BUZKASHI-THE GOAT GRABBING!!

If you think about it, most American sports involve an animal hide. Baseballs, basketballs and footballs are all made with leather. In Afghanistan, they don’t just use the skin — the game ball is a whole goat. Minus the head and hooves.

So today we're going to see about this Afghanistan’s National Sport, BUZKASHI. Buzkashi translates into something like goat-grabbing. Yes! You have read it right! “Goat-Grabbing”, that is to grab the headless, disemboweled animal carcass, circle the field and deliver it to the goal while riding the horse.

The game has many versions and it depends on each country. But usually the game itself has two forms:Tudabarai and Qarajai.

Tudabarai is a simpler version of buzkashi. In this, the goal is simply to grab the goat or calf and move in any direction until they escape from other players. But in Qarajai, the players must carry the carcass around a flag or marker at one end of the field, then throw it into a scoring circle at the other end. The player who scores get cash prize too. Also the game has no restriction for the number of members in the game.

Now you are aware that calf plays a major role in this game. But how is the calf used?? Let’s see... The game uses a calf that is usually beheaded and eviscerated and has 2 limbs cut off. Then it is soaked in ice cold water for 24 hours before the game so that it becomes tough enough. At times the eviscerated calf is stuffed with sand to add weight to it. When no calf is available goat is used.

Buzkashi originated among the Turkic people of the Central Asia centuries ago. The players of Buzkashi are called as Chapandaz. These Chapandaz wear a heavy clothing for protecting and have a whip always to defeat opponents. The horses are well trained before it enters the game. Once it enters, it has the ability to play for at least for solid 20 years. So the horses are fast and powerful. Really powerful. Buzkashi draws a huge crowd of passionate fans. Initially war was very tough so in order to train themselves they played Buzkashi. So ,Buzkashi was considered as a exercise or training for war. But now playing Buzkashi itself has become difficult. Beyond sport, Buzkashi is a ritual a ceremony as a rest of strength, cunning and courage. For many young boys of Afghan, becoming a champion buzkashi rider or a Chapandaz, is a stuff of dreams. Apart from Afghanistan, Buzkashi is played in Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and in many more countries.

So, If you get a chance to visit any of these countries, then try to witness Buzkashi face to face.. Hope you have got more knowledge about Afghanistan’s National Sport,Buzkashi...

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