Ambeyyal is a traditional game held during Onam in Kerala. In this game two groups of young men shoot blunted arrows to a semicircular stop-butt. The bows for this game are made out of 18-inch long bamboo. The midrib of the coconut palm leaves, ripped off the leafy part with just a little portion on one end, serves as the arrow.
The players stand 23 m to 27 m away from the concave side of a semicircular stop-butt, which is about two feet in the highest parts. The target consisting of a piece of the plantain tree about 3 inches in diameter is kept at the center of the stop-butt. It is pointed at the top in which is stuck a small stick convenient for lifting the cheppu or the mark which is the immediate objective of the players.
Kutukutu is a popular and entertaing game played during the festival of Onam. It is a fun game and very much like the popular game of Kabaddi played in several parts of India. Though simple in nature, the game is an extremely challenging one as it tests strength, speed, tact and the power of lungs of a player.
Rule
To play the game, the court is divided into two equal halves by drawing a line in the middle. Players are also divided into two teams and are placed on either side of the line.
The game begins as a player from one team crosses the dividing line and enters the area of the opposite team. This player has to keep saying 'Kutu Kutu' aloud and clear in one continuous breath and at the same time try to touch a player of the opponent team. The challenging player or raider has to be smart enough to return to the central line without getting caught.
If the challenging player gets caught by the players of the opposite team and is out of breath before being able to touch the central line, he is out of the game. The game continues in a similar fashion with other players of the same team. When all players exhaust their chance, the game enters its second half and opposite team sends its players one by one.