Tripuri games and sports

Like many parts of the world the Tripuri community has its own traditional sports. It is common in almost all the clans of Tripuri. It is called Thwngmung in Tripuri language(Kokborok). Tripuris are by nature very sporting people. They love to play these game and enjoy their free time by playing various game and sports. In recent years these traditional sports are being gradually abandoned as more people become attracted to modern games and sports. But some of the sports are still played today and preferred in rural Tripura. Out of many traditional Tripuri games and sports some are listed below:

Achugwi Phan Sohlaimung

A type of wrestling. It is played between two young men to test their strength. Two young men sit on the ground facing each other spreading their legs. A thin bamboo pole or tree is placed between them for staking their legs. The two contenders hold horizontally a peace of bamboo, two and half cubits of length approximately which remain high above the ground between them. When pulling begins each contender tries to pull it towards his own side. Who could pull the bamboo his side wins the game.

Bumanikotor

This is basically a hide and seek game. Played in groups one party hides, other group finds out the hiding party.

Dwkhwi Sotonmung

It is basically tug of war. Played between two groups of children or men.

Phan Sohlaimung

This is a pole wrestling played between two individuals. A bamboo pole is used to play the game. The players stand at a specific distance from each other. A mark is put in the middle. The two ends of the bamboo pole are placed under the right armpit and each participant grasps it firmly with both hands. Both the players then try to cross over the marking between them by pushing each other back.

Kaldong or Kadong

A small foot step is tied on two pieces of bamboo about two feet above the ground level. The player walks on this foot step which make the riding person tall, there is competition like who could run faster and remain on the kaldong longer with out falling from it.

Longoi Chokmung

This is a swinging game played by the Tripuri children. Two long ropes or strong creepers are tied to the branch of a tree, and a wooden platform is tied in the lower end to make a seat. Turn by turn the children swing while other push him/her. They also sing beautiful melodious song while swinging.

Muphuk Sagwnang

This game is played to test the strength of a young man. A child clings to the chest of a man chose waist is tied with one end of rope. Another man holding the other end of rope firmly stands back. As the game begins the man with the child on his chest force to move forward child the other who stands back try to draw back his opponent.

Musta Seklaio

This game is played between two young individuals. A bamboo is cut within the joint to make it cylindrical one. One person holds it firmly down on the surface, the other one grips just above the grip of first one and then tries to snatch it by rotating it. It is to test of the grip strength of a young man.

ohlaimmung

Tripuri "sohlaimung" literally it means wrestling. This is a free hand wrestling which is common in most of the world is also very popular among Tripuri children. There are rules and regulation playing the sports. Generally one of the senior spectators become the referee.