Kauda - Traditional Game

It is a traditional gambling game played with Cowry. It is generally played with Sea Shell known as "Monetaria moneta". It was the game mentioned in Mahabharat.

It is played with 16 shell and the back side or front side determines win and loose. The front side occurrence is called "ghopte" and the backside occurrence is called "kolte" In a single game, four players play the game.

Before starting the game 4 player takes dau "teeya", "chauka", "paanja" and "chakka" (तीया, चौका, पंजा, छक्का) facing opposite to each other in anti-clock wise direction. First of all "teeya" starts the game which is also known as "haate" (हाते, a thrower).

When teeya throw the shells, if teeya occurs he takes away all the bet in chauka, paanja and chakka. If the occurrence is other, then teeya must pay double of the bet to the occurrence. When teeya throws, if the occurrence is teeya, he again throws the shells, but if the occurrence is other then the turn of throwing goes to him, in this way the game continues.

It is sometimes pronounced as "Kaura, Cauda, Caurie, Kaurie".