Oonch Neech

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Oonch Neech (or Oonch Neech ka Papada) is a rural and urban street children's game and variation of Tag game played in North India and Pakistan. Oonch Neech (Hindi) translates Up and Down in English.^[1]

In Andhra Pradesh, it is played in the name of Nela Banda, (Telugu:నేల-బండ) which is now extinct owing to urbanization and western influence.^[2] This game needs at least 4 or more kids. A place where you will find footpath or jogging lane or some surface higher than the level of grass is ideal to play this game.

In Maharashtra, it is played as Dagad ka Maati (Marathi: दगड़ का माती) literally meaning "Stone or Sand"

In Oonch neech if the denner (tagger) says neech (down), all players have to go to an elevated area. If he says oonch (up) then all players have to stay down. Whatever the denner picks, he has to stay on that platform.

Oonch: means an area higher than the ground level or simply Upper Level. Neech: means the ground area or the lower surface area or simply Lower Level. Denner: The person who will catch the other members who are playing.^[3][4]

After chain-cut, a person, say A is chosen as Denner or catcher. The playing members will ask the Denner : 'Oonch neech ka papada—Oonch mangi ki neech?' meaning "do you want the upper level or the lower level?" The catcher chooses either Oonch (any height) or Neech (ground). Usually he chooses Neech, so as to move. Once A chooses Oonch, he should not step on Neech by any means and on the other hand, he will not let other players to step on his ground. If B stays on ground by mistake and if he is captured by A, then B becomes the catcher in the next game.

In the game, other players tease the catcher by saying "Hum tumhari Neech pe or Hum tumhari Oonch pe" which mean "We're in your area, catch us". In Telugu, it is translated as "Nee nelanta pappu suddha" or "Nee bandanta pappu suddha". The catcher is asked by the players "Which area do you want? Oonch (up) or Neech (down)?". The catcher chooses the area as per his convenience.^[5][6]

In Marathi while giving the choice to the Danner recite the following poem

"Kora Kagad Nili Shai, A Konhala Bhit Nahi. Sanga Tumcha Nav kay, Dagad Ka Maati?"

In Devnagri: ""कोरा कागद नीली शाई, अम्ही कुनला भेत नाही। सांगा तुमच नाव काय, दगड की माती?""

The game lent its name to the title of a 1989 Bollywood film, Oonch Neech Beech (1989), starring Sanjeev Kumar and Shabana Azmi.

• Stapu

• Up and Down (Oonch Neech)