Uriyadi/ Matki Fod

The folklore behind Uriyadi is that Krishna, who was fond of ghee, used to sneak into the kitchen to break the pot and consume the ghee. Legend says that he was often caught red-handed by his mother Yashoda and scolded for the same.

All over India, Uriyadi competitions are held in various ways. The end of a rope is tied to an earthen pot filled with a mixture of milk, butter, fruit and ghee. In some places, sweets are also filled. The other end of the rope is controlled by one person through a loop tied to it. The player dressed as Krishna has to break the Uri. The game becomes interesting when bystanders splash water onto the player, making it difficult to see the Uri. In some places, a piece of cloth is wrapped around the player’s eyes. The player who overcomes all these challenges and breaks the Uri within the stipulated time is the winner.

Vadayattukotta temple in Kollam district is famous for Uriyadi competitions during Shri Krishna Jayanti celebrations which last for five days. Uriyadi competitions in Guruvayur are also famous. The Uriyadi competition is an inevitable event during Onam celebrations and is held throughout cities and villages.

To play Uriyadi, also known as the Pot Breaking Game, you can follow these steps:

1. A rope is tied to an earthen pot filled with a mixture of ghee, fruit, butter, and milk.
2. A player dressed as Krishna tries to break the pot, also known as the Uri, with a long stick.
3. Bystanders may try to make it difficult for the player to see by splashing water on them or wrapping a cloth around their eyes.
4. The player who breaks the pot within the time limit wins.

Uriyadi is a popular game in Kerala, India, and is often played during Onam celebrations and on Shri Krishna Jayanti. The game is based on a local legend about how Krishna, who loved ghee, would sneak into the kitchen and break pots to eat the ghee.

The word “Uriyadi” comes from the Tamil words “uri” which means “rope” and “adi” which means “to hit”.