Zhini Antari

Zhini Antari was considered the patron deity of cattle in Samegrelo. On the night of the Great Fast, the people of Samegrelo performed the prayer of "Zhini Antari" to protect cattle from diseases and illnesses. On this day, a ritual cube was baked on the hearth in Ghadar - a square-shaped adult cake with a cone-shaped piece of cheese placed in the middle.

Before dinner, the head of the family would clean the hearth of ash and ivy, cut the stone into four pieces, and recite a prayer to Antar, begging for the increase of cattle and protection of the family. If a mekh fell on the goods, it was believed that Zhini Antari had punished the family, meting out punishment in the form of mekh or zhinish. At this time, a special ritual was held where the owner did not touch the affected goods.

They would bring a "Makhvamal" (prayer), who would come to the slaughtered cattle, kill a goat, cook it in milk, and eat each piece. The Makhvamal would pray a special prayer and beg St. George to forgive the family's sins. Then he would bury the affected goods elsewhere. A Khozokvari, a ritual die, was brought to the Mekhdakrul tree along with the tsikan to pray to the Genius of nature. Cheese was placed in the middle of rye or wheat flour dough, stretched out, and cooked in milk with a finger-like tip at the end. Along with Khozokvari, three or five small cheese cubes, symbolizing stars, were boiled in milk. In different places, Zhini Antari is also known as Tskibzi, meaning something elongated, and Sajiniantare refers to the elongated piece of cheese inserted into the ritual cube.