“Teer, a curious not so known Phenomenon that blends Archery and the Interpretation of dreams”
A game called Teer is responsible for lakhs of rupees changing hands each day. A game of dreams and luck is prevalent in India but not so commonly popular. The game is usually restricted to Shillong, the capital city of Meghalaya. The city has a gambling problem or in other words a fancy for archery gambling. The word TEER means ARROW in English. Teer is known as archery of gambling, the most popular word in Shillong. Due to so much yearning of the game, almost every next shop is a Teer counter to burn the appetite. It is typically like a small Paan (Betel-shop) with a license number and some numbers written on a blackboard with chalks hanging upfront.
In Image: Teer Participants ( Source: 101 India)
The game is so mysterious with a mythical story, it is believed that the game must be played with dreams. Yes! For that, one must have to take a sleep or a nap for having a dream and later has to interpret the dream into digits. So as an avid Teer Player must at least dream once in a day, otherwise, it will be nothing more than a blind draw which is not what Teer stands for. The twist is a Teer player’s dreams can be screwed and distorted with dark powers. In today’s digital world, many people will have no hesitation in dismissing that. But this mythical story surrounding the game makes it even more appealing.
The great number of Teer counter all over Shillong suggested that there are many keen Teer players. At the Teer counter, one can buy any ticket of any digits ranging from 0-100. For an Rs. 1 ticket the lucky winner will draw a sum of Rs 80 in the first round and Rs 60 in the second round. It can be a lucrative source of income. There is much professionalism in the way the game is being run. To peek into the system one has to go to the sanctuary of Teer at Polo ground. It is a place with Teer counters and small wooden offices surrounding a small opening. A simple bet of 10 rupees to 1000 rupees is placed and each player has to throw an arrow at a small target if the player/players managed to hit they took all the bet and if they missed the owner collects the bet.
The way the lucky numbers are being drawn is another intriguing thing just like any other part of this weird but appealing game. There are 5 Teer clubs in Shillong, in the first round each club is represented by 10 archers shot 30 arrows each within 4 minutes. It sums up to 1500 arrows. As soon as time expires a curtain is drawn in front of the target to stop the arrows from hitting the target. The lucky number is decided by these arrows. The complexity involved in drawing the lucky numbers makes it impossible to manipulate the outcome.
Check here Shillong Teer Club: List of all Names
In the second round, all the 50 archers from 5 clubs shot 20 arrows each within 3 minutes. The officials involved counted the arrows in front of everyone and declare the number there itself. The result is soon spread through phones by agents within the first 5 minutes in the second round of 1000 arrows 430 hit the target.
The betting system is well organized Teer is the most organized gambling systems in India and legal in Shillong. The game needs a dream to conquer and a bit of luck to win.
