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Introduction of the Indian Gilli Danda Federation (IGDF)

The Indian Gilli Danda Federation (IGDF) is the premier governing body dedicated to the promotion, regulation, and development of the traditional Indian sport of Gilli Danda at the national levels. Established with the vision of reviving and popularizing this ancient game, IGDF aims to bring structure, recognition, and a unified platform to one of India's oldest and most culturally significant sports.

Vision

IGDF envisions preserving the rich heritage of Gilli Danda while transforming it into a globally recognized sport with standardized rules and modern appeal. The federation seeks to inspire youth participation, promote physical fitness, and foster community engagement through this dynamic game.

Mission

To promote Gilli Danda as a competitive sport across India and beyond.

To establish standardized rules and regulations for the sport.

To organize national and international tournaments and events.

To provide training programs and workshops for players, coaches, and referees.

To collaborate with government bodies, schools, and sports organizations to integrate Gilli Danda into grassroots sports programs.

To work towards official recognition of Gilli Danda by national and international sports bodies.

Objectives

Revive the traditional sport and make it accessible to people of all ages.

Create opportunities for players to participate in professional tournaments.

Develop a robust talent identification and nurturing system.

Promote gender inclusivity and equal participation.

Foster a sense of sportsmanship and cultural pride among participants.

Structure

IGDF operates through a well-defined organizational structure comprising:

Governing Council

State Associations

Regional Committees

Technical Committees

Disciplinary and Ethics Committees

Conclusion

The Indian Gilli Danda Federation (IGDF) is committed to reviving the legacy of Gilli Danda and elevating it to the status of a recognized competitive sport. By blending tradition with modern sporting practices, IGDF is paving the way for the next generation to embrace this iconic game while fostering a sense of unity, culture, and athleticism.

Introduction 

Gilli Danda is an ancient sport popular among rural youth in the Indian subcontinent. It is called dānggűli in Bangla, chinni-dandu in Kannada, kuttiyum kolum in Malayalam, viti-dandu in Marathi, kitti-pullu in Tamil, gooti-billa in Telugu, and Lappa-Duggi in Pashto.

This sport is generally played in rural and small towns of the Indian subcontinent. It is widely played in Punjab, the North-West Frontier Province, Sindh (Pakistan), and Uttar Pradesh (north India).

Gilli-Danda is a very exciting game played among teenagers and even adults. The game involves a lot of vigor and thrills. It is an amateur sport prevalent in the villages and rural regions of India and Pakistan. This amateur sport has grabbed the curiosity and attention of people living in other regions of the world, including Italy, Spain, Cambodia, and Colombia. The game is played with two sticks: the bigger stick is known as a Danda, used to hit the smaller stick, which is called a Gilli.

The game is also known by other names. Gilli-Danda is called Dandi-Biyo in Nepal, Tipcat in England, Alak-Doulak in Iran, Chinni-Dandu in Karnataka (India), Viti-Dandu in Maharashtra (India), Billam-Godu in Andhra Pradesh (India), and other different names in various parts of India. It is certainly an ancient game of India, perhaps with origins dating back to more than 2500 years ago. Many believe that Gilli-Danda inspired traditional Western sports like cricket, softball, and baseball. As an amateur sport, it has several regional variations. According to some versions, the points scored by a striker depend on the total distance covered by the Gilli from the striker’s point.

In some cases, the distance is measured with respect to the length of Gilli, whereas others measure the distance with respect to the length of Danda. Scoring might depend on the number of times Gilli is hit with one strike in the air. If the Gilli travels some distance with double midair strikes, then the points are doubled.

Origin and History

This ancient game is said to have evolved in India some 2000–2500 years ago. However, some sports enthusiasts believe that the sport evolved in Europe, particularly in England. The sport is similar to baseball, which is the most popular sport in America. On the other hand, Gilli-Danda is similar to cricket and even softball. In Galicia, a game known as bilharda is very much identical to Gilli-Danda. In the Philippines, Gilli-Danda takes the form of a popular sport called syatong. People in the United States call this exciting game pee-wee. In Italy, teenagers play a similar game known as lippa.

In Malaysia, an identical game called Konda Kondi is played. In Poland, a similar sport called klipa is popular. Whatever the variations or similarities, Gilli-Danda has certainly grabbed the curiosity of people living in other areas of the globe.

Dimensions of Gilli and Danda

Gilli is made from wood. It is small in size and measures approximately 4-6 inches in length. Danda is also made from wood. It is slightly bigger in size and measures about two feet in length. An open field or space is required to play Gilli-Danda.