Atya Patya
Officially Atya Patya (आट्या पाट्या)
Traditional MAHARASHTRIAN + ANDHRA PRADESH tag-based team sport — 9-per-team offense/defense field game played on 9-lane RECTANGULAR GRID. Attackers (raiders) try to cross 9 CHASE LINES while chasers (posted on lines) try to touch them out. Recognised by INDIAN OLYMPIC ASSOCIATION; featured at KHELO INDIA + Maharashtra rural games. Ancient roots (~Mahabharata era references debated).
Quick facts
Category
Traditional & Cultural Sports
Type
Team sport
Players
9–9
Duration
~40 min
Where played
outdoor
Field / court
Atya Patya field
Country of origin
🇮🇳 India
Estimated origin
Traditional Marathi + Deccan folk sport with disputed ancient origins (Mahabharata-era references cited by tradition); systematised 20th century by Maharashtra government; recognised by Indian Olympic Association; national federation founded 1977.
Olympic
No
Popularity
regional
How it works
Objective
RAIDING team: cross ALL 9 CHASE LINES without getting touched, then return to home = SCORE 1 POINT (or 9 for full sweep). DEFENDING (chasers): touch raiders out.
Rules
Basic rules
9 CHASE LINES divide field into zones; chasers stand ON THE LINES (can only move along their own line)
Signature 9-line chaser rule.
RAIDERS start from one end + must CROSS ALL 9 LINES + RETURN to start
Signature 9-cross-return route.
CENTRAL RUNNING LANE (Sur Line): chief chaser can move ALONG central line (perpendicular to other lines) — key rotation rule
Signature Sur Line rotation.
IF TOUCHED, RAIDER IS OUT + must exit field; teammate raiders continue
Standard tag-out.
SCORING: 1 point per line successfully crossed each way; full sweep = 9 pts
Signature 9-point sweep.
TEAMS alternate offense + defense every innings (9 innings per half)
Signature 9-innings per half.
PALLA (return trip) is often bonus-scored + very tactical
Signature palla return.
Scoring
Points per line crossed by raiders; total across all innings.
Win condition · Highest cumulative score after 18 innings (both halves).
Playing area
Called
Atya Patya field
Dimensions
27 m × 4.5 m rectangular field divided by 9 CHASE LINES (Trench Lines) 3 m apart, with 4 side-alleys
Equipment
Chalk / lime powder for chase lines + boundary
Standard court marking.
Standard sportswear + non-marking shoes (or barefoot traditional)
Standard uniform.
Terminology
- Trench line (Khadda)
- One of the 9 chase lines chasers stand on.
- Sur Line
- Central running lane where chief chaser rotates.
- Palla
- Return-trip run after touching farthest line.
- Raider
- Attacker trying to cross all 9 lines.
- Chaser (Ropah)
- Defender standing on line trying to touch raiders.
Major competitions
National Atya-Patya Championships
annual · India · since 1980
Khelo India Games (atya-patya events)
annual · India · since 2018
Where it is played
Governing bodies
Atya-Patya Federation of India
Founded 1977 · Pune, India
Indian Olympic Association (recognition body)
Founded 1927 · New Delhi
Famous names & records
Famous athletes
- Maharashtra state team dominance
- Andhra Pradesh team (national champions multiple years)
- Prof. Dattaraya Damodar Gawand (IN, systematiser + Maharashtra Atya-Patya Association founder)
Sources & provenance
- Wikipedia — Atya Patya— Wikipedia