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Traditional Games

'Tossing the stones' (Batu Seremban)

In this game, small stones are tossed upwards and then caught back again by the player. The game involves at least 2 players, usually girls.

Played indoor, this game only needs 5 small, smooth stones.

'Long Elephant' (Gajah Panjang)

5 lines are drawn on the ground as ‘obstacles’. The purpose of the game is to test the efficiency of the players running beyond these lines.

Played by boys and girls, this game involves 10 players and usually takes place in flat, open areas. No equipment is required for this game.

'Marbles' (Guli)

In this game, marbles are thrown at specified targets. Usually played by children between 7-12 years old, the game involves not more than 5 players and is played in flat, open areas.

Several marbles are required to play this game.

'Kicking the feathers' (Sepak Bulu Ayam)

This is a game that involves kicking a soft ‘ball’ hand-made from chicken feathers. The purpose of the game is to test the skills of the player in controlling and balancing the ‘ball’ for as long as possible so that it will not fall onto the ground. This game involves 2 or more players, usually boys between 10-17 years old.

Played in open areas, the only item required for this game is a soft ‘ball’ made from 14 chicken feathers tied in the centre of a thick paper or a rubber sheet.

'Kicking the rattan ball (Sepak Raga Bulatan)

This is a game that involves controlling and balancing a rattan ball (bola raga) in various ways. The purpose is to test the skills of the players in kicking the ball, knocking the ball with his head, chest or knees and making sure it does not fall onto the ground. The game is played by boys and may involve many players. It is played in flat, open areas.

A big circle is drawn on the ground, with another smaller circle inside. Only a rattan ball (bola raga) is required for this game.

'Kite Flying' (Wau)

This is a game that tests the skills and efficiency of the player in making and flying the kite. Usually played by male adults, there is no fixed number of players. In fact, the more players the merrier. Played in open areas, this game requires a kite and long strings or yarn.

The game can also be played as a competition to choose the highest flying kite, the most skillful player in flying the kite, the kite that makes the best melodious sound, the most colourful kite, the kite with the most beautiful drawing and the kite that flies in the straightest manner .

'Filling the wooden board' (Congkak)

This game requires the players to place small ‘fruits’ (buah) into the ‘pits’(holes) of a piece of oval-shaped wooden board known as the papan congkak. The purpose is to test the player’s skills in capturing as many ‘fruits’ as possible from the opponent. The game involves only 2 players (boys or girls).

Items required for this game include the papan congkak and 98 ‘fruits’. The papan congkak is a wooden board shaped like asampan boat with 2 rows on it, each with 7 ‘pits’ in a straight row. This is known as the ‘village’ (kampung). At the end of each row is another hole , and this is called the ‘home’ (rumah). The ‘fruits’ can be marbles, rubber seeds or small stones.

'Top Spinning' (Gasing)

This is a traditional game that tests the skillsof the player in spinning the ‘Top’ (gasing) so that it can spin for a long time without stopping. Played by male adults and boys from 9 years old onwards, the game involves 2 or more players.

It is played in flat, open areas. The items required include a ‘Top’, spinning rope, a blade and a little lubricant (oil).

Updated:: 29/05/2021 [kamarulhelmy]

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