#PopularPastimes – Traditional Games Of Goa | Online Talk by Maria de Lourdes Bravo da Costa: Talk 309
Toys and games are not just parts of our childhood (some would say even adulthood), but are also important artefacts of culture and heritage. In fact, several examples of toys and games made out of terracotta were found in the excavations of Mohenjo Daro and Harappa. At our Online Talk #PopularPastimes, author, historian and librarian Maria de Lourdes Bravo da Costa revisits some of the traditional games that shaped her childhood in Goa. While not all are uniquely Goan—many are played in other parts of the world and even appear on international platforms—her focus will be on those closely connected to the Goan environment and way of life, such as bianni (played with cashew nuts), cartannim (played with empty cigarette boxes), tablam (played on a special board), and tiktem (which can be played either on a board or simply drawn on the floor.)
About the speaker
Maria de Lourdes Bravo da Costa holds a PhD from the University of Goa. She is also a post-graduate in Library Science and is a Reference Librarian with a specialisation in Indo-Portuguese History. During her long career, she has helped researchers, from those working on PhD to school students, with resources and bibliographical support. She has published seven books about Goan History, Traditions and Culture. Her latest book, “Portuguese Colonialism, Food and Society in Goa - 1900-1961,” published in 2025 by Bloomsbury International, New Delhi, is based on her doctoral thesis. For her literary accomplishments, she was awarded the State Cultural Award, in 2017 by the State of Goa. She has attended and presented papers at various international, national and local conferences, with many papers published in the proceedings. She was also a member of the Expert Committee of the Goa Government for Geographical Identity (GI) of “Feni” in 2007.