Yes, Seven Stones, Pitthu, and Lagori are the same game where a pile of stones is destructed with a soft ball. Once this is done, the team that knocked down the tower tries to rebuild it and the other team tries to get all the players out by tagging the ball. Usually in this game, 7 stones are used… but to make it more interesting or easy the number of stones are increase or decreased, means it can be 9 stones or 5 stones.
As India has a long and rich history of traditional games, the game of Pitthu is quite popular among children and youth for generations. It is not a modern game, the evidence of Pitthu game is also present in many ancient books and one of them is the book of Mahabharata. During the Mahabharata period, Lord Krishna used to play this game with his friends and the same has been presented in many documentaries and TV shows.
This is the reason the game of Pitthu is quite popular in states like Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Maharashtra and Gujarat. And this game is known with different names like Lagori, Saath Pathar, Nargoloi, Satolia, Pitthu Garam, Lingot etc.
So if someone says… let’s play seven stones, or pitthu, or lagori… don’t be surprised, they are all the same and are played in an open ground with a soft ball and seven stones.
There are different names for one such game – Seven Stones, Pitthu and Lagori. Are all these really the same game, or is there any fundamental difference between them? In this article, we will learn about these three names and the basic form of the game.
Different Names of the Game and Their Reason
Due to the different cultures and languages of India, this game is known by different names in different places. Like in North India it is known as Pitthu, while in South India it is played as Lagori.
In south states like Maharashtra and Karnataka it is more popular by the name ‘Lagori’, while in North states like Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan and Delhi it is called Pitthu.
Seven stones derives its name from the main object of the whole game – a pile of seven stones – which is the same in all regions. In many countries, this game is known as Seven stones game. In short, Pitthu, Lagori is Desi name which famous among local pubic while Seven stone is a modern name, quite popular in English countries.
Rules and Method of the Game
Usually, Seven stones, Pitthu, or Lagori is played in an open ground. There are two teams for this game – one attacking team and the other defending team. The rules of the game are as follows:
- Preparation for the game: A pile of seven stones is made in the ground. It should be in center of ground so player can run easily and get time to rebuild tower.
- Attack and Defense: The attacking team has a small ball that they use to knock down a pile of stones. Once they knock down the tower, their job is to rebuild the tower and protect themselves from being hit by the ball
- Topple the pile: The goal of the attacking team is to knock down the pile of stones in one go.
- Rebuilding or Obstruction: After the pile is knocked down, the attacking team has to rebuild it, while the defending team interrupts them by hitting them with the ball.
- Point Calculation: If the attacking team rebuilds the pile they get points, else the defending team gets points.
Today’s form of Seven Stones, Pitthu and Lagori
With changing times, this game has also become modern. In urban areas, people play this game not in a big ground but in small places. Now it has also been recognized as a sports competition in many places. This game is included in school competitions and some private events, so that the new generation can also get acquainted with it.
Apart from that, at present time, kids or players buy Seven Stones game kit from online stores like Amazon. These kits includes a soft ball and 7 wooden tiles of same or different colors as shown below. Based on the product quality the price of Pitthu game kit varies from Rs 299 to Rs 799.
Conclusion
Among the variety of traditional games in India, Saat Patthar, Pitthu, and Lagori hold an important place. All these games are the same, but are called by different names in different regions. This game is beneficial not only for physical but also for mental development. Despite modernity, the thrill of this game is still intact in Indian society. This game not only provides us entertainment but also keeps us connected to our culture and tradition.
If you have time, then definitely teach children about this game. Whether you call it Pitthu, Lagori or Saat Patthar – this game will always be special in our hearts.
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