Indian Traditional Games: An Intangible Cultural Heritage to Promote Good Life among Children

Culture plays a significant role in the development of the nation. India has rich cultural diversity and plurality, among which traditional game is one that used to occupy much of the leisure time of children and youth. These games are played informally with minimal equipment and infrastructure and with unwritten, simple, and flexible rules. The few popular traditional games in India are Camel Race, Game of Dice, Archery, Bull Race, Buffalo Race, Marbels, Mallakhamb, Kite flying, Hopscotch, Spinning the Top, Boat Race, and Kalaripayattu. Today's fast-paced lifestyle, urbanization, unit families, and popularity of video games are discouraging children from playing outdoor games. Still, these games have enough potential to provide unique opportunities for physical development, amusement, creativity, the transmission of culture, peer group interactions, and overall good life. The purpose of the study was to identify and analyze the different components of traditional games that develop social and motor skills that may lead to a good life among children. For the collection of data, the present study used primary and secondary sources, which included questionnaires, books, websites, and journals. It was observed that rural children largely engage in traditional games, which are locally organized, and safe. It was noted that many types of traditional games, such as games of physical skill, strategy, memory, rhythmic games, simulation, and verbal games, play an important role in the development of children's minds, cognitive ability and motor skills including balance, coordination and can also develop social skills like collaboration, cooperation, communication, mutual respect, cultural exchange, problem-solving, and overall well-being and healthy Life. UNESCO recognized the Traditional Games as a world intangible cultural heritage. The Association for International Sports for All (TAFISA, Germany) and UNESCO are jointly striving hard to safeguard and promote traditional games across the world. TAFISA adopted a mission in 2018 to create a better world through play by 2030.