Lathi is a Sanskrit word derived from the Sanskrit form yasti. Health protection Lathi game is a traditional Bengali martial art. This is the first time in South Bengal in Bangladesh that stick games in martial arts have been held among children and teenagers.
Last June 23 to June 27 for five days under the management of Anandam Yoga Institute under the supervision of Dhruva Maharaj of Bharat Sevashram Sangh (Pranab Math) at Anandalok Bhavan in West Goail village under Agailjhara police station of Barisal district.
Stick game teaches self-defense with sticks. Stick games can be called stick tricks. There are proverbs in South Asian languages including Bengali that he who has a stick has power. Those skilled in stick games or those who live with stick games are also known as Lathials.
The sticks used for this game are four and a half to five feet long, and are often oiled. Each player wields their respective sticks with stunning technique. Only strong youths can participate in this sport. But nowadays, men of all ages, from children to youths and elders, participate in stick games. In North Bengal, a similar game called Chadi is played during Eid. In the southern part of West Bengal, India, “stick playing” is still performed during various religious ceremonies, including pujas. Lathi game was also included during the bratchari movement in Bengal by Gurusday Dutta.
