Gilli Danda

Gilli Danda — how to play and tips

Gilli Danda is a game that many people in India, Pakistan, Nepal and Bangladesh grew up playing in lanes, fields and courtyards, long before video games existed. All you needed was two sticks: a long one, the danda, and a short, tapered one, the gilli. This one-tap version brings the game to your phone, so you can enjoy the thrill of a perfectly timed strike anywhere.

How to play

Each turn has two steps, and both are about timing. You get five turns. Your final score is the total distance in metres that you send the gilli flying.

• Step 1 – Tip. A white line slides back and forth along a bar. Tap when it is inside the green zone. The closer it is to the centre, the higher the gilli pops up into the air and the longer it hangs there.

• Step 2 – Strike. The gilli is spinning in the air. A dashed box appears near the ground. Tap just as the gilli drops into the box and your danda swings. A clean hit sends it far down the field. Tap too early or too late and the hit is weak or you miss completely.

On a keyboard, press the space bar or the Enter key instead of tapping.

Scoring

A good tip makes the strike easier because the gilli hangs in the air for longer, so you have more time to react. The final distance depends on both steps together. A perfect tip and a perfect strike can send the gilli past 90 metres, which the game calls a sixer. A strike that is slightly off still travels a fair distance. A badly timed strike produces nothing at all. Each turn the green zone narrows and the line moves faster, so the last turns are the hardest. Reach 120 metres in total to be called a Mohalla Hero, 230 metres to be a Village Champion and 330 metres or more to become a Gully Legend.

Tips for a longer shot

• Watch the line for one pass before you tap. Its speed is constant, so you can feel the rhythm.

• Do not rush the second tap. Wait until the middle of the gilli lines up with the box, not until it reaches the edge.

• If your tip was weak, the gilli will be low and quick, so concentrate and tap a little earlier.

• If you are using a phone, rest your thumb above the screen instead of touching it, so that you can tap with a fast, short movement.

About the traditional game

The traditional game is played in many versions, with many local names. Players tap one end of the gilli with the danda to make it spring up and then hit it in mid-air as far as they can. Distance is often measured in lengths of the danda, and the fielders try to catch the gilli. We have kept the best part, the satisfying pop and swing, and left out the arguments about measuring distance. This game uses its own original art and rules, and is meant as a friendly tribute to a game that needs nothing but sticks and friends. If you have a younger relative, show them the real thing outdoors, safely and away from windows.