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Documentary

Dato Koridze

Photographer

Dato Koridze

Lelo

During Easter, in a village named Shukhuti, Guria region, locals celebrate Lelo. Inhabitants of upper and lower Shukhuti are competing each-other. The ball is made of leather, filled with sand and sawdust and weights 16 kilos. Preparations start in the morning. Local priest puts his blessings on the ball and all the participants. The ball is kept in the church until beginning of the game. In the evening the road is closed, police and ambulance is mobilized also. This time the game took three hours and the lower Shukhuti was the one to place Lelo. In the end the ball was placed on a grave of "Bulua" (Otar Imnaishvili) who died the year before during the game.

Dato Koridze

So, for me, documentary photography is the best way of telling stories, that are happening around me. Winner Kolga tbilisi Photo 2018 - Best mobile Photo winner EU Prize For Journalism Best Documentary Photo 2019