Ages: 5 and up
Players: 5 to 15
Time: 10 to 15 minutes
Place: a cleared room or lawn
Energy: active
Group size: Small group (4 to 8), Medium group (9 to 20)
Good for: Children, All ages together

What you need

A soft scarf or dupatta for the blindfold. A clearly marked play area with nothing to trip on.

How to play

Mark the play area. A big rug, a chalk rectangle or a ring of chairs facing outwards works well.
Choose the first seeker and tie the blindfold comfortably. Check that they cannot see.
Turn the seeker gently round three times while everyone counts.
The other players scatter inside the area. They may move quietly but may not leave it.
The seeker walks with hands held out in front and tries to touch someone.
A touched player becomes the next seeker. For older players, the seeker must also name the person caught by feeling only their sleeve or hand; a wrong name means the player goes free.

Who wins

Nobody wins; play until everyone who wants a turn has had one.

Variations and tips

Seated version for elders and small rooms: everyone sits in a circle of chairs. The blindfolded player is led to someone, who says "Namaste" in a disguised voice. The seeker gets three guesses.
Clapping version: players must clap once whenever the seeker calls "Kahan ho?" (Where are you?).

Safety and kindness

This matters: remove low tables, toys, glass and anything sharp. Keep away from stairs, balconies and doors. One adult stays close to the blindfolded player the whole time and calls "Stop" if they near the edge.

Common problems and how to fix them

Players crowd into a corner. The area is small on purpose; nobody may crouch or lie down.
A child is frightened of the blindfold. Let them close their eyes with their own hands instead, or play the seated guessing version.

Host tools

Time the round with the party timer, make chits or random teams with the chit maker, and keep the points on the scoreboard.

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Aankh Micholi (Blind Man's Buff)