10 Indian sports that you should know about

#3 Thoda

Thoda is a sport played in Himachal Pradesh which involves the players trying to recreate the battle of Mahabharata.

A sport, inspired by the Indian epic, Mahabharata, Thoda focuses not only on prowess in archery but also involves the replaying of the battle of Kurukshetra. The sport, which is played against the verdant landscapes of Kulu and Manali in Himachal Pradesh, witnesses players grouping themselves as Pandavas and Kauravas,in accordance with the epic. The aim of the sport is to strike the member of the opposing team with the arrow, below the knee.

The name, Thoda, is derived from the piece of wood affixed to the head of the arrow, which insulates the players from any possible harm. The arrows are normally 1.5 to 2m long and are designed by traditional artisans, with diligence.