Ancient Indian Boardgames: Digital Documentation

Title (dcterms:title)

Lam Pusri or Sipahi Kat

Description (dcterms:description)

This game was documented by Sunder Lal Hora at Kalijhora at present Kalimpong district. The informant of these games was a local man of the area who was of Nepali origin. Credit also has been given to Mr. F.D Raj of Kalimpong who helped confirm the rules and the descriptions of the documented games.
Lam Pusri is played by two people on a board of 37 points, each player has 18 distinctive pieces which are arranged in such a way that the central cross point is left vacant. This game is similar in every respect to Ahtarah Gutti described by Humphries from Karwi in Uttar Pradesh and Atharagutiala teora described by Das-Gupta in his essay. The rules are also the same as stated by Hora. He also explains that according to his informants, Pusri means tail, and this term is used in the game reference to the triangular pieces at two ends of the diagrams which are likened to tail as they form outgrowths of the big central section of the board. The structure of the board also looks similar to Mughal Pathan documented in Bengal and other places in India.

Alternative Title (dcterms:alternative)

Ahtarah Gutti, Atharagutiala teora

Rules (dcterms:instructionalMethod)

5x5 intersecting lines, with diagonals in each quadrant. Two triangles, the apexes of which intersect with the square at the midpoint of opposite sides. One line bisecting the base of the triangle, and another bisecting this line. Eighteen pieces per player, each side arranged on one side of the board, with the central point empty and the player's pieces on the points to the right of it. Players alternate turns moving one of their pieces to an empty point. A piece may jump an opponent's piece to capture it. Multiple captures are allowed. The player who captures all of the opponent's pieces wins.

Creator (dcterms:creator)

Sunder Lal Hora

Source (dcterms:source)

‘Sedentary Games of India’ by Sunder Lal Hora in Sedentary Games of India eds. Nirbed Ray and Amitabha Ghosh

Contributor (dcterms:contributor)

Sunder Lal Hora

Rights (dcterms:rights)

Creative Commons

Format (dcterms:format)

Boardgames

Medium (dcterms:medium)

Boardgames on Text

References (dcterms:references)

‘Sedentary Games of India’ by Sunder Lal Hora in Sedentary Games of India

Lam Pusri - Digital Ludemi Project

Spatial Coverage (dcterms:spatial)

West Bengal

Variants (dcterms:isVersionOf)

Atharagutiala Teora

Kowwu Dunki - A Variant of Ahtarah Gutti ( Eighteen Pieces)

Pam Pait

Bagh Bandi

Terhuchu

Kulaochal

Bagh Chal (variant),Odisha

Bagha Chheli ( Odisha)

Lam Pusri or Sipahi Kat

Baghchakkar or Chakrachal

Sher Bakr

Bagh Batti

Mughal Pathan

Entered by (dcterms:accrualMethod)

Adrija Mukherjee

Tags (dcterms:conformsTo)

Sedentary Games

Kalimpong

Alquerque

Capture

Hunt

Two-player

Shape: Square with 2 triangles