SPORTS
Diradoyma- Azerbaijani national festive game
Baku, April 1, AZERTAC
Diradoyma- is an ancient Azerbaijani game, usually played during the country’s beloved Novruz Holiday.
The game includes 5 players between the two teams, as participants draw a circle and a square on the ground to start the game. Staying inside and outside the circle is determined by a lot. The four players inside the circle put a belt under the feet and try to prevent stealing.
Team captain, who is the fifth player, controls all the teammates and helps to keep the belt by beating the opponents’ legs. Those inside the circle who hit the ones outside the circle with their leg, are switching places. However, if the outside player could grab the inside player with his hand, he hands him over to others and have the belt.
In this case, inside players need to protect their own belts, as well as the teammates’ belts.
On the other hand, if the inside players can grab anyone from outside and take him inside the circle/square, with the groups they have to change places.
It is not allowed to get out of the circle or hit anyone outside the circle. Unless inside players beat the outside players with one foot, by keeping the other foot inside the circle, the outside players will beat inside players with the belt.
If the team could bring back the belt, they can protect themselves with it, to tie it to another belt or to player’s hand and feet, and thus win the game.