Paandi facts for kids

Paandi, also known as Pandi or Nondi, is a fun hopscotch game. It is played in many parts of India, like Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. You can also find it in Sri Lanka and other countries where many Indian people live. This game is played just for enjoyment and does not have many strict rules. In Andhra Pradesh, it is called Tokkudu Billa or Tangidi Billa. In Karnataka, it is known as Kunte Bille.

Where to Play Paandi

You can play Paandi on any flat ground. It should be free from holes or anything that could hurt a player. People usually play in the evenings when the sun is not too hot. This is especially true in warm places near the Tropics. Even if it rains and the ground gets wet, true fans of the game still play. All you need to play is a small stone, often called a Rubble.

How to Play Paandi

To start, you draw a series of connected boxes on the ground. The first three boxes are single, one after the other. Then come two boxes side-by-side, followed by one single box. The last two boxes are also side-by-side. The goal is to hop and walk through these boxes. You must not touch the lines. The player who passes through all levels without mistakes wins!

There are different levels in Paandi. Players usually decide who starts first by playing a game called Saa-boo-Three.

Starting the Game

The first player throws their small stone into the first box. They must throw it without touching the lines of the box. Then, the player hops from the starting line directly to Box 2. They must skip Box 1. The player then hops from Box 2 all the way to Box 8. They should not stay in each box for more than 10 seconds.

After reaching Box 8, the player hops back in reverse order. When they get to Box 1, they pick up the stone with one hand. Then, they jump straight back to the starting point. If a player does all these steps without any mistakes, they can move on to the next box.

Conquering Boxes

For the next turn, the player throws the stone into the second box. They repeat the hopping process. This time, they are allowed to hop on Box 1 and stay there for a bit. This is because they have "conquered" that box. The game continues like this. The player tries to conquer all eight boxes one by one.

When a Player is Out

A player is out of the game if:

• They touch the lines of any box while hopping.
• They throw the stone into the wrong box.

Players take turns until someone wins the game. Sometimes, one player might win before others even get many turns!

Ultimate Paandi Challenge

This is the hardest part of Paandi. Only very skilled players try this stage. In Ultimate Paandi, the player has to hop through all the boxes with their eyes closed or covered. This makes the game much more challenging!

Paandi as a Pastime

Paandi is mostly played for fun and to pass the time. However, this game is becoming less popular today. Many children are now more interested in playing video games or other street games like cricket.