NAVAKANKARI / NINE MORRIS

 This traditional game is a fusion of two crafts, the lightweight, wooden pawns hand-crafted by our artisans from Channapatna and the beautiful mat, custom embroidered by Porgai, a producer group of Lambadi women from Sittilingi, Tamil Nadu.

Navakankari, also known as Nine Men's Morris, is a strategy board game played by 2 players controlling 9 pawns each. It dates back to atleast the Roman Empire. It is called Jodpi Ata, Char Par or Saalu Mane Ata in Kannada, Daadi in Telugu and Nav Kakri in Gujarati.

The objective of the game is to form "Mills," which are three counters in a straight line, either horizontally or vertically. Forming a Mill allows a player to remove an opponent’s counter. The game continues until one player is left with only two counters, or is unable to make a valid move.

What this game contains?

18 Wooden pawns, one Hand-emboridered Lambadi mat, a leaflet with instructions and a kora cloth pouch.

Capturing Rules

• Pawns can only move to connected, empty points.
• Pawns cannot jump over other pawns or points.
• One capture is allowed when a Mill is formed.
• An extra capture is allowed if the same Mill is broken and reformed.
• Repeatedly reforming the same Mill doesn’t grant more captures.

Winning

Win by reducing the opponent to 2 counters. Or if the opponent has no possible moves left.

Benefits of playing Board Games

Board games help bring family and friends together. They improve memory, arithmetic and analytical skills. Playing board games drastically reduces the risk of Alzheimer’s disease and Dementia. They keep you mentally and physically active.

DIMENSIONS

Mat - 31 x 31 cm. Pawns - 3.3cm height x 2cm dia.

CARE INSTRUCTIONS 

All lacware products must be kept in shaded areas and must avoid direct exposure to sun. Avoid blows against hard surfaces. Please do not wash them with water. Wood can react variedly to atmospheric changes which is beyond our control. Please dry clean the mat or wash the same lightly in cold water.