Want to learn how to play Chowka Bara? You’re in the right place! Chowka Bara (also known as Ashta Chamma or Indian Ludo) is a traditional board game from South India, loved by families and friends for generations.
The game is played on a square board with rows of squares and special "home" areas for each player. Chowka Bara uses cowrie shells (or dice) and colored pawns for each player.
The goal is simple: move all your pawns from your home base, around the board, and back into the home square before your opponents do! With every roll of the shells or dice, you get a new chance to move and strategize.
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1. Each player gets four pawns of the same color and places them in their home area.
2. Players take turns tossing cowrie shells or rolling a die to determine how many spaces they can move.
3. To enter a pawn onto the board, a specific toss (like 4 cowrie shells up) is usually needed.
4. Move pawns clockwise along the path. If you land on a square occupied by an opponent’s pawn, you capture it and send it back to their home!
5. All four pawns must complete the circuit of the board and reach the home column.
6. The first player to bring all four pawns home wins the game!
Chowka Bara is a game of luck, skill, and strategy—easy to play for kids and adults alike. Try different house rules or variations to make the game even more exciting!
Looking for more detailed instructions or printable boards? Visit our How2Play homepage for extra resources and videos.