History
Seven stones is one of the most ancient games originating from the Indian subcontinent. Its history dates back 5,000 years ago to the Bhagavata Purana, a Hindu religious text, which mentions Lord Krishna, a major deity in Hinduism, playing the game with his friends. [1] This traditional sport has been played for the last 5 millennia.
Through cultural exchange and migration, the game has made its way to various parts of Asia, such as Nepal, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Iran, Afghanistan, and Sri Lanka. The British Empire's colonization process introduced the game to various parts of Africa, the Caribbean, and Southeast Asia. Because the game is now played in over 30 counties, the rules have been adjusted based on where the game is played, however the fundamental rules have remained the same. [2]
Modern day
Traditional games such as seven stones are not as popular as they once were, but the game is still played by at least 30 nations across the world. The game has gradually gained a considerable amount of global prominence. However, India is the epicenter of the development of the game on with a bigger platform and a wide outreach to contemporary audience. The Indian Lagori Premier League that was held in November 2017 had gathered great momentum across the nation which was organized by the Amateur Lagori Federation of India. [12] They have also made efforts to push the game to several states of India as well as in other countries, playing a pivotal role in popularizing the game. The second Lagori World Cup (first being played in 2015) is soon going to take place later this year, several nations including Indian, Bhutan Hong Kong, Brazil, Turket, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Nepal will go face to face. [13]
The rules have not changed that much over the years, however there have been some changes brought in the way the game is being played. The following fundamentals were laid down by the International Lagori Foundation: Each team would have 12 players, with only 6 players on the court for every set. One set lasts for 3 minutes followed by a half minute break in between sets. One match has typically 3 sets and the team scoring maximum points wins. Other than that, the rules are basically the same for all leagues. Having said that, the game has definitely come a long way from what it was. From a dusty open field to an indoor synthetic turf, from a pile of stones lying around in the field to 7 circular fibre discs made for the game, and from an old tennis ball to a softball specifically tailored for the game. [14]
Despite the game almost being forgotten and becoming extinct in the past few decades, the inaugural World Cup help in 2015 was a huge success paired with the Indian Lagori Premiere League (ILPL) catering to a wide audience in the country.
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