The World of Courtesans c8.150

c8.150

The following pastimes were also favoured—blind man’s bluff, in which one girl was blindfolded and the other remained hidden and whoever she caught had to undergo the same trial. In *Arabdhika* one girl ran after the others slapping their backs and they in their turn did the same to another. *Lavanavithika* was played by a group which divided itself into two parties and fought for the possession of a lump of salt placed in the centre. *Anulataditika* involved girls moving in a fan-like formation. *Godhumapunjika* was played by throwing a coin in a rice-heap or a wheat heap and the participants in the game searched for the coin. If one side was unable to find it the heap was passed to another. In playing *Angulitaditika*, one of the participants closed her eyes while others struck her on the temple with one of the fingers asking her who had done it. When the striker was recognized she had to undergo the same test. The commentary adds frog-leap (*mandukapada*) to the list. These were strenuous games which gave the participants a lot of exercise.