Gilli Danda
Play Gilli Danda now · free, no download, no sign-up
Gilli Danda is the stick-and-spindle game played in Indian lanes and village grounds for generations. You use a long stick, the danda, to flip a short pointed piece of wood, the gilli, out of a small pit, then whack it while it spins in the air and send it as far as you can.
This version is drawn side-on at golden hour, with three fielder kids racing to catch the gilli or throw it back. It is quick to learn with two simple actions, timing and a swipe, yet getting a clean hit at the right height, angle and power takes practice. It suits anyone who played it as a child, and anyone curious about the game.
How to play
- Flip: tap when the swinging needle is in the green zone to pop the gilli up. Better timing gives a higher flip.
- Strike: while the gilli is in the air, swipe up and to the right, or tap, to swing the danda.
- Contact height matters: hitting the gilli at about waist height is the sweet spot.
- The direction of your swipe sets the angle and its length sets the power.
- If a fielder catches the gilli you are out. If it lands, the nearest fielder throws it back at the danda: within one danda length you are out, otherwise the distance counts.
- You get three strikes per innings, or fewer if you are out first; your score is the total distance in metres.
Controls
On a phone or tablet
Tap to flip the gilli when the needle is in the green, then swipe while it flies to strike it.
On a computer
Press Space to flip and Space again to strike, using the up and down arrow keys to set the angle. You can also play with the mouse.
Game modes
Solo
Bat three innings and try to beat your best total distance.
Daily
The same wind and field for everyone that day.
Vs computer
Bat against a computer kid on easy, medium or hard; each side bats twice and the highest total wins.
2 players
Pass the phone between turns and see who sends the gilli further.
Tips
- A high flip gives you more time to find the waist-high sweet spot.
- Low, hard drives are easy to catch; loft the gilli over the fielders instead.
- Check the wind before you strike: a tailwind carries the gilli further.
- Long hits are harder to throw back within a danda length, so distance also keeps you safe.
- Aim between fielders rather than straight at the closest one.
About the game
Gilli danda is one of South Asia's oldest street games, played with nothing more than two pieces of wood and a small hole in the ground. This digital version keeps the flip, the strike, the fielders and the throw-back rule, and adds wind, bounces and coins that buy painted and golden dandas and gillis.
On a phone it is a natural fit: a tap and a swipe are all you need. On a desktop the keyboard gives you a steady angle and a simple button to flip and strike.
Questions
- Is Gilli Danda free?
- Yes, it is free to play in your browser.
- What are the gilli and the danda?
- The danda is the long stick you swing; the gilli is the short, pointed piece of wood you flip and hit.
- Can two people play on one phone?
- Yes. In 2 players mode you take turns batting on the same device.
- Does it save my progress?
- Your best distance, coins and unlocked dandas and gillis are saved in this browser on this device.
