If you are Gen Alpha, hooked on the wild twists of Squid Game Season 2, it is likely that your curiosity about Gonggi is off the charts. Here is a fun fact: Gonggi is played in India too. Just ask someone from Gen X — your mom, aunt, or grandma — about pacheta (Rajasthan), kuzhangal (Tamil Nadu), kacha kayala aata (Telugu), sagargote (Marathi), or paans guti (Assamese), and watch them unlock a treasure chest of childhood memories.
Gonggi, or ‘five stones,’ is a timeless Indian game that demands nothing more than nimble fingers and five trusty stones. No fancy boards, no gadgets — just your hand and a playful spirit. The stones can be smooth pebbles, kodi seeds, grey nicker beans or even shiny cowrie shells. There is however, a catch: they need to be the perfect size. The stones used in Gonggi must be just the right size — neither big nor small. They should be large enough to be swiftly lifted with your fingertip yet small enough to fit together, comfortably in the palm of your hand. The Goldilocks zone of stones, if you will.
Ready to play? Gonggi is not just about speed — it is a test of skill, timing, and pure fun. Gen X-ers will regale you with stories about carefully selecting the ‘perfect’ stones, as it is all about reflexes, focus, and hand-eye coordination.
It is proof that sometimes the simplest games, born from resourcefulness, offer the most enduring joy.
Gonggi from ‘Squid Game 2’
This game, often played in groups, is not a race to finish first but a test of timing and precision in catching the stones. For anyone from Gen X, the process of selecting and preparing stones was a ritual in itself. Sarbani Dev, a veterinary college lecturer, recalls, “After selecting five stones that fit in the hand, we would rub them on the floor to smooth out the rough edges. This was crucial because stones with sharp or uneven surfaces were hard to play with. Finding naturally smooth stones was considered lucky.”
Rashmi Shah, a lawyer, adds, “In the ‘90s, another option was using larger cowrie shells — glossy, oval-shaped seashells. Back then, when shopping was not just a click away and resources were limited, stones were the best tools. I even had three sets of ‘five stones.’” A distinctive feature of the game is that all players sit on the floor, adding to its intimate and grounded charm.
To play, the five stones are first spilled on the floor. You choose one stone to toss in the air, then pick up one stone at a time while catching the tossed stone before it lands. Once all five stones have been collected, you repeat the process, increasing the difficulty by picking up two stones at a time, then three, and finally all four. In another step, you hold all five stones in your palm, toss them gently in the air, and flip your hand over to catch them on the back of your fingers.
The game continues with another round where you place the stones back on the ground, toss one stone in the air, and quickly gather all four before catching the airborne stone. The final stage, known as the ‘bridge step’ involves forming a bridge with the span of your hand. As one stone is tossed in the air, the remaining stones are passed through the bridge while simultaneously catching the airborne stone. This game, rooted in reflexes, focus, and skill, embodies the simplicity and joy of childhood, creating a timeless connection across generations.
Published - January 23, 2025 02:46 pm IST
