Wooden Dash Guti

Intricately carved traditional Dash Guti game board by the woodcraft artisans of Saharanpur in UP.

History: Dash-guti is a two-player abstract strategy board game from India, specifically from Central Provinces, United Provinces, Karwi Subdivision where it is called Kowwu Dunki which is the same name given to another similar game called Lau kata kati. The game is related to Draughts and even more so to Alquerque. Pieces are captured by hopping over them, and the board is composed of two triangle grids, and two line segments sticking out like antennas which is the only thing that differentiates it with Lau kata kati. Dash-guti is a Lau kata kati based board game. Like Lau kata kati, Dash-guti is also similar to the Butterfly (game) from Mozambique which suggest a historical connection between the two games. The natural grains of wood are quiet evidence of our obsession for quality.

The movement of coins is controlled by throw of four cowrie shells, hence it is a game of chance. Since each player has four coins, he can decide which coin to move, hence it also comes under strategical games.

Contents:

• 1 Game Board
• 10+ 10 pawns
• 1 Play Instruction Leaflet.

• The game creates opportunity for interaction among the players.
• Young player learn to count and hone their strategizing and decision making skills.
• Children learn to plan their moves and learn to be patient as they wait to take their turns.
• Children learn to plan their moves and learn the concepts.
• The board game makes a great "executive desktop trinket" that can stimulate creativity, challenge the mind, or rattle the nerves! 

Craft Story:

Popularly known as the ‘sheesham wood village’ Saharanpur is home to some of India's finest wood carvers.   Dating back to about 400 years in Mughal period, some craftsmen came from Kashmir and settled down in Saharanpur and took this work to earn their bread and butter. Gradually this art got extended amongst common man in Saharanpur.