Seven Stones is one of the Indian traditional games widely played in South India. Also played in other regions, it is the most complex popular children"s game in India. The game is played between two teams in an unlimited area involving a ball and a pile of flat stones. The two teams are called as "the seekers" and "the hitters".

Etymology of Seven Stones
The game requires seven stones hence the name "seven stones". Seven Stones is also known by several names including "lagori", "dikori" or "lagoori". Then it is known as "lingorchya" in Maharashtra; "pitthu" in Haryana and northern Rajasthan; "satodiyu" in Gujarat; "yedu penkulata", "dikori" or "pittu" in Andhra Pradesh; "dabba kali" in Kerala and "ezhu kallu" in Tamil Nadu.

Things Required to Play Seven Stones

•A tennis or the rubber kinds ball.
•7 stones
•Minimum 2 players in each team.

Techniques of Playing of Seven Stones

•To play the game, two teams with equal number of players needs to be formed.
•To decide which team takes the attacking role first, a coin is tossed.
•Next, seven stones should be placed on top of each other as a pile within a circle.
•Then the defending team has to take their positions.
•The position for the fielding team will be wicket keeper who will be behind the stones and other around the stones randomly as fielders stand in cricket.
•All the players of the attacking team take position behind a crease line in an appropriate distance away from the pile of stones.
•The attacking team gets three chances to hit the pile of stones with the ball to knock the pile of stones.
•The attacking team has to hit the pile within three hit. If the attacking team fails then both the teams interchange places and continue to play, with one point for the formerly defending team in view of the worst aiming skills of the formerly attacking team.
•As soon as the ball knocks the pile of stones, the defenders catch hold of the ball and try to get the opposing players "out" by hitting them with the ball in their leg below the knees.
•The aim of the attacking team is to rearrange the pile of stones and trace the circle three times with their fingers before the other team can make all the players out. If the team accomplishes the aim, they get 1 point and the chance to throw the ball again.
•If all the players are out, then the defending team gets the chance to hit the stone and they gain one point.

Rules and Regulations of Seven Stones

•The players of the defending team can only pivot with the ball and not move around. The player gets around 50 seconds to have the ball in his hands. He has to pass the ball to other members of his team who will attempt the same – to make a player that they are marking "out" by hitting their leg with a ball below the knee. The players with the ball however can dodge.
•Instead of falling within the circle, if the stones fall outside the circle, then its again 1 point for the defending team.
•If any member of the defending team manages to catch the ball after it has touched the pile of stones and before it has bounced, then they get 1 point and the teams interchange places.
•The player of the attacking team gets an opportunity to shield himself from the ball, by hitting it away from the main area. This opportunity will enable the time to be wasted when the opposing team player fetches the ball from far away. However, only a closed fist can be used to push the ball away.