Description

Photographer David Grigoryan documents Lelo Burti, the ancient and powerful traditional Georgian Easter game, in this striking zine. Played for centuries in the village of Shukhuti, Lelo Burti is often described as a mix between rugby and ritual, where two teams battle to carry a heavy leather ball to the opposing side’s riverbank.

Grigoryan’s photographs capture not only the raw energy and intensity of the game but also its deep cultural and spiritual significance. The zine highlights how Lelo Burti unites entire communities, blending faith, strength, and tradition into a living symbol of Georgia’s heritage.

More than a sports chronicle, this zine is a visual archive of ritual and identity, portraying the faces, gestures, and emotions of a game that is both celebration and struggle.

 

Number Of Pages: 20
Dimensions: 15×19.5cm
Languages: Georgian/English
Year Published: 2025
Cover: softcover

 

David Grigoryan was born in Tbilisi, Georgia, in 1987. In 1993, following the end of the civil war in Tbilisi, he moved with his family to Odessa, Ukraine. At the age of 16, he began experimenting with film photography, first by borrowing a camera and soon after acquiring his own. Since then, photography has remained his constant medium of expression.

David Grigoryan works primarily in the intersection of street photography and political and ethnographic documentary. He is a participant of multiple group and solo shows in Ukraine, Germany, Italy, and Georgia. He is currently based in Tbilisi, Georgia.