Lelo Burti: a game where blood, mud, and screams merge into a prayer

Game Day: From Blessing to Victory

The morning begins with the preparation of the ball: it is filled, stitched, and brought to the church, where the local priest, Father Saba, blesses it. Then, with a rifle shot, the ball is thrown into the crowd, and the struggle begins. This year, the team from Zemo Shukhuti claimed victory. After the game, the ball was ceremoniously carried to the cemetery and placed on the grave of Aleksandre Mgeladze, who passed away in 2022. This gesture symbolizes the connection between generations and respect for ancestors.

The Festive Atmosphere

Lelo Burti is not just a game, but also a celebration. Before the match, the village hosts fairs, performances by folk ensembles, and sports competitions. After the game, there are lavish feasts filled with toasts, songs, and laughter. It is a day when the entire village lives in a single rhythm, united by a common goal and tradition.

This is not a match. This is a slaughter at the sound of the heart.

A gunshot signals the start — and in the next moment, the village drowns in a roar.
The ball — heavy as fate — is hurled into the mass of bodies.
There are dozens, hundreds — men, elders, youth.
They fall, rise, bite into the earth, push, scream, roar.
No rules. No referee.
Only the will — to carry the ball to their side of the village.
It weighs 16 kilograms, but in the heat of the game, it feels like a leaden bomb that cannot be let go.

Every centimeter — through pain

Fingers break.
Faces are bloodied.
Knees sink into the mud.
Someone loses consciousness — they’re pulled from the pile, only to dive back in.
But no one backs down.

No one.

Because this isn’t about the ball.
Here, you fight for the honor of your clan, your street, your family.
You must fight, even if you can’t stand.
If you didn’t fight — you didn’t live.

When it’s all over

Victory? Defeat? It no longer matters.
When the ball crosses the sacred line, no one cheers like at a football match.
Here — it’s quiet shock and relief.

Someone cries.

Someone collapses into the mud.
Someone carries the ball to the cemetery — to the grave of a man who once fought too.
And now the victory — is his.

Tips for Visitors

• Safety first: the game can be dangerous for unprepared spectators. It’s best to watch from a safe distance or an elevated spot.
• Clothing: wear something comfortable and that you don’t mind getting dirty — dust and mud are inevitable.
• Photography: it’s better to use a drone or find a high vantage point for a good view.
• Transportation: roads are closed in advance, so it’s best to arrive early and park outside the village.