In a Baghdad arena, a crowd cheers to the rhythm of drums, not for a football match but for a fiery centuries-old game enjoyed by Iraqis during Ramadan called "mheibes".

"It's a heritage game, the game of our ancestors, which unites all Iraqis," said Jassem al-Aswad, a longtime mheibes champion in his early seventies and now president of the game's national federation.

The game involves members of one team hiding a ring -- "mehbis" in Arabic -- and the captain of the opposing team trying to guess who has it in the palm of his hand.

And he has to do so within 10 minutes.

Played during the holy Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, the game first appeared as early as the 16th century in Ottoman-era Baghdad, according to Iraqi folklore expert Adel al-Ardawi.

More than 500 fans and players gathered in the stands and on the field for two........

© Al Monitor