Hema Singuluri | Hyderabad 

In the era where childhood is increasingly defined by screens, apps, and digital distraction, Kreeda Games is quietly making a case for something older, simpler, and deeply rooted in India’s cultural memory, play. 

More than just reviving traditional Indian games, Kreeda Games is reintroducing a way of learning that blends physical movement, strategic thinking, creativity, storytelling, and cultural heritage. Drawing from games played across generations, the organization works with schools, colleges, and corporate spaces to create immersive play experiences that reconnect people with India’s indigenous knowledge systems. 

The philosophy mirrors the idea expressed in “The Right to Play”, that play is not a luxury, but a child’s right, a powerful source of learning, joy, and human connection. At Kreeda, play is treated not as recreation alone, but as an essential developmental tool. 

Founded over two decades ago, Kreeda Games has been researching, developing, and reviving traditional games from across India. However, its focus extends beyond preservation. The organization aims to revive the spirit in which these games were played, communal, intergenerational, story-driven, and rooted in everyday life. 

Learn, Have Fun and Think Strategically 

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“Traditional games were never just about winning or losing,” says founder Vinita Sidhartha. “They were about stories, about people and places, about grandparents and parents narrating vivid experiences that stayed with you forever.” 

She recalls how food, snacks, and shared spaces once made play an immersive cultural experience. “Sometimes even the taste would linger along with the memory,” she notes, pointing out how sensory experiences were inseparable from play. 

The idea for Kreeda emerged from a personal moment. Vinita Sidhartha explains that the initiative began when she observed her grandmother teaching her children. “That’s when I realized children learn easily and better when learning is fun,” she says. What began as a small project rooted in curiosity and enjoyment gradually evolved into a structured effort to document and revive disappearing games. 

“What fascinated me was how easily this could fill an 80-year age gap,” she added, referring to how children and elders could participate together, breaking generational barriers naturally. 

Today, Kreeda works with institutions and organizations to introduce traditional games in formats suitable for contemporary settings. These games, once played in courtyards, streets, and temple floors, now find space in classrooms, campuses, and corporate team-building events. 

A major focus of Kreeda’s work is research. The organisation has extensively documented traditional games from Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, including Vaikuntapali, Ashta Chamma, Thokkudu Billa, and many others. Field research has been conducted in historically rich locations such as Lepakshi, Gandikota, and Penukonda, where game patterns are still found etched onto temple floors and public spaces. 

“These carvings raise important questions,” Vinita explains. “Where did these games come from? What inspired them? And most importantly, are they still relevant today?” 

According to Kreeda, the answer lies in what these games teach many skills like strategic thinking, decision-making, emotional resilience, teamwork, and acceptance of both victory and loss. In an age dominated by digital entertainment, these games offer a healthier, more natural way to enhance brain function, creativity, IQ levels, and physical well-being. 

Equally important is cultural exposure. “Children today often struggle to understand the depth of devotion, traditions, and heritage through lectures,” Vinita says. “But games make culture accessible and interesting.” 

For Kreeda, the mission is not about filling a gap, but about understanding and sustaining traditional knowledge before it disappears. By turning play into a living archive of India’s heritage, Kreeda Games is proving that sometimes, the most powerful learning tools are the ones we nearly forgot.