Make cork balls on your own!! A visual guide with 7 all-easy steps!

What? Cork balls
Who are eligible? All who still have in them, alive, the spirit of playing lagori.
Who aren't? All hudGiru[and hudGuru] who have soft & clean manicured hands. All kids who know about nothing else but video games.
What one would require? 6-7 Katti Kaayi [The dried pods of the rain tree], A stone to grind.
Where? Some decent place in your garden which has a flat surface[Preferably a stone slab under the shade of a mango tree]
When? Summer's the best time.
How?

Keep all materials ready[Parents can get non-cooperative at times like these].

Step 1 - Grind the KattiKaayis till you can separate the seeds and the sides. Keep the seeds aside [They can be put into use while playing Chowkabaara or Moshi].









Step 2 - Now grind them. Grind and Pound. Grind. Pound [For atleast 1/2 an hour].Grind till you feel they are fine and pasty-pasty.









Step 3 - See if you can proceed with making a ball out of the paste. Else goto Step 2.










Step 4 - Follow beNNeyammas'[butter-seller] method of giving the ball a perfect spherical shape [If you've not seen any, come visit Mandya sometime]
Step 5 - Roll your fresh & all-sticky ball over a little Rangoli pudi. Allow it to dry for sometime. Yes! Dirty hands, they leave you with! [ Doesn't matter much,does it? Especially when you don't mind your not-so-clean mind.. :b]




Step 6 - Oil your palms with coconut oil and gently roll the fresh cork ball in between till the surface absorbs enough oil.

Step 7 - Keep out of reach of birdies/cat-ies/kittens/puppies/doggies/humans while you let it dry for 3-4 days.

Now your hand-made cork ball is all ready! Lo! Go play Lagori!!

P.S - Queries welcome. Any attempts made, please keep me informed.