Living heritage under threat: Structural determinants of traditional game decline and preservation in the Tribal Districts of Maharashtra, India
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.64268/jospa.v2i1.27Keywords:
Cultural preservation, Gender, Intangible cultural heritage, Maharashtra, Tribal gamesAbstract
Background: Traditional games among Maharashtra's tribal communities represent an important form of intangible cultural heritage, preserving embodied knowledge, social values, and collective memory. However, youth participation has declined dramatically from approximately 67% in the early 1990s to 18.3% today, posing a serious threat to the continuity and preservation of this cultural heritage. Aim: To investigate the factors influencing youth participation in traditional tribal games in Maharashtra and to explore the challenges and opportunities related to the transmission and preservation of this intangible cultural heritage. Methods: A sequential explanatory mixed-methods design was employed. Quantitative data were collected through surveys involving 480 respondents from six tribal-majority districts in Maharashtra (Nashik, Nandurbar, Amravati, Gadchiroli, Thane, and Palghar). Qualitative data were gathered through 36 in-depth interviews and six focus group discussions. Multiple regression analysis was used to identify predictors of youth participation, while thematic analysis was conducted to explore underlying themes. Results: Multiple regression analysis revealed that school curriculum integration (β = .381), community festival frequency (β = .298), and digital technology use (β = −.241) were significant predictors of youth participation (R² = .465, p < .001). Qualitative analysis identified five key themes: structural displacement, institutional marginalization, a gendered knowledge crisis, community resilience factors, and conditional youth receptivity. The findings also showed that older women possess the highest levels of traditional game knowledge but face challenges in transmitting it due to disrupted female-specific transmission pathways resulting from urban migration. Conclusion: The study suggests that traditional game preservation should move beyond UNESCO's documentation-focused framework toward an approach that emphasizes community agency and living heritage ecosystems. To support sustainable preservation, the study recommends integrating traditional games into school curricula, revising eligibility criteria for heritage programs, and implementing gender-inclusive preservation strategies.
References
Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2006). Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 3(2), 77–101. https://doi.org/10.1191/1478088706qp063oa
Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2021). Can I use TA? Should I use TA? Should I not use TA? Comparing reflexive thematic analysis and other pattern-based qualitative analytic approaches. Counseling and Psychotherapy Research, 21(1), 37–47. https://doi.org/10.1002/capr.12360
Cifo Izquierdo, M. I., Alcaraz-Muñoz, V., Gea-García, G. M., Yuste-Lucas, J. L., & Alonso Roque, J. I. (2021). The effect of traditional opposition games on university students' mood states: The score and group type as key aspects. Frontiers in Psychology, 11, 589323. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.589323
Cohen, J. (1988). Statistical power analysis for the behavioral sciences (2nd ed.). Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.
Costes, A., March-Llanes, J., Muñoz-Arroyave, V., Damian-Silva, S., Luchoro-Parrilla, R., Salas-Santandreu, C., Pic, M., & Lavega-Burgués, P. (2021). Traditional sporting games as emotional communities: The case of Alcover and Moll's Catalan–Valencian–Balearic Dictionary. Frontiers in Psychology, 11, 582783. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.582783
Creswell, J. W. (2014). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches (4th ed.). SAGE Publications.
Creswell, J. W., & Plano Clark, V. L. (2018). Designing and conducting mixed methods research (3rd ed.). SAGE Publications.
Damian-Silva, S., Feixa, C., Prat, Q., Luchoro-Parrilla, R., Pic, M., Rillo-Albert, A., Sáez de Ocáriz, U., Costes, A., & Lavega-Burgués, P. (2021). The emotional states elicited in a human tower performance: Case study. Frontiers in Psychology, 12, 590838. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.590838
Eichler, J. (2021). Intangible cultural heritage, inequalities, and participation: Who decides on heritage? The International Journal of Human Rights, 25(5), 793–814. https://doi.org/10.1080/13642987.2020.1822821
Fitri, M., Nur, H. A., & Putri, W. (2021). The commemoration of independence day: Recalling Indonesian traditional games. Frontiers in Psychology, 12, 650527. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.650527
Hadebe-Ndlovu, B. N. (2022). Teachers' experiences of indigenous games in the early grades. South African Journal of Childhood Education, 12(1), a931. https://doi.org/10.4102/sajce.v12i1.931
Irmansyah, J., Lumintuarso, R., Sugiyanto, F. X., & Sukoco, P. (2020). Children's social skills through traditional sport games in primary schools. Cakrawala Pendidikan, 39(1), 39–53. https://doi.org/10.21831/cp.v39i1.28210
Lavega-Burgués, P., Alcaraz-Muñoz, V., Mallén-Lacambra, C., & Pic, M. (2023). Roles, relationships, and motor aggressions: Keys to unveiling the emotions of a traditional sporting game. Frontiers in Psychology, 14, 1127602. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1127602
Lavega-Burgués, P., Bortoleto, M. A. C., & Pic, M. (2021). Editorial: Traditional sporting games and play — Enhancing cultural diversity, emotional well-being, interpersonal relationships and intelligent decisions. Frontiers in Psychology, 12, 766625. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.766625
Lavega-Burgués, P., Magno-Ribas, J. F., & Pic, M. (2023). Editorial: Traditional sporting games and play in physical education, Volume II. Frontiers in Psychology, 14, 1302853. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1302853
Lavega-Burgués, P., & Pic, M. (2024). Teaching sustainability through traditional sporting games. Sustainability, 16(13), 5510. https://doi.org/10.3390/su16135510
Luchoro-Parrilla, R., Lavega-Burgués, P., Damian-Silva, S., Prat, Q., Sáez de Ocáriz, U., Ormo-Ribes, E., & Pic, M. (2021). Traditional games as cultural heritage: The case of Canary Islands (Spain) from an ethnomotor perspective. Frontiers in Psychology, 12, 586238. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.586238
Madondo, F., & Tsikira, J. (2022). Traditional children's games: Their relevance on skills development among rural Zimbabwean children age 3–8 years. Journal of Research in Childhood Education, 36(3), 406–420. https://doi.org/10.1080/02568543.2021.1982084
Matsekoleng, T. K., & Mapotse, T. A. (2022). The role of indigenous games in education: A technology and environmental education perspective. The Journal of Environmental Education, 53(6), 358–371. https://doi.org/10.1080/15595692.2022.2160436
Mauss, M. (1973). Techniques of the body. Economy and Society, 2(1), 70–88. [Original work: Mauss, M. (1934). Les techniques du corps. Journal de Psychologie, 32, 271–293]
Meston, T., Whatman, S., & Bargallie, D. (2024). (Re)positioning Indigenous games in HPE: Turning to criticality. Sport, Education and Society, 29(3), 281–293. https://doi.org/10.1080/13573322.2023.2300353
Ministry of Education, Government of India. (2020). National Education Policy 2020. Ministry of Education. https://www.education.gov.in/sites/upload_files/mhrd/files/NEP_Final_English_0.pdf
Nath, S., Rai, S., Saha, B., & Chakrabarti, D. (2022). Sustainability: Indian cultural heritage through game design concept. In D. Chakrabarti, S. Karmakar, & U. R. Salve (Eds.), Ergonomics for Design and Innovation. HWWE 2021. Lecture Notes in Networks and Systems, Vol. 391. Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-94277-9_141
Ormo-Ribes, E., Lavega-Burgués, P., Rodríguez-Arregi, R., Luchoro-Parrilla, R., Rillo-Albert, A., & Pic, M. (2021). Playing ludomotor activities in Lleida during the Spanish Civil War: An ethnomotor approach. Frontiers in Psychology, 11, 612623. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.612623
Pic, M., & Lavega-Burgués, P. (2019). Motor behaviour through traditional games. Educational Studies, 45(6), 742–755. [Taylor & Francis]
Pubill-Soler, B. (2020). Book review: Els jocs i els esports Tradicionals. Tradicionari. Frontiers in Psychology, 11, 605920. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.605920
Rakhoveio, P. S., Gill, R., & Veimy, M. (2025). Role of traditional games in shaping cultural identity and strengthening community cohesion. Human Arenas. Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42087-025-00534-6
Rodríguez-Fernández, J. E., Lorenzo-Moledo, M., García-Álvarez, J., & Míguez-Salina, G. (2021). The game of skittles on the northern route of the Camino de Santiago. Frontiers in Psychology, 12, 591174. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.591174
Smith, L. (2006). Uses of heritage. Routledge. ISBN: 9780415318310
Tribal Development Department, Government of Maharashtra. (2024). Tribal communities of Maharashtra. Government of Maharashtra. https://maharashtra.gov.in
UNESCO. (2003). Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage. United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. https://ich.unesco.org/en/convention
UNESCO. (2018). Traditional sports and games. UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage. https://ich.unesco.org/en/traditional-sports-and-games
UNESCO. (2020). Basic texts of the 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage (2020 ed.). UNESCO. https://ich.unesco.org/doc/src/2003_Convention_Basic_Texts-_2020_version-EN.pdf
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Ashish Govindrao Barde, Assia Aboubakar Mahamat
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
