Bambaram

Pambaram throwing top

Pambaram பம்பரம் (in Tamil Nadu), Pambaram പമ്പരം (in Kerala), Buguriಬುಗುರಿ (in Karnataka), Lattu لٹو (in Urdu), Bongaram బొంగరం (in Telugu), Latim লাটিম (in Bengali) is a traditional throwing top used mainly in India and Bangladesh.^[1] In Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, its name is "Bongaralu Aata".^[2] This game can be played by all age groups.

Components[]

Wooden body
Nail tip
String (wrapped around the crown of the top, allowing the player to spin the top as it is thrown)

Game play[]

The game begins with all players holding their wound top.

The players throw their tops at the same time – this is the "toss" for the game. The "toss" is decided by the top spun and picked up quickest.

The throw is triggered by a simple countdown – at the count of 1, 2, 3 all the players wind their pambarams, unwind it on the ground to rotate and then pick it up with the rope as quickly as possible. The primary skill is to use the shortest rope length usage and still make the bambaram spin, so it can be caught with the rope.

Pambarams that did not complete the toss are placed in the center of a circle. The players who finished the toss successfully try to spin the top over the tops in the circle trying to break (gunna in Karnataka slang) them and/or trying to knock them out of the circle. Each time the spinning tops have to be picked up successfully to continue.

Traditional producers[]

Traditional makers of Pambaram were in Ambasamudram taluk. One producer was a carpenter called Raja Gopal Achary S. His wood carving workshop was called Muthu Cheppu Pattarai in Kalakkad, Tirunelveli district. He started in 1961, and named his shop after his first son. His shop is run by his fourth son, Paramasivan Achary and his son Muthubalakrishnan reside in Singampathu, Kalakkad and have started a new workshop called CLASSIC WOODY WORKS in the prime area of Kalakkad near a bus stand.

Raja Gopal Achary

Modern use[]

This toy is losing popularity, however, it is still popular in rural communities. Players are in many age ranges with varying sets of rules. They are sold in many regions of India. This game has been overtaken by foreign tops. Many tutorial videos describe how to spin the top.