Gaming top
Bambaram (in Tamil Nadu), Buguri(in karnataka)/Lattu لٹو (in Urdu) or spinning tops are used to play games in India and Pakistan. Skill and interest in this game is reducing due to other interests taking priority and also due to unsafe nails along with bullying of younger, smaller, poorer kids. This game is more popular among boys and is coming back with safer components and rules. In Telangana, Bambaram is played in the name of Bongaralu Aata.It is also played by small children but not with rules. . Components of Bambaram:
- Wooden top (Coloring is optional - to make it interesting and attractive)
- Pointed nail for getting the center
- String to get the starting spin (also used for lifting the spinning top)
Rules
Bambaram has very simple rules. All the players have to go at the same time for the ‘Goes’ – this is the ‘toss’ for the game.Toss is decided by the top being spun and picked up quickest. The ‘Goes’ process is – at the count of 1, 2, 3 all the players should wind their Bambarams with their ropes, unwind it on the ground to rotate and then pick it up with the rope as quickly as possible. The primary skill on this rely on shortest rope length usage and still make the bamabram to rotate on the ground allowing you to catch it back with the rope.
The Bambaram's that did not complete the toss will be placed in the center of a circle. The people who managed to finish the toss successfully try to spin the top over the tops in the circle trying to break (called Gunna in slang language in Karnataka) them and/or trying to getting them out of the circle. Each time the spinning tops have to be picked up successfully to continue.
Traditional Makers
Traditional makers of Bambaram were in Ambasamudram taluk, One person who was interested in making these toys was a famous carpenter called "Raja Gopal Achary. S", in his wood carving workshop called "Muthu Cheppu Pattarai" in "kalakkad" in Tirunelveli district which he started in 1961, named after his first son, Which now is continued by his fourth son "Paramasivan Achary. R" along with his son named "muthubalakrishnan" who are now residing in ancestral place Singampathu, kalakkad, also they have started a new workshop in prime area of kalakad near bustand called "classic wood works".
Modern stage of this game in India
This game is dying out due to the various advances in technology and introduction of various games.It is popular in rural areas.These are sold in many parts of the India.Many organisations promote this game.This game have been overtaken by the other foreign tops.There are many videos in Internet which tells how to spin a top.There is no age limit for this game.