Gilli-danda
Gilli "गिल्ली" -danda "डण्डा" or Gulli-Danda is an amateur sport, similar to cricket, that is popular among youth in the Indian subcontinent. It is known as Viti-Dandu in Marathi.
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Rules
The objective of the sport is to use the danda (used like a baseball bat) to strike the gilli (similar to striking a ball in cricket or baseball). For this purpose a cirle is made in the center of which a small oblong shaped hole is dug. This hole is smaller than the gilli but as the play progresses the size may increase due to usage. The gilli is inserted in to a spindle shaped hole (overall shape looks like a traditional boat) in the ground, either orthogonally, or at an angle. The danda is then swung and strikes the gilli (similar to a golf swing). Another variation is when the gilli is prised out of the hole at a high speed usually by lifting the gilli using the danda.
Scoring and Outs
There are many variations to the scoring varying with region.
Typically, the gilli becomes airborne after it is struck. If a fielder from the opposing team catches the gilli, the striker is out. If the gilli lands on the ground, the fielder closest to the gilli has one chance to hit the danda (which has to be placed on top of the hole used) with a throw (similar to a run out in cricket). If the fielder is successful, the striker is out, if not, the striker scores one score and gets another opportunity to strike. The team (or individual) with the most points wins the game. If the striker fails to hit gilli in three tries, the striker is out (similar to a strikeout in baseball).
Equipment
Gilli-danda has no official requirements for equipment. Traditionally, the danda is a stick (30 to 45 centimeters) in length, while the gilli is a smaller stick with conical ends (similar to a cricket bail).
Teams
There is no official limit on the number of players in gilli-danda or the number of teams. Gilli-danda can be played where each individual plays for themselves, or between two teams.
Variations
As an amateur youth sport, gilli-danda has many variations. A common variation is where the striker is allowed to hit the gilli twice, once initially, and then while the gilli is in the air.
In some versions, the points a striker scores is dependent on the distance the gilli falls from the striking point. The distance is measured in terms of the length of the danda, or in some cases the length of the gilli.
In the Philippines, a game known as syatong is similar to gilli-danda.
In Italy a similar game known as "Lippa", "Lipe", "Tirolo", "s-cianco" [1] [2] was shown in movie Watch Out We Are Mad (Altrimenti ci arrabbiamo (1974)) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0069697/
Cultural significance
The Bollywood movie Lagaan mentions the traditional sport of Gilli-danda as a contrast to the British import of cricket.
External Links
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Variations: Indoor cricket | French cricket | Backyard cricket | Kwik cricket | Catchy Shubby Cricket | Blind cricket | Kilikiti | Short form cricket | Gilli-danda |