Lagori

There were two teams with 6 in each team. One person held a ball made of used cloth, standing behind a line while facing a miniature pyramid shaped arrangements of stones. His first throw was wayward. But in his second throw, he managed to disrupt the careful arrangement of the stones. The game had begun.

This was our routine game during chilly winters in Shimoga, heart of malnad. Without much thinking, we had established a season for each game we used to play. Cricket was normally during the scorching summers. This was because there was very little effort was needed in playing. Rainy season always meant only one game game - Football ( Yeah..Yeah .. It is soccer too ). Believe me, there is nothing more fun than playing football in rain and mud. Any football fan will vouch for that. Our seasons were also influenced by international sporting events. Wimbledon season meant hand-tennis(TM). It was tennis in all ways except the absence of tennis rackets, the likes of Sharapova and a smaller court to compensate for hand-power(TM). Winter demanded much more improvisation and activity. The december weather, with clear skies were perfect to break some backs. So the 5pm consensus was always Lagori.

As with most of the rural games in India, Lagori doesn't need any sophisticated equipment. That never meant that it wasn't fun either. Here is a version of that game we played.

1. Make two teams of equal number on each team. Get hold of a rubber ball (For maximum pain factor) or make one using cloths rolled around a stone.
2. Have a toss (coin or yes-no on a hand with stone) and decide between the playing and defending teams.
3. Arrange a pile of flat stones in the form of a pyramid.
This will be normally done by the defending team to ensure that structure is resistant to casual hits by a ball. (Prerequisite: Civil engineering 101)
4. One of the players from the playing team will take an aim at the structure from a predefined distance. He has 3 chances to hit it. If he can't, another person from the same team will try his hand. If no one can hit the pile, then the team is said to be out and has to defend .
5. Once the pile is disturbed by the ball, the playing team has to redo the pile while dodging the ball thrown at them by the defending team. This is not easy because of a keeper(!!) standing near the pile, defending it from wannabe civil engineers.
6.If the ball hits any of the playing team, then they would be out and the defending team gets the chance to play.
7.If the playing team manages to reconstruct the pile without getting hit, then they score and will get another chance as the playing team.

At the end of the day, Lagori was a game of simple rules, hurt backs(courtesy of considerate defenders) and awesome fun.

P.S: I was unable to get any pictures of lagori but here is a site which has.
I will be grateful if someone can provide me pictures of lagori (with relevant permissions).