Once Upon A Time
(A Long-Forgotten Traditional Heritage )
Kg. Padang |
Beloved Bonda |
STAR 1963 |
Simpang Kg. Padang |
Enterence To Kg. Padang |
Sometimes every traditional children's games
has its own season. Mostly outdoor games such as marble, kite flying, top
spinning, jumping ropes, bamboo gun war game, shooting rubber band, spider
tournament, playing cigarette boxes - you name it . These were the traditional children's games
of the 50s. Especially for the boys of Bangkulu,
of course very challenging and competating. Actually we did not know who started
the game. Might be every game had its round. Nevertheless, there was no
specific time to stop the round. However, sometimes the season played its role
too in starting the game. The game would finish its round as the weather
changed, especially playing kite during
windy day.
However, boys and girls had different
fitness, interest and taste. So only the boys played the rough
games, but then, did not
misinterpret. We were not against gender equality. Once in a while we also ventured into the girls' corner, playing their games, such as Batu Saremban,
Congkak, Ketiting, Galah Panjang, Hide-and-seek
and konda Kondi. Although, not so challenging, yet the games taught us
simple counting, especially Batu Seremban.
So, no wonder the girls always
top in the class. Anyway it was difficult
to accept certain tasks in the game of "masak-masak",
especially when you were asked to collect firewood or to make an errand to buy
all sort of things. However It was a family oriented game. Teaching us particular roles in the family.
Even pretending to cook, had taught the Bangkulu girls how to manage the kitchen and how to be
good wives as well. Unfortunately all those traditional children's games are
no longer children’s favourite nowadays. They are abandoned in the course of
time, in the dark corner as a long-forgotten traditional heritage. Gradually
losing their artistic value and missing their sign of recognition. Whereas
modern gameplays with technological equipments such as computers, mobile phones
and other devices have captured the hearts and minds of our young generation.
Only to make them floating in cyberspace and losing in their own homes.
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