Gilli Danda is a free online version of the traditional Indian street game. Flick the gilli into the air, then swing the danda at the right moment to send it past the fielders. It runs in your browser with no download or sign up, works on phone and desktop, and keeps working offline once the page has loaded.
Inspired by: Gilli Danda, the traditional street game played across South Asia.
How to play Gilli Danda
- You get 3 turns. Each turn starts with the gilli lying on the ground.
- Tap or press Space to flick the gilli up with the danda.
- A power meter moves left and right at the bottom. The green middle is the best.
- Tap again when the spinning gilli is inside the green glowing zone. Your timing and the meter together decide how far it goes.
- Fielders try to catch it. A hit that lands near a fielder is caught and scores nothing. Hit it between them or past them to score the distance in metres.
Controls
- Keyboard: Space, Enter or Up arrow to flick and then to strike.
- Mouse: Click anywhere on the game to flick and then to strike.
- Touch screen: Tap anywhere on the game to flick and then to strike.
Tips to score higher
- Do not strike straight after the flick. Let the gilli reach the top and start to fall into the glow.
- Tap when the marker is near the green middle. The edges give weak hits that fielders can catch.
- Look at where the fielders stand on the strip at the top. A gap between them is a safe place to land.
- A very strong hit flies over everybody, so a perfect timing is worth the risk.
The story behind Gilli Danda
Gilli Danda is one of the oldest street games of the Indian subcontinent. Players use a long stick called the danda and a small tapered piece of wood called the gilli. You tap one end of the gilli so it jumps up, then strike it in the air as far as you can. The game is played in lanes, parks and village grounds, and it is often named as an ancestor of games like cricket and baseball, though that link is debated. Regional names differ, such as gulli danda, but the fun is the same. If you grew up in India, you probably remember a dusty gully, a borrowed stick and a gilli that always seemed to land on a neighbour's roof.
Questions players ask
Is Gilli Danda free to play online?
Yes. It is free with no sign up and no download.
What is a gilli and a danda?
The danda is the long stick. The gilli is the short wooden piece with pointed ends that you flick up and hit.
How is my score calculated?
Your score is the total distance in metres of your safe hits over 3 turns. A caught hit or a miss scores zero for that turn.
Why was my hit caught?
Fielders catch the gilli if it passes low near them or lands close to them. Hit harder, or aim for a gap between them.
Does it work on a phone?
Yes. It only needs taps, and it works offline once the page has loaded.