When the store asked for more, Vinita knew she was in business. Kreeda -- which in Sanskrit means 'play' -- was born in 2002. In the last five years, they have sold 40,000 to 50,000 games, priced between Rs 50 and Rs 500 [about $1.20 to $12.60].

"Everybody who has seen the games has loved them," says Vinita. "To some extent, it is definitely nostalgia. But let me also give Kreeda some credit. Our games touch the Indianness in our psyche. The world over, people are beginning to appreciate Indianness, so we are also beginning to appreciate what is Indian. Our success is mainly due to this."

"A game like Aadu Puli Aatam," she continues, "is a very ancient Indian game played by two players. It is a game of skill, strategy and thinking like chess, and is extremely popular."

She says most of Kreeda's customers are based in the United States, and they buy the games online. Kreeda today offers 23 games made from environmentally-friendly materials.

Research and revival, says Vinita, are a part of Kreeda's growth process. "Initially, it was easier to add new games as our research included talking to everyone on the street. Now that we have covered all the games ordinary people know, research has become more serious," she says.

A Chaupad board.