Dashain Games
How to Play Langur Burja (Jhandi Munda)
Langur Burja (लङ्गुर बुर्जा) is the six-dice game Nepali families play at Dashain and Tihar. It is also spelled Langur Purja, called Jhanda Burja or Khor Khore in parts of Nepal, and known as Jhandi Munda in India. The rules take a minute to learn: back a symbol, shake the dice, and see how many land on your symbol.
No dice at home? Shake six 3D dice in a bucket on your phone. Free, no sign-up, no money.
Play Langur BurjaWhat you need
- Six Langur Burja dice. Each die has the same six symbols, one on each face.
- A mat or board (पाटी) with the six symbols printed or drawn on it, so players can show which symbol they back.
- A bowl, cup or small bucket to shake the dice under.
- Counters for scoring: points on paper, matchsticks, beans or sweets all work.
- One host (the person who shakes the dice) and any number of players.
The six symbols and their Nepali names
| Symbol | Nepali name | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Flag | Jhanda / Jhandi (झण्डी), sometimes Langur | Gives the game the "Jhandi" in Jhandi Munda |
| Crown | Burja (बुर्जा) | Gives the game the "Burja" in Langur Burja |
| Heart | Paan (पान) | Named after the betel leaf, like the card suit |
| Spade | Surat or Hukum (सुरत) | Same name as the card suit |
| Diamond | Int (इँट, "brick") | Same name as the card suit |
| Club | Chidi (चिडी) | Same name as the card suit |
Four of the symbols are the four suits of playing cards, with the same Nepali names people use at the card table. Some dice sets swap a symbol or two for regional designs, but the game works the same with any six.
How a round works
- Players choose. Each player puts a counter on the symbol (or symbols) they want to back.
- The host shakes. The six dice go into the bowl, the bowl is turned upside down on the mat, and the host shakes it so the dice tumble inside. The bowl stays covered.
- Lift the bowl. When everyone is ready, the host lifts the bowl and everyone counts how many dice show each symbol.
- Settle up. Players whose symbol showed often enough score; the rest lose their counter to the host. Then the next round begins.
Scoring: the common rule and house rules
There is no single official rulebook, and every neighbourhood plays slightly differently. Agree on the rule before the first roll. The most common version is:
- Your symbol shows on 0 or 1 dice: you lose your counter to the host.
- Your symbol shows on 2 to 6 dice: the host pays you that many times your stake (2 dice pays 2×, 3 dice pays 3×, and so on), and you keep your original counter.
Another simple house rule pays a flat double whenever your symbol shows at least twice. Some groups pay extra for five or six of a kind. Playing for points instead of money keeps it friendly for children, and it is how the game on this site is meant to be played.
The odds of every roll
Each die has six equally likely faces, so for any one symbol the number of dice showing it follows a simple pattern. These are the exact chances for six fair dice:
| Dice showing your symbol | Chance | About |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | 33.5% | 1 roll in 3 |
| 1 | 40.2% | 2 rolls in 5 |
| 2 | 20.1% | 1 roll in 5 |
| 3 | 5.4% | 1 roll in 19 |
| 4 | 0.80% | 1 roll in 124 |
| 5 | 0.064% | 1 roll in 1,555 |
| 6 | 0.002% | 1 roll in 46,656 |
So your symbol shows on two or more dice only about 26% of the time, roughly one roll in four. Under the common scoring rule, a player who stakes 1 point on every round gets back about 0.86 points on average: the host keeps around 14%. That is why the host's seat is the one everybody wants, and why it is a good idea to take turns hosting.
Tips for a good game at the table
- Rotate the host every few rounds so the advantage is shared.
- Shake fairly. Keep the bowl covered until everyone has chosen, and lift it straight up.
- Use points, not money, when children play. Write scores on paper and give a prize (or a sweet) to whoever is ahead at the end of the evening.
- Lost the dice? One phone can run the whole table: play Langur Burja online, and it counts the symbols for you.
Where the game comes from
Langur Burja is played across Nepal, especially during Dashain and Tihar, and in Darjeeling, Sikkim and north-east India under the name Jhandi Munda. Its closest relative is Crown and Anchor, a three-dice game once popular with British sailors and soldiers that uses the same four card suits plus a crown and an anchor. Written history of how the game reached Nepal is thin, so we won't guess at it here.
Frequently asked questions
Is Langur Burja the same as Jhandi Munda?
Yes. It's the same six-dice game. Langur Burja (or Langur Purja) is the usual Nepali name, and Jhandi Munda is the name used in India.
Can I play Langur Burja online?
Yes. Langur Burja on Dashain Games is free in any phone or computer browser. It shakes six 3D dice under a bucket and shows how many landed on each symbol. There's no betting, coins or sign-up.
How many players can play?
Any number. You need one host to shake the dice; everyone else plays against the host.