Kiklee, also called Kirkilee in Lehndi (western) Punjabi, is a traditional game loved by Punjabi girls. In this game, two girls hold each other’s hands in a crisscross manner, palms clasped, and spin around, singing lively folk songs. If the two girls weigh about the same, their feet trace circles of the same radius. However, when one girl is slightly heavier, her feet describe a smaller circle, while the lighter girl spins in a larger one. If there is a moderate weight difference, the feet of the heavier girl trace still smaller circles, while while the lighter one moves in bigger orbits around her. If there is a significant weight difference, the heavier girl might remain stationary, while the lighter one orbits around her. When three girls play, the heaviest might stand still, alternating hands to keep the other two spinning.
Universe overview
The universe spans over 13.8 billion light-years. A light-year equals the distance traveled by light in one year. The universe comprises galaxies, stars, planets, diffused matter, grey matter, and energy. At a galaxy’s nucleus lies a monster called a Black Hole. It devours old, sluggish stars that come within its event horizon. Fortunately, our star, the Sun, is in adolescence and too far away to fall prey to this monster.
Milky Way galaxy displaying position of Sun. Photo: ESO/S. Brunier, licensed under CC BY 4.0
Binary stars
Some galaxies have twin stars, also called binary stars. According to Newton’s laws, two objects attract each other with a force proportional to the product of their masses and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them. In a binary system, these stars attract each other. The force due to their circular orbit repels them, achieving a dynamic balance where the attracting and repelling forces equalise. Thus, these stars revolve around each other, similar to the two girls in Kiklee. The gravitational force is analogous to the pull on their clasped hands, and the centripetal force is analogous to the force exerted by the girls to start spinning. It is also worth noting that in outer space, unlike on Earth, there is no friction to counteract the motion of these celestial bodies.
This absence of friction allows the stars to continue their orbit indefinitely due to the conservation of angular momentum. On Earth, however, the girls in Kiklee encounter friction from the ground, which eventually slows down and stops their spinning. To maintain their rotation, they must constantly exert force with their feet to overcome this friction. This explanation further underlines the similarity between the game of Kiklee and Earth’s motion while also highlighting a slight distinction from the motion of celestial and binary stars. The latter can persist tirelessly and indefinitely, whereas Kiklee tires and requires continuous effort to sustain.
(GIFs 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D display orbital motion of two stars when two stars are of same mass, one star slightly more massive than other, one star more massive than other and one star slightly appreciably more massive than other respectively.)
Binary star systems
In these binary systems, when two stars are of about equal mass, both trace circumferences of the same circle as shown. If a star is slightly more massive than the other, the massive star follows a slightly smaller circular path. In case, a star happens to be moderately more massive than the other, the massive star follows a moderately smaller circular path. But when one star is much more massive than the other, the more massive star follows a smaller orbital path. The lighter star circles in a larger orbit. One can observe, the respective case situations – depicted in GIFs 3A, 3B, 3C and 3D – is analogous to Kiklee.
Solar system
In our solar system, the Sun makes up 99.85% of the total mass, making it far more massive than all the planets combined. The balance between the Sun’s gravitational pull and the centrifugal force of the planets’ orbits keeps them in motion, while the Sun itself remains relatively stationary. The ituation depicted in GIF 4 is analogous to Kiklee when many lighter girls move around the heaviest one.
Gif 4 Solar system displaying gravitational dynamics. Photo: Elen Danielyan licensed under CC By 4.0
Sun’s wobble and potential discoveries
Just to reiterate, when a girl alternating her hands between two girls revolving around her is significantly more massive than the others, she need not move and can stand still. However, if a fourth girl with substantial mass joins the revolving girls in the game, she may either cause movement or wobble to the massive girl. Conversely, if a wobble or movement is observed in the massive girl, it indicates that another girl has joined the game. By analogy, if a slight wobble or movement is noticed in our star, the Sun, it could potentially indicate the presence of a planet other than those already discovered.
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Contemplating the cosmos reveals that everyday life often provides profound analogies. Nature is not complicated if explained simply. As Leonardo da Vinci wisely observed, “Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.” Similarly, American mathematical logician Harvey Friedman proposed that many complex mathematical theorems could be proven within simple systems, like elementary function arithmetic. In this way, the rural game of Kiklee can help us understand complex planetary, stellar, and galactic motions.
So, do you not now want to play Kiklee as celestial bodies do? Do you not now yearn to revisit your childhood, setting aside your inhibitions, to spin and laugh with friends? Do you not now wish to challenge your childhood companions to see who can outlast the swirling motion of Kiklee? As you hum,
“Kiklee Kaleer Di, Pagg Mere Veer Di
Dupatta Meri Parjhai Da, Phitte Moonh Jawai Da.”
(Let us praise the turban of our brother and the shawl of our sister-in-law, while cursing our son-in-law, in the light-hearted spirit of Punjabi culture.)
Remember, the next time you see girls playing Kiklee, they mirror the celestial dance of the stars in the cosmos.
Narinder Kumar Wadhawan served in various capacities in the Indian Administrative Service.
