The ancient skill of archery thrives in the northeastern Indian state of Meghalaya. It is part of Indigenous rites and folk tales, and archers with bamboo bows and arrows compete at a daily event in the state capital.
In villages across the state, a more traditional form of archery is practiced. The archers have to hit a much smaller target mounted on a stick and a form of poetry called “phawar” — four lines composed on the spot — is used to rattle opponents.
But it is the curious marriage of this traditional event with the business of betting, called “Teer,” that helps keep the tradition alive. Dozens of small kiosks, often put together with recycled iron sheets and wood, dot the capital city known for its swanky cafes, soccer and a popular live music scene. At these kiosks, one can bet small amounts of money by predicting the last two digits of the archery results and get the money multiplied several times if the guesses turn out to be correct. Since the money bet is small, the lure of a reward is strong and the counters see good traffic throughout the day.
The last two digits of the results are displayed immediately after the event ends and bettors and kiosk managers watch the event live on YouTube.The local Khasi name for the betting is “tim,” derived from the English word team. When the British occupied India and had a strong presence in Shillong, the betting was done on polo teams, but locals have since adapted the idea to bet on archery results.
According to local legend, the most successful betters are guided by their dreams when choosing the right, or lucky, numbers to bet on. But some have adopted more modern means to help a better decide on a number. Bantei, a young man at one of the kiosks, offers an app on his smartphone for customers to use to help find their lucky numbers and place bets.
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