1. Kerala is played on a square board with several approaches, one for each player. The board has a track with 20 play spaces and a single space in the middle.

2. Kerala also requires 5 cowrie shells. You can use 5 dice; odd numbers representing 1, even numbers zero.

3. Moves are calculated as the sum of the dice (1 through 4) with no odd numbers allowing a BEAD to move 5 spaces and all odd numbers allowing a BEAD to move 10 spaces.

4. Each player selects 5 BEADs the colour of their choice. BEADs start off the board.

5. Players decide who begins the game by rolling a die.

1. A player must roll either no even numbers or only one odd number to start a BEAD up their approach, they can also move their BEAD the corresponding number of spaces.

2. If a player has no BEADs on the board and does not roll a starting combination, they forfeit their turn.

3. In turns, players roll the dice and then move a BEAD the full number of spaces, first up the approach, then around the track in a clockwise direction.

4. Then into the middle of the track, and then around the track a second time before proceeding down their approach and off the board.

5. Players must use the full roll on a single BEAD or they forfeit their turn.

6. A player must have all 5 BEADs in the centre of the track before any of their BEADs leave for their second circuit around the track.

7. If a BEAD lands on an opponent’s BEAD before the BEAD lands in the centre, the BEAD is taken from the board, requiring a roll of either no even or a single odd number before restarting.

8. If a BEAD lands on an opponent’s BEAD after the BEAD has left the centre, the BEAD is returned to the centre.

9. A BEAD on a marked square is safe and more than one player can land on these at the same time.

10. Players require an exact roll to exit the approach and finish.

To win the game, a player must be the first to move all their BEADs around the board twice and then off the board.

The origin of Kerala is mostly unknown, at least as far as Western accounts of it are concerned. Due to its similarities to other Asian race games, it is most likely of Asian origin.