Lelo Burti, also known as "field ball," is a traditional sport, boasting a history spanning over 300 years. It might seem odd that the most active participants of a sports event are actually priests, but not for traditional Georgian rugby games! It all starts with a priest opening the event by throwing the 16-kilogram, crafted with soft black leather and filled internally with a mixture of sawdust, dirt, and sand. The main rule is that there are no rules.
Players divide into two teams representing different villages. The ball, made of leather and filled with dirt, is rather heavy. To win, the team has to bring the ball to a certain place in their own village, and the winning village has to bring the ball later to the grave of a recently dead person and leave it there for good. Also, there was a belief that the victorious team would ensure a more abundant harvest for their village community
This match can last several hours as the men roll the ball through the streets, yards, and fields. It is very intense and often tests the men's physical fitness. Therefore, players change each other to breathe fresh air and drink water. The game is played on Orthodox Easter in the Shukhuti village community near the city of Lanchkhuti. This area embraces two villages—Zemo Shukhuti and Kvemo Shukhuti—which compete with one another.
Lelo Burti History
Some sources say that Lelo Burti was first played during the reign of the Ottoman Empire. The first matches were played in honor of a victory in a battle in which a smaller group of Hurrian fighters defeated an Ottoman battalion. The atmosphere of Lelo Burti resembles the Ba' Game in Scotland—both games are rooted in traditions, and the players are so into the game that it gets rather violent at times.
