Avalakki Pavalakki
Lyrics in English
Avalakki pavalakki
kaanchana mina mina
daam doom das pus
kui putaar
Lyrics in Kannada
ಅವಲಕ್ಕಿ ಪವಲಕ್ಕಿ
ಕಾಂಚಣ ಮಿಣ ಮಿಣ
ಢಾಮ್ ಢೂಮ್ ಟುಸ್ ಪುಸ್
ಕುಯ್ ಪಟಾರ್
How to Play Avalakki Pavalakki
Avalakki Pavalakki is a counting-out rhyme, sung to choose who is “out” or who goes first in a game. The words are mostly playful sounds: avalakki is beaten rice (poha), kaanchana is gold, “mina mina” is something glittering, and “daam doom tus pus” sounds like crackers going off and fizzling out.
Children sit in a circle with their palms down on the floor. One child sings and taps each hand in turn, one tap for every word. The hand tapped on the last word, “putaar”, is out and is folded away. Keep going until only one hand is left: that child is the winner.
