ABSTRACT. The study of play through time and across cultures has consistently demonstrated that, it is a multi-faceted phenomenon being ubiquitous among diverse human societies. The present paper makes a humble endeavour to intricate how different types of traditional games of rural children are being enriched with cultural heritage of a society and act as a source of transmission of knowledge. It also makes a critical examination of the changing scenario of children’s games in contemporary society. Further it tries to analyse how the traditional games are part of one’s heritage and cultural tradition, but, with the passage of time, they are forgotten and are not passed on to younger generations, due to modern lifestyle and growing alienation. The study has been conducted among the school going children in the rural pockets of Western Odisha where local populace is getting dodged and western forms of entertainment is gaining popularity. pp. 96–110

Keywords: children; play; traditional game; cultural heritage; contemporary society; globalization

doi:10.22381/KC6220187