Pithu garam rules — how to play seven stones

What you need

• Find seven flat pieces that stack without sharp edges. Lightweight wooden discs or foam blocks are a useful substitute for stone. Test the tower before the game; a stack that falls without a touch will cause arguments.
• Choose a soft ball that is comfortable to catch and cannot hurt at a gentle throw. Mark a central stack area, throwing line and outer boundary. Leave space beyond the line so throwers can step back without meeting spectators.

Setup

1. Make two equal teams. One knocks down and rebuilds; the other fields and tags. Choose the first throwing team with a toss, then swap after every round so both sides get the same number of chances.
2. Agree a throwing distance suited to the group. Start close enough that a younger player can reach the tower with a controlled throw. Use the same line for both teams; there is no single street-game distance used everywhere.
3. For this house format, give the team three throws in total to knock down the stack. A direct safe below-knee ball hit puts a rebuilding player out. Set a round time if you need one, and practise the stop signal.

How to play

1. A thrower stands behind the line and aims at the stack while the fielding side waits clear of the throw. If all three team attempts miss, the round ends and the teams exchange jobs.
2. Once at least one piece falls, the rebuilding team can enter the stack area. Fielders collect the ball. A player who is out leaves the active space and waits beside the boundary, without blocking a throw.
3. Rebuilders work together to replace the pieces. They can distract fielders by moving into open space, but must stay inside the boundary. Nobody may cover the tower with their body or hold an opponent.
4. Fielders pass to a teammate or attempt a gentle below-knee tag with the soft ball. In this starter format, the ball carrier stops to throw; running with the ball and chasing someone at arm's length is not allowed.
5. The rebuilding team finishes by standing all seven pieces and calling 'Pithu garam!' The tower must hold without a hand supporting it. If every rebuilder is out first, the fielding team wins that round.

Scoring / how to win

• Award one round point to whichever side completes its task: a successful rebuild or all rebuilders out. After both teams have thrown the same number of rounds, the higher total wins. A drawn match can simply stay drawn.
• If you use a timer, state the result of an unfinished round in advance. A useful house choice is a fielding win when time runs out. Do not introduce a timer halfway through a difficult rebuild.

House rules & regional variations

• Seven pieces give the game its English name, but Pakistani descriptions also record different stack sizes. Use the agreed number consistently. Reducing the stack for younger children is a practical adaptation.
• Some groups give each thrower several attempts or declare a thrower out when the initial ball is caught after a bounce. Others require a finishing gesture or repeated call. These additions change the game; teach them before the first throw.
• A gentler version uses a hand tag while holding the ball instead of throwing at people. Another keeps every player active and gives the fielding team a point for a tag. Neither is the default elimination format above.

Tips & strategy

• Give the stacker room. Two players reaching for the same piece can knock down a nearly complete tower. One can rebuild while teammates draw fielders away with movement.
• Fielders should pass toward the next likely gap, rather than all following the ball. Rebuilders should notice where the ball is before bending over the stack.

Safety & fair play

• Use gentle below-knee throws only, with no face, chest or head shots. Sharp tile fragments, hard balls and roadside play are unsuitable. Stop play if someone falls; reset the ball before continuing.

Questions before the first round

Sources & further reading

• Pakistan National Register of Intangible Cultural Heritage: local pithu descriptions
• School PE account: Pittu Garam and seven-stone rules
• The Games Handbook: Satoliya / Seven Stones