BarahKatta (Indian Ludo)

BarahKatta is a board game of India, played during the era of kings. This game was used to improve eye-to-eye coordination, and to teach teenagers war tactics and strategy. The movement of coins is controlled by throw 6 cowry shells , hence it is a game of chance. BarahKatta is primarily a game of chance, but involves thinking and planning. It also helps in developing counting skills. It is an interesting and amusing way to develop strategy skills. The tokens travel anti-clockwise in outer squares, clockwise in inner squares and finally lands up in Central Square (home). If a player’s token lands on a square occupied by opponent’s token, then the opponent’s token is "killed" and the player gets an extra turn to play. The killed token return to its starting home square and has to go round all over again. In crossed boxes, killing is not possible. When a token reaches the square left of its home square, it further moves up into the inner squares and now moves in clockwise direction. However the tokens enter the inner squares, only when at least one of the opponent's tokens are killed. Otherwise they keep circling around until at least one of the tokens of opponent is killed by them. Every token need not kill an opponent. If a player has cut once, all the coins can move into the inner circle. Each token finishes its race when it manages to get into the home. The first player to get all his tokens into home wins the game.

Whenever 1, 5, 6 or 12 is obtained during a throw of cowry shells, the player gets a bonus turn to throw the cowries. When a player cuts an opponent’s token, he gets an extra turn to play. During an extra turn, either the same token or some other token can be played.

This game is called by various names in different languages in different regions of India. This list shows the name, the language and then the region:
Chauka Bara - Kannada - Mysuru region
Katte Mane - Kannada - Rural Mysuru
Gatta Mane - Kannada - Rural Mysuru
Chakaara or Chakka - Kannada - North Karnataka
Pakidakali-Malayalam-kerala region
Ashta Chamma - Telugu - Andhra Pradesh
Daayam or Thaayam - Tamil - Tamil Nadu
Kaana Duaa - Hindi - Madhya Pradesh

Tags: Doyalu, BaaraKatta,Barah Katta, Asta Chemma, Ashta Chemma, Chauka Bara, Katte Mane, Gatta Mane, Chakaara or Chakka, Pakidakali, KavidiKali, Ashta Chamma, Asta Chamma, Daayam or Thaayam, Dayam, Tayam, Thayam,Asta chamma, Astachamma, Ashtachamma, Chaka, Kana dua, Kaana Duaa, time pass, timepass, Indian ludo.