kho-kho

A kho kho playground (or pitch) is rectangular.^[4] It is 29 metres in length and 16 metres in width. There are two rectangles at the end. Length of the rectangle is 16 metres and the width is 2.75 metres. In the middle of these two rectangles, there are two wooden poles. The central lane is 23.5 metres long and 30 cm width. There are eight cross lanes which lie across central lane, length of the cross lanes, are 16  metres and width 30  cm. It makes the small rectangles and each of it is 16  metres in length and 2.3 metres in breadth,(the two rectangles of near by the wooden poles are 2.5   metres width) at right angles to the central lane and divided equally into two parts of 7.85 metres each by central lane. At the end of central lane, the free zone tangent to the post-line, two smooth wooden posts are fixed, 120 cm height from the ground and their circumference is not less than 30 cm and not more than 40 cm.

The truth is, nobody knows exactly where and how Kho Kho was born, but it’s believed to have evolved in the state of Maharashtra, where it was played on chariots, called Rath. In its ancient form, the game was known as Rathera. It gradually became a much loved game for kids, keeping them entertained for centuries, some game rules were eventually formalised in the early 1900s, and in 1960 the first national Kho Kho Championship took place in Andhra Pradesh state. However, over the years, with modern games and different sorts of childhood activities taking over, it’s faded away. It’s time we started hearing shouts of “Kho!” all around the world.

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