THANE

Lagori is a high-energy outdoor team game played throughout India, using a ball and a pile of flat stones. It is also known as Pittu Garam, Lingocha, or Ezhu Kallu. Two teams participate, with a minimum of three and a maximum of nine players on each team. The objective involves one team (the seekers/breakers) knocking over a pile of seven stones (or sometimes nine in international competitions), stacked in ascending order. The seekers then try to restack the stones while the other team (the hitters/defenders) tries to hit them below the knee with the ball. If a player is hit, they are out. The game requires strategy, teamwork, and physical activity, promoting social skills and sportsmanship. Lagori has ancient roots, dating back 5000 years to the Bhagavata Purana, where it's mentioned that Krishna played the game. The International Lagori Foundation has formalized some rules, including team sizes and set durations.

This game is played on uneven surfaces, for example, stairs. Players move quickly from lower (Neech) to higher (Oonch) surfaces and vice versa. A denner chooses one of the two surfaces, and other players have to move from the chosen surface. If anyone doesn't move, the denner tags them, and they become the new denner1. The phrase "Unch maangi ya neech?" is associated with this game. "Langdi Dongar kya paani" is another phrase associated with the game.

Coconut-Coconut Crack is a game where players stand in a circle and put their fists together to make a 'coconut' shape. A leader goes around the circle, chanting "Coconut, coconut, coconut, crack". When the leader says "crack" and touches another player, that player "cracks" their coconut by separating their fists. A player is out when both hands are behind their back. "Coconuts" is also a game where players launch coconuts at cups and stack the cups on their player board.

This is a role-playing game of luck and deception played with 4-9 players. Players are assigned roles: Raja (King), Rani (Queen), Police, and Chor (Thief). The game begins with tossing chits to randomize the distribution. The ‘Police’ reveals their identity and tries to identify the ‘Thief’. If the ‘Police’ guesses correctly, they earn points; otherwise, the ‘Thief’ gets the points. The ‘King’ and ‘Queen’ remain anonymous throughout the game. After each round, the chits are reshuffled. The player with the highest score at the end wins. In a variation of the game, the chits can be King, Soldier, Thief, and Minister.

Bhondla, also known as Hadga or Bhulabai in the Vidarbha region of Maharashtra, is celebrated during Navratri, from the first day until Kojagiri Purnima. This festival is connected to nature and is celebrated after the rains, as a thanksgiving ritual for a good harvest. It's observed when the sun moves to the thirteenth constellation of the zodiac called 'Hasta' (Elephant). A picture of an elephant is drawn on a slate or with rangoli, or on a flat wooden seat ('paat'), and decorated with flowers. Young girls and women gather in the evenings in a garden or on a terrace, often at a different home each day, and invite female friends. The girls hold hands, form a circle around the elephant, and sing traditional Bhondla songs, which are passed down through generations. These songs are often light-hearted and may playfully tease mothers-in-law. The celebration concludes with "Khirapat," a special dish or treat (often Sheera) prepared by the host's mother. The girls try to guess the covered dish before it is served. Bhondla provided young married women a break from their in-laws. In Thane, Bhondla is celebrated with great enthusiasm, and many NGOs organize "Maha-Bhondla" events.

Mangala Gauri celebrations are typically observed by newly-wed Maharashtrian women every Tuesday during the month of Shravan. Women come together and stay up all night playing traditional games like Fugdi, Jhimna, and Khis-Bai-Khis. In Thane, Marathi Mandals organize these festivities, heightening the festive vibe of Shravan. Women dress in Nauvari saris, nathnis, and ethnic green and gold bangles and revive the tradition of playing these games in urban homes. Some mandals play traditional games like Agota-Pagota and Dhanushya.

Hopscotch is a popular playground game in which players toss a small object into numbered spaces of a pattern of rectangles outlined on the ground and then hop or jump through the spaces to retrieve the object. It is an old-school game that has been played for generations and can be enjoyed alone or with friends. Hopscotch is known by various names in different states of India, including Kith-Kith, Stapu, Langdi, Ekhaat Duhaat, Ekka Dukka, Kunte Bille, Paandi, and Tokkudu Billa. In Maharashtra, it is known as Chirpi or Langdipani. The game is commonly played by girls aged 6 to 12, but boys also participate.

To play, a hopscotch diagram is drawn with chalk or a piece of brick. The first player tosses a marker (typically a stone, coin, or bean bag) into the first square, ensuring it lands completely within the square without touching a line or bouncing out. The player then hops through the course, skipping the square with the marker in it. Single squares must be hopped on one foot, while side-by-side squares are straddled, with the left foot landing in the left square and the right foot landing in the right square. If a player steps on a line, misses a square, or loses balance, their turn ends. The first player to complete one course for every numbered square on the court wins the game.

Hopscotch has its roots in ancient Rome, where it was supposedly designed for Roman soldiers for training purposes. The hopscotch court helped Roman foot warriors improve their footwork while running the course in full armor. There are many variations of the game. In one version, the object is kicked with the hopping foot from one box to another. In another challenging variant, players mark their initials on the square where they finish, and the next player has to skip that mark while playing.

Chaupar (also known as Chaupad, Chaupur, Chaupat, or Chausar) is a cruciform board game played with quaternary lots in the form of long dice. The board is often made of wool or cloth, and the pawns are made of wood. It's difficult to separate its history from the related board game Pachisi, which most probably was either invented after Chaupar or alongside it in the same time frame. It is believed that both games were created around the 4th century A.D. Chaupar is more complex than Pachisi and was regarded as the more aristocratic game. Today both Chaupar and Pachisi are regarded as trivial pastime games.

Chaupar's Golden Age seems to have been during the Mughal Dynasty (1526-1857). The game is played by four players on a cross-shaped board, each player having four pieces. Black and yellow play in partnership against red and green. Three four-sided dice control the moves of the pieces, the numbers on the dice being one, two, five and six. At the start of the game, each player's piece starts at the sixth, seventh, ninth, and tenth positions of their course. The pieces are moved along the course. A piece landing on a square occupied by an opponent captures the opponent's piece and sends it back to the central square to begin its journey again. A piece landing on another of its own color may double up. On subsequent turns, the pair may move together as if they were a single piece. The game is played with 7 cowry shells which act as dice. It is similar in some ways to Ludo, Parcheesi, and other cross and circle games. 

The Dadoji Konddev Stadium serves as a primary venue for major cricket events, while several cricket academies provide structured training programs. The Thane District Cricket Association oversees the sport's development and organizes various tournaments throughout the year. These competitions span different age groups, from school-level matches to senior division games. Despite the monsoon season occasionally interrupting outdoor play, cricket remains a year-round activity with indoor facilities maintaining the competitive spirit.

Football's popularity in Thane has grown enormously in recent years. The city now has several well-maintained football grounds with proper flood lights for evening matches. Local clubs like Thane City FC and Young Boys Club organize regular tournaments where over 50 teams participate. Evening football leagues are a big hit. Office workers come straight from work to play competitive matches. Many schools have started their own football programs, with inter-school tournaments happening every few months. Professional coaches from Mumbai often come to Thane to train young players. Most football academies in Thane charge around Rs. 1,000 to Rs. 2,000 per month for training.

Swimming competitions in Thane happen at several pools, but the Kisan Nagar Swimming Pool is where most competitive swimmers train. The pool opens early in the morning for competitive swimmers, who practice before school or work. Swimming competitions are organized by age groups under-10, under-14, and so on up to senior levels. The Thane Municipal Corporation runs a special swimming program where talented swimmers get free coaching and pool access. Summer months (March to May) are the busiest for swimming competitions, with meets happening almost every weekend. Professional coaching costs between Rs. 2,000 to Rs. 4,000 per month, depending on the level and frequency of training.

Born and raised in Thane, Pravin Amre is one of the city's most distinguished cricketers. Playing for India in international cricket from 1992 to 1993, his most memorable achievement was scoring a century (103) on his Test debut against South Africa at Durban in 1992. After his playing career, Amre transformed into a highly respected cricket coach. He has worked with renowned cricketers like Ajinkya Rahane and Robin Uthappa. Currently, he serves as the assistant coach for Delhi Capitals in the Indian Premier League. In Thane, he actively promotes cricket development through coaching camps and talent identification programs.

A prominent wrestler who trained extensively in Thane's wrestling circles, Rahul Aware earned national recognition by winning gold at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in the 57kg category. His aggressive wrestling style and remarkable technical skills have made him a role model for aspiring wrestlers in Thane. Beyond his Commonwealth success, he has won multiple national championships and represented India in various international competitions. His presence has significantly boosted wrestling's popularity in Thane.

Though not born in Thane, Aparna Popat's connection to the city through her training years has left a lasting impact on local badminton. Her impressive record includes nine consecutive national women's singles titles (1997-2006). She represented India at the Sydney (2000) and Athens (2004) Olympics. Post-retirement, she has been instrumental in establishing badminton training centers in Thane, helping develop the next generation of players. Her coaching initiatives have particularly focused on making badminton accessible to young girls.

An accomplished athlete with early training years in Thane, Ashwini Nachappa specialized in sprint events. She competed in various international competitions including the Asian Games. Her notable achievements include medals in several South Asian Games. After retiring from active sports, she has focused on promoting sports education in schools across Thane and other parts of Maharashtra. Her initiatives have helped many young athletes access better training facilities and opportunities.

A rising star in swimming, Kenisha Gupta has made Thane proud with her performances at national competitions. She holds multiple state records and has consistently performed well in state and national championships. Training at the Kisan Nagar Swimming Pool, she has inspired many young swimmers in Thane. Her achievements have helped highlight the need for better swimming facilities in the city, leading to improvements in local infrastructure.

Dadoji Konddev Stadium is Thane's main sports center. Located in the city center, this big stadium has everything athletes need. There's a cricket ground where local teams practice and play matches daily. The ground has proper practice nets with good-quality pitches. Athletes use the 400-meter running track for training and competitions. Football players get a natural grass field to play on. The stadium has modern changing rooms and a gym where athletes train. Thanks to good lighting, sports continue even after sunset. Around 10,000 people can watch games here, making it perfect for big tournaments.

The main swimming pool in Thane is at Kisan Nagar, run by the city government (TMC). It's a big pool, 50 meters long, just like the ones used in the Olympics. Beginners are trained in a smaller pool. The water stays clean because of good filtering machines. Professional swimming coaches train people here in the morning. They have special timings for serious swimmers in the morning and evening. Monthly fees are reasonable, around Rs. 500 for children and Rs. 800 for adults. Swimming competitions happen here almost every month.

Private sports training centers have made sports training better in Thane. Maharashtra Cricket Academy is a popular one. They have many cricket nets where bowlers and batsmen can practice. Their machines can bowl at different speeds to help batsmen practice. Coaches use video cameras to show players how to improve their game. During rainy season, players practice in their indoor area. At Champions Football Academy, coaches with international certificates train young players. They have an artificial grass field that players can use even after rain.

Many schools in Thane have good sports facilities. Hiranandani Foundation School has courts for different games and a swimming pool. DAV Public School has a big playground where many games can be played. St. John the Baptist School is known for its basketball courts. Vasant Vihar School has tennis courts where students practice daily. These schools organize many sports competitions throughout the year.

Indoor sports have become popular in Thane. Thane Sports Club has good badminton courts where many state-level players practice. Highland Sports Arena lets cricketers practice indoors when it rains. Samata Nagar Sports Complex is special for boxing and wrestling practice. These places charge between Rs. 100 to Rs. 200 per hour, and many offer monthly membership plans.