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Title: Equestrian/Buzkashi - Afghanistan's National Sport: Buzkashi Article by Aziz Jan.
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Afghnistan's National Sport: Buzkashi
Buzkashi
Afghanistan's National
Sport
By Aziz Jan
"bOzkashI"
is one of the ancient games played in Afghanistan. The name of this game is perhaps
derived from hunting mountain goats by ancient champions n horseback.
On the basis of popular beliefs and legends, one could say this game was played for the
first time in the Oxus basin. Our people had earlier domisticated the horse and used to
fight the enemy on horseback. Three animals predate others in Afghan history: the horse,
the Bacrian camel and the bull.
Buzkashi game watched by thousands of spectators
It is said that Zoaroatoster had his
law inscribed on bull's hide in gold and hung it on the gates of Bactria. According to
historical evidence, Bactrian camels were used in ancient times but since our
subject-matter is the horse, one should say that two types of horses are more wellknown in
Afghanistan: one is the "qataghanI" type which is smaller in size but strong and
sturdy, the other raised in the steppes of Faryab and Balkh is larger.Both types are used
in bOzkashI. However, only special male horses stand the test.
The bOzkashI horses posses special
qualities. For instance, when the rider falls off the horse, it waits there for the
horseman to mount it again. Some of these horses gallop with a terrific speed as soon as
the horseman snatches the careas of a calf as they have already learned the tricks. The
price of such horses range between Afs. 20,000 and Afs. 100,000. (The pre-war prices)
Those who train bOzkashI horses feed them special food at regular intervals.
This is meant to soften the
horse-feed is comprised of oats. A few days prior to bOzkashI, a trainer keeps the horse
hungry for part of the day and rides it daily a fairly long distance. This is meant to
soften the horse and make it slightly lean to avoid bu{sting when under excessive strains.
The horsemen call their animals after
their natural colour. For instance, a grey horse is called "tAragh", an ash
blond horse is referred to as "samand", a red one as "jayran" and a
white one as "qezel" or "boze".
Regarding the orgin of bOzkashI one
could say horsemanship in Afghanistan was customary during the Vedic times. The people in
the Oxus basin had domisticated the horse in order to defend their homeeland against the
marauding hoards horses doing additioni and subtraction processes.
In short, when horsemen were
practising in ancient times, their relatives watched them. At night, the horsemen were
told about better techniques which they translated into action next time. Later, when
fighting on horseback was discontinued, the horse come to be used as a means of transport
in the first place and a vehidle to play bOzkashI in the second.
Wrestling matches always accompanied
bOzkashI because usually a hand to hand fightfollowed a cavalary campaign. A horseman had
to be strong and adept enough to beat his opponents on the ground as well. Now wrestling
is considered as an ancient game like bOzkashI and it is done in sunny days of spring. It
is very popular among the people in northern Afghan{stan where every move made by a
popular wrestler causes such a great excitement among the crowds. Young men wear
"chapan" cloak-like garments and wind shorter turbans around their waists when
they attempt wrestling, while their heads must be bare. No foul play is allowed according
to unwritten rules of the fames. For instance, one cannot hold one's opponents by the leg
or bite him or such likes.
Briefly, our people are still
remembering the stories about famous horses and horsemen and great battles in which the
latter displayed their mettle as adept horsemen and wrestlers. So bOzkashI may be regarded
as an indication of ancient batles. the inhabitants of Balkh, Badakhshan, Takhar, Kunduz,
Baghlan, Samangan, Jozjan, and Faryab are good bOzkashIlayers and is is played on special
occasions such as weddings, the Eids, the new year day and local fairs. Only champions,
however participate in important matches on the basis of their horsemanship. But in fairs
and so on, every horeback rider can take part. Sometimes, ordinary men in such games help
their friends help their friends by whipping the latter's horses so that they may get away
from the pitch but other horsemen give them such a close chase. So the horsemen should
also be able to throw the calf adeptly into the pitch before he is overtaken by others.
bOzkashI horsemen wear thick hats,
quilted dresses and lock long boots and wind strong scarves around their waists.
In Pamir, bOzkashI games are played
only in summer to celebrate weddings but elsewhere, there is no set time. bOzkashI is
played even on grounds covered with snow and 95 percent of the people turn up to watch it
despite the cold or drizzle. They get so excited when the calf is brought to the pitch
that sometimes spectator fight spectator like in some football stadiums. Even women shares
this exulesance as the watch from roof-tops.
The carcase of the calf is soaked in
cold water for 24 hours before the game so that it may be touch enough for the horsemen.
Usually, a calf is beheaded, its four legs are cut off from the knee, its insides emptied
before soaking. When there is no calf available, they use a goat in this manner.
Winners are awarded prizes of
"chapan", turbans, cash or rifles. All horsemen may not own horses. Actually,
most of the bOzkashI horses belong to rich men who can afford to buy them and hire
trainers. Usually, the owner of the horseman also awards the horseman a prize, as his
horse gain much fame in this manner. Mentioni must be made in this connection that famous
horseman can get any horses they lay their hands upon to use in a bOzkashI match.
According to unwritten rules of the
game, nobody can tie the carcase of his saddle or hit his opponent on the hand to snatch
the calf. Like-wise, tripping the opponent by using the rope is forbidden. However, these
rules are not stricly observed in local matches.
On the final day of bOzkashI which
may take up to a week till a particular team is annonunced the winner, a horse race is
arranged which is locally known as "paiga". Horses used in races are different
from those meant for bOzkashI. Younger boys are not allowed to participate in such races
while race horses are not saddled. They are only covered on the back by a piece of thin
cloth. Some even ride on the bare backs of horses and do not control the animals during
the race.
When horsemen are carried away by
their excitement, they ride their horses on the hills to beat their opponents. But they
are still chased by other champs. However, when they return, they are usually bruised or
have a broken limb. Sometimes, they choose a site for pitch near a river and a few
horsemen conspire to get their opponents drowned. The author remembers a champ named Qader
Pahlawan being drawned in one of these games.
Often great horsemen get one arm or
leg broken and then mount their horses as soon as the fractures are bandaged. Similarly, a
skul fracture, bleeding hands, a cut in the ear, broken nose or a cut in the lips does not
hinder the horsemen from continuing the game.
Therefore, bOzkashI champs are too
tough to describe them. According to a popular belief, no other nation is as much
enthusiastic about a national game as the Afghans are about bOzkzshI.
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http://www.afghanistan.org/buzkashi.html
Afghanistan's National Sport: Buzkashi 2008 November
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Article by Aziz Jan.
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