Many participate in pallankuzhi contest in Mylapore

A hush prevailed inside the hall at the Lady Sivaswami Ayyar School in Mylapore on Sunday as participants of the pallankuzhi contest bent over their wooden boards moving tamarind seeds or red beads or shells from one pit to another. There was hardly any talking as the players watched their opponents racing to fill some pits and empty some others.

“Those who get the maximum number of coins are winners in that particular game between two persons. The teams were given 45 minutes to play and there were teams that could play even 24 – 25 games in that span,” explained Mythili Subramanian, a former teacher, who conducted the competition organised as part of the 22nd edition of the Sundaram Finance Mylapore Festival. 

K.R. Jambuthan, a long-time resident of Mylapore, whose family possess a 120-year-old Pallankuzhi board, said that he played against a young girl from the USA, who was really good. “I have been playing this game for several years now and have also won prizes a few times.”

His wife and former teacher, Visalakshi Jambunathan, said they have been taking part in this Pallankuzhi competition from the beginning. “I have played from my young age. I have also taught this game to my children. Now many people come to this competition, which has made it more challenging,” she said. 

Vincent D’Souza, director of the festival, said that concerts will be held at the Kapaleeswarar Temple from 7 a.m. to 8 a.m. from January 8 to 11. A chess tournament will be held at the Lady Sivaswami Ayyar school between 8 a.m. and 11 a.m. on the 10th and 11th for children under 12 years.

Earlier during a press conference, Rajiv Lochan, Managing Director, Sundaram Finance, said that this year, Sundaram Finance will launch a new initiative to encourage citizens to walk the BlueGreen Mile in 2026. Sundaram Finance and Environmental Foundation of India will launch a unique sustainability programme. Citizens will be trained by volunteers to set up their own kitchen gardens under the Grow Your Food initiative.