Regional Names of Lagori Across India: Pittu, Satoliya, Ezhu Kallu and More
Ask a child in Bengaluru, Delhi and Jaipur to play the stone-stack game, and you will hear three different names: Lagori, Pittu and Satoliya. The rules are nearly identical — knock down a pile of flat stones with a ball, then rebuild it before the other team hits you — but each region has made the game its own. This post collects the most common names and a few local twists. For the full rules, see our Lagori / Pittu / Satoliya page and the school-friendly Seven Stones version.
North India: Pittu, Pittho, Pithool
In Delhi, Punjab and Haryana, the game is usually Pittu or Pithoo. In parts of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, you may hear Pittho, Pithool or Gol Pitthu. Punjabi children often shout "Pitthu garam!" at the climax of a round, though whether it means "you are hit" or "stack rebuilt" depends on the neighbourhood. North Indian versions commonly ban running with the ball, forcing defenders to pass.
Rajasthan and Gujarat: Satoliya
Satoliya (also Sitoliya or Satodiya) comes from "saat," meaning seven, after the seven stones. In Rajasthan, the game is often played in open sandy grounds, which makes rebuilding the stack trickier. Some Gujarati versions use a slightly larger number of stones and call the game Satodiyu.Karnataka and Maharashtra: Lagori
Lagori (or Lagoori) is the name used across Karnataka and many parts of Maharashtra. Kannada films and songs have popularised the term, and it has become the "national" name in many schools. Some Marathi speakers also call it Lingorchya.Tamil Nadu and Kerala: Ezhu Kallu
Ezhu Kallu literally means "seven stones" in Tamil and Malayalam. In Kerala, you may also hear Kallu Kali (stone game). Southern versions sometimes allow defenders to run with the ball but restrict throwing distance.Andhra Pradesh and Telangana: Pittu, Dikori, Edu Penkulata
Telugu-speaking regions use Pittu or Dikori, and you may hear Edu Penkulata (seven tiles game). Some versions use broken tile pieces (penkulu) instead of stones.
Bengal and Odisha: Pittu, Sat Chara
In West Bengal, Pittu is common, and some villages use Sat Chara. Odisha also calls it Pittu.
Northeast India
Names vary widely across the northeastern states, and many communities have their own stacking-and-throwing games. If you are from the Northeast and know a local name, we would love to hear it via our contact page.
Why so many names?
Traditional games spread through children, not rulebooks. Each region adapted the game to local materials (stones, tiles, wood), local language and local playground culture. Names often describe the equipment ("seven stones"), a sound ("pittu"), or a feature of play. This diversity is part of India's cultural richness, and it is a lovely way to teach children about languages and regions.
Using names in class
Teachers can create a map of India and ask students to add the local names of lagori. Students can interview grandparents, collect names, and compare rules. It is an engaging way to blend PE, social studies and language learning.
Common rule differences you may hear about
- Number of stones: usually seven, sometimes nine.
- Running with the ball: banned in many North Indian versions; allowed in some southern versions.
- Number of throws: one per player or three per team.
- Hit rules: below the shoulder only (we strongly recommend this).
Whatever you call it, the joy is the same: the clatter of falling stones, the scramble to rebuild and the shout of victory. Next time you play, ask your friends what they call it — you might discover a new name.
How the game changes with local materials
The name is not the only thing that changes from place to place; the equipment changes too, and that shapes the game. Where rivers are close, children use smooth, flat river stones that stack neatly and make a satisfying clatter. In towns built with clay roofs, broken roof tiles (khapra or penkulu) were the natural choice, and some names of the game in Telugu-speaking areas refer to tiles rather than stones. In cities, children have improvised with wooden blocks, chappals, plastic coasters, steel tumblers and even empty cold-drink cans. Lighter materials fall more easily but are harder to rebuild in a hurry, so city games often feel faster and more chaotic.
The ball also varies. Village children traditionally used a ball of rags tied with string, a rubber ball bought at the weekly haat, or a worn tennis ball. Today, most schools use a tennis or foam ball, which is safer for the tagging part of the game. Some families still make a cloth ball as a craft activity before playing, which is a lovely way to connect children with how their grandparents played.
Words and chants you might hear
Every region adds its own vocabulary. The cry when the stack is complete might be "Lagori!", "Pittu!", "Satoliya!" or simply "Ho gaya!" The player who keeps the ball near the stack may be called the keeper, the "rakhwala" or the "goalie." A hit may be called "maara," "out" or "garam." Collecting these words is a fun class project: ask each child to bring one word their family uses for the game and build a wall of words. You will be surprised how many languages a single playground can hold.