When the meals are over, members of the family used to participate in the games. There are both in-door and out door games and recreations. The older and more sedate members of the family have a game of chess, dice or cards. The younger and the more robust join in the noisy merry-making outside. The outdoor recreations consist of football matches, personal combats, archery, boxing, others like Pulikali, Kummattikali, Thumbi Thullal, Kaikotti kali and the Vallam kali etc.
The foot-ball or 'Talappanthukali' is par-excellence the game for Onam. Pantukali is the most important out-door game. The ball is made by wrapping up layers of dried-up plantain leaves with some pebbles inside for giving the required weight and the whole thing is tied up with plantain fiber or coconut fiber to the size of a tennis ball. The players divide themselves into two groups. A stick called natta is planted at one end of the court which is an open space with a line drawn at the other end to demarcate the limit beyond which the ball should not be thrown. One party from the side of the planted stick serves the ball and the adversaries from the other side try to catch it. If they succeed, the man who served the ball is delivered out. If the catch is missed, then he gets another chance. By throwing the ball at the stick and hitting it he wins. The play proceeds in the following order of service. Talappantu (turning towards the stick and serving the ball above the head) otta (holding the ball and then hitting it with the right hand itself) eratta (holding the ball in the left hand, throwing it and hitting with the right palm) murukki (gripping the right hand with the left, through the back of the body, and hitting the ball with the right hand) Kalumkizhu (throwing the ball with the right hand under the right leg by lifting the leg and hitting it with right hand) indan (hitting the ball with foot) and again the first item talappantu. The winning party celebrates the victory by making a circle round the planted stick and dancing in loud chorus.
The foot-ball or 'Talappanthukali' is par-excellence the game for Onam. Pantukali is the most important out-door game. The ball is made by wrapping up layers of dried-up plantain leaves with some pebbles inside for giving the required weight and the whole thing is tied up with plantain fiber or coconut fiber to the size of a tennis ball. The players divide themselves into two groups. A stick called natta is planted at one end of the court which is an open space with a line drawn at the other end to demarcate the limit beyond which the ball should not be thrown. One party from the side of the planted stick serves the ball and the adversaries from the other side try to catch it. If they succeed, the man who served the ball is delivered out. If the catch is missed, then he gets another chance. By throwing the ball at the stick and hitting it he wins. The play proceeds in the following order of service. Talappantu (turning towards the stick and serving the ball above the head) otta (holding the ball and then hitting it with the right hand itself) eratta (holding the ball in the left hand, throwing it and hitting with the right palm) murukki (gripping the right hand with the left, through the back of the body, and hitting the ball with the right hand) Kalumkizhu (throwing the ball with the right hand under the right leg by lifting the leg and hitting it with right hand) indan (hitting the ball with foot) and again the first item talappantu. The winning party celebrates the victory by making a circle round the planted stick and dancing in loud chorus.
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