Pot full of joy

JUST a couple weeks ago, the harvest and the coming of spring was celebrated across the country in a number of different ways.

- VINITA SIDHARTHA

From Pongal in Tamil Nadu with a pot that boils over, to Sankranti with its colourful festival of kites, it was a time of joy, laughter, and people coming together. One of the fascinating customs in these celebrations is actually the game of Uri Adi.

The traditional game, also known as Uriyadi in Tamil, is where players attempt to smash asuspended earthen pot witha stick. The game’s name comes from the Tamil words uri (a hanging pot or rope sling) and adi (to hit or strike). The pot is typically filled with goodies or prize items, and participants are often blindfolded to make the challenge harder.