The Kauda is just one such great lure that makes the festival of lights even more tempting. Played with sixteen white cowries (seashells) the game is one of the oldest dice games played in South Asia, and has an aura of excitement surrounding it.[break]
Professor of Culture at the Centre for Nepal and Asian Studies (CNAS), Dr Ramesh Dhungel remarks that the history of Kauda cannot be confirmed, but the oldest fable resonating with Kauda lore is, of course, The Mahabharat, the great Indian epic.
“During the Rana years, this used to be the most popular gambling sport. Tihar was the only time when Kauda was played and had to stop as soon as the istihar was sounded,” Dhungel told The Week.
Kauda has also always been significantly linked with Goddess Laxmi and Laxmi Puja, as the cowries were used as currency in ancient times, and thus are associated with money.
“According to history, it’s obligatory to play kauda on Laxmi Puja day, as it’s said to bring Laxmi—the goddess of wealth – to people’s homes,” states Dr. Dhungel. “Like playing the Ping is a must in Dashain, so is the same with kauda in Tihar.”
In some households, the cowries are actually a part of the puja during Laxmi Puja. Sanjay Koirala, 18, a student, reiterates that cowries are put together with other gold and silver coins and are worshipped correspondingly.
“However, the fun starts when the gambling begins,” he remarks jokingly.
Played with four players who have the four seats called ‘khal’ or ‘dau’ which are teeya (three), chauka (four), panja (five) and chakka (six), respectively.
There are seventeen possible outcomes of throwing the sixteen cowries, and the result is adjudged according to the number of cowries that have their grooves facing upwards.
For example, if the grooves of five cowries face up, then the panja dau takes the money on the ground. The chakka dau takes the winnings if grooves of six cowries turn up. If seven cowries have their grooves up, then the teeya dau wins. And so it goes in a cyclic order.
If all the cowries have their grooves turned up or facing down, then the chauka dau wins, thus the chauka dau has five chances while the others have four.
Apart from the four players, there are unlimited number of people called ‘chyakheys’ who bet on who is going to win the pot. This can be done by betting on behalf of the players.
These players can bet on any one of the daus, except the one who is throwing the cowries. Hence the chakheys have the options of three from the four.
If the dau where the chyakhey has placed his bets wins, then the money gets double. However, if the dau loses, the winner takes all.
Another exciting part of the game is when one dau wins consecutively for a few bets. Each time it wins, the losers have to increase their bets by double. Hence, in the end, when the dau finally loses, he pays to only one opponent. But since he has collected from the other two as well, he will get a profit.
Gambling is illegal in Nepal and punishable by law. So The Week serves its disclaimer by declaring that it does not intend to promote gambling; it is only included as part of the Tihar festivities which involves the tossing of kaudas on the khal for dau-s.
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