Traditional games of Afghanistan explained

The nation of Afghanistan has various traditional games and sports.

Traditional games

Archery

Archery has been a popular game among the various ethnic groups of Afghanistan.[1] [2]

Barfi

This game is played during the time of year when the first snow falls. One person sends a messenger to another person's home, and if the recipient of the message fails to catch the messenger before the messenger can return home, then the recipient must pay for a large meal for the sender of the message; otherwise, the message-sender pays.[3] [4] [5]

Bujal bazi

Bujal bazi, known as Bejali in some parts of the country, is a game played by children with sheep knucklebones.[6]

Gudiparan bazi

Gudiparan bazi in Dari or kaghazbad in Pashto are some of the local names for kite fighting and kite running in Afghanistan.[7] [8] It has been going on in the country for over 100 years.[9]

Khusai

In the game of khusai (pronounced as ghorsai in Persian), two teams attempt to pass each other to the other team's goal line, while preventing the other team from doing the same. The game requires hopping on one foot in order to knock opponents down.[10] [11]

Sangi rag

Two teams of four to five players compete by throwing stones at a target; each player gets 10 throws, and the player that throws the closest to the target in a given round wins that round. Hitting the target directly earns twice as many points. The team that reaches 10 points first wins.[12]

Tokhm-jangi

During certain public holidays such as Eid al-Fitr, participants in this game paint hard-boiled eggs and then bump them against other participants' eggs in order to break the other eggs.[13] [14] [15] [16]

Board games

Carrom

The game of carrom is played in many Afghan homes, including in public parks.[17]

Chaka

Chaka is the local name for Ludo board game in Afghanistan.

Satranj

Satranj is the local name for chess in Afghanistan.[18]

Wrestling

Koresh

Koresh, also known as chepanki wrestling, is a form of belt wrestling.[19] [20]

Pahlawani

Pahlawani is a form of wrestling contested over four rounds, in which each round is won by the participant who can flip their opponent onto their back.[21]

Animal events

Tent pegging

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: A Long Shot in the Hindu Kush: Archery in Nuristan . Rider . Jonathan . Royal Society for Asian Affairs . 7 December 2022 . 2024-03-23.
  2. News: Game of Archery Targets Discrimination . TOLOnews . 19 September 2014 . 2024-03-23.
  3. News: You've Been Barfied! Kabul Celebrates First Snowfall of Year . NBC News . December 31, 2013 . 2023-08-24 .
  4. Web site: Barfee . Qazi . Abdullah . www.afghan-web.com . January 20, 2016 . 2024-03-23.
  5. Book: Dupree, Louis . Afghanistan . 2014-07-14 . Princeton University Press . 978-1-4008-5891-0 . en.
  6. Book: Elias . Josie . Enayat Ali . Sharifah . Afghanistan . 2013-08-01 . Cavendish Square Publishing LLC . 978-1-6087-0872-7 . en.
  7. News: Once Again Afghans Take to the Skies . Voice of America . October 31, 2009 . 2024-03-25.
  8. Web site: Gudiparaan baazi . Qazi . Abdullah . www.afghan-web.com . January 20, 2016 . 2024-03-23.
  9. (Anna Magill, Mar. 28, 2022)
  10. News: League of Traditional Sport Ghorsai to Air on TOLO, LEMAR TV . TOLOnews . July 5, 2022 . 2023-08-24.
  11. News: Man in the News: Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar . Financial Times . February 20, 2020 . 2023-08-24.
  12. News: February 23, 2023 . How reviving a game from childhood is helping these Afghan men . 2023-08-24 . ABC News . Australia.
  13. Web site: Happy Eid! And ten stories of celebrations and customs from all over the country . Afghanistan Analysts Network . 7 August 2013 . 2024-03-23.
  14. Web site: Team . T. M. V. . 2023-04-22 . 10 Beautiful Eid Al-Fitr Celebrations From Around the World . 2023-08-24 . en-GB.
  15. Web site: Celebrating Eid al-Fitr around the world . 2023-08-24 . islamchannel.tv. 21 April 2023 .
  16. News: System . June 30, 2016 . How countries around the world celebrate Eid . 2023-08-24 . News24.
  17. (Aug. 10, 2023) (@ 11:30)
  18. Web site: Chess . Qazi . Abdullah . www.afghan-web.com . January 20, 2016 . 2024-03-23.
  19. News: Koresh, other traditional games begin in Kunduz . Pajhwok Afghan News . 1 July 2023 . 2024-03-23.
  20. News: Traditional Wrestling Competition Held in Samangan . TOLOnews . February 23, 2021 . 2023-08-24.
  21. News: Traditional wrestling continues as a Friday fixture in Kabul . December 4, 2021 . 2023-08-24 . AP News.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Traditional games of Afghanistan".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.