Objective
Guide your playing piece from Cell 1 · Janmabhumi through the 64-cell journey and ultimately reach Cell 64 · Golok.
The first player to reach Golok completes the journey.
What you need
Historical form
- two or more players
- individual playing pieces
- seven cowrie shells
Digital reconstruction
- 1–4 players
- one token per player
- seven virtual cowries
What is a chit?
Each cowrie can fall in one of two orientations. The number showing the counted face determines the number of chits. Possible results are 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7. If zero counted faces appear in the digital game, cast again automatically.
Counted face
Uncounted face
7 cowries → 4 counted → 4 chits
Starting the game
For this digital reconstruction all players begin at Cell 1 · Janmabhumi.
Normal movement
Unless the current cell contains a special instruction: move forward by the number of chits thrown.
The row direction changes visually, but the numerical path remains 1 → 2 → 3 … → 64.
Special movement
Certain cells override ordinary movement when a particular chit value is thrown.
19 · Baidyanath
Any other result: normal movement.
Automatic movement
These seven cells act immediately when landed upon. The board highlights the arrival cell and its destination, announces the automatic passage, and then carries the piece to the named destination in the same turn.
A holding cell
The Nandalay rule
“এক চিত না হইলে ঘুঁটি বাহির হইবে না”
“A piece cannot leave unless exactly 1 chit is thrown.”
- exactly 1 chit → move to Cell 5
- any other throw → remain on Cell 4 and end the turn
Reaching Golok
Golok may be reached through ordinary movement or through special passages.
Complete special passages
Automatic passages
“The throw matters. The place from which it is thrown matters just as much.”