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A New Year has dawned. Next month the trees will bear juicy fruits. The changing climate would be warm and bring about significant changes in the new year. This would be the time to review our Folk Culture. Specially about playing our folk games in our villages. There are mainly two kinds of folk games indoor games and outdoor games. Usually women play indoor games.

The common games are Olinda Keliya, Pancha Keliya, Nerenchi Edilla, Pana Hangima. Young lasses find these popular. Eluwankema, Mewara Keliya are popular among women. Scraping coconut, weaving cadjans, swinging are popular games in the rural community. Soon after harvesting the paddy fields become open playground. Playing outdoor games, like Elle, Gudu, Bahu Keliya, Kathuru Onchilla, slippery pole (Lissana gaha), Kotu Paneema. These are very popular outdoor games. During the New Year season, young men get together to play more folk games. They are new young people. These young people show their ability and youth strength. The lads play all day long.

The elders complain that kids flock like cattle and run about the place. They call it Nadalan. That means they play the whole day without any meals. During the new year season the parents don’t disturb the children’s play. Lads are very much interested in playing Walakaju,Ambaeta Penima, Thachchu Penima,Gudu Keliya. These games are very popular among the villages.

Elders love to play Porapol and Ankeliya in the country side. They play these games to receive the blessings of gods. Ankeliya for instance is an offering to the goddess Paththini. In the Porapol game players divide themselves into two teams. They are called Udupila and Yatipila. The game is over when all the coconuts are broken. Another famous game Kathuru Onchillawa starts in April and ends in May. While playing Kathuru Onchillawa the players chant Waram. The Waram is chanted for the blessing of the Triple Gem and gods. The Garayak Netum and alms giving are usually held at the end of the Kathuru Onchillawa game, but when there is a funeral this game is not played.

Women and girls play indoor games in the night. We learn that in ancient times lighting Domba or Mee oil torch was common. Sokari and Jahuta are performed in the nights. They perform Maname and Sandakinduru. When the time comes they put oil pans on the fire place. Then the young men play Biranga. They blow Unakota. In the day time they play drums(Daul and Thammettam).

In the evening young women play Raban. During the new year season there is a review of our culture. Every one enjoys enormously and sharing happiness with the others and friendship grows. Relationship are established. People forget their previous anger and jealousy against others. Today many have forgotten our traditional games and some games have been totally forgotten. People are adapting themselves to fit in to the modern society. New generation does not seem to appreciate our traditional culture. But one must remember traditional games in fact help us keep our body fit and healthy. They also bring about closer social relationship.

@ Daily News : By Priyanka Kurugala