)
Eluwan kannai mang awe - elu beti kaapang thun deerei
Saawun kannai mang awei - sa beti kaapang thun deerei
Gonun kannai mang awei - a beti kaapang thun deerei
Muwan kannai mang awei - a beti kaapang thun deerei
Me wela mokado - dam wela,
Me wela mokado - kiri wela,
Me wela mokado - kinda wela,
Me wela mokado - madu wela,
Udin panin - thalla kadei,
Yatin ringan - timbol anei,
Me putu kagei - bandarei
Me anda kagei - bandarei
Me bath kagei - bandarei
Me kande kagei - bandarei
Ge goma gala gath mage eluwa
Numbata kohinde mage eluwa
Daranuwa deela gath mage eluwa
Numbata kohinde mage eluwa
Ilapatha deela numbata koindo
Appa deela numbata koindo
Aiya deela numbata koindo
Ira gala deela numbata koindo
Sanda gala deela numbata koindo
Onchili warama (song of the swing)
Onchili warama (song of the swing)
Mithuru menumba apa ekwa siyalla
Kathuru leseta benda ran onchilla
Nathara lamin guwane onchilla
Mewara padimu api ran onchilla
Thatuwa udin sita benda onchilla
Pita pita peguwe ek kerakilla
Wata pita siti aye balaa sitilla
Ata dena ata kona wadi weyalla
Udama udama weda okkome welle
Wasina wasina wesi e gala palle
Duwana duwana naw samudura elle
Apith padimu den ran onchille
Ata dena ata kona wadi w eya lla
Sita gena dennek polu pagalla
Wawlan lesa kerakena onchilla
Apith padimu den ran onchilla
Padina kalata angano onchilla
Andina saluwa thada kara enda galla
Thadina athin wela alla galla
Sondina warala benda gena padapalla
Folk games are games that have developed in certain religious, cultural and social settings.
Folk games are both simple and aesthetic and can be played in groups thus creating not only fun but also unity.
Folk games can be classified in many ways including indoor and outdoor games, games with equipment and without equipment and in accordance with the composition of the teams taking part in them such as pairs, groups, etc.
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