Lelo Burti Zine

LELO BURTI, a softcover black-and-white zine by photographer Diego Montoya, captures the chaos, beauty, and power of Lelo Burti — Georgia’s ancient, full-contact folk game played only once a year in the village of Shukhuti. This is no ordinary sport. It’s part rugby, part ritual, and entirely Georgian: a cultural cornerstone born from medieval war games, blessed in church, and fought with bare hands in muddy streets between hundreds of men.

Shot during a recent match under pouring rain, Montoya’s images offer an intimate, unfiltered look at a tradition few outside Georgia have ever seen. From the priest’s blessing of the 16-kilogram leather ball to the bruising hours-long melee through village fields and streams, LELO BURTI tells the story of a community bound by blood, history, and spiritual fervor. The zine is more than a document — it’s a tribute to a living heritage, and to a people as tough and unyielding as the game itself.

This photobook is available for purchase directly on this page. To order, please fill out the form provided. You will be contacted by email with payment instructions via Venmo or Zelle, based on your preference. An email address is required to complete your order. All personal and contact information will be used solely for fulfillment and shipping purposes — we do not share or sell your data under any circumstances.

Experience the wild soul of Georgia. Order LELO BURTI today.