Afghanistan Stories: Buzkashi ( Afghan National Game )

Buzkashi is one of Afghanistan's national sport which plays in group by riding at horses, it is popular and performs among central Asian people including Hazaras, Tajiks, Uzbeks, Kyrgyz, Turkmen and other tribes which still people do this sport in different parts of Afghanistan. This sport plays in traditional afghan style in different times such as in some areas the governors or other elder of the village or tribes' party days.

The method of playing of this game is that a group of horse riders competes with each others on controlling of a lately slaughtered Goat carcass or Calf. The horse riders during the race have to pick up the carcass of (Goat or Calf) from the ground and drop into the specific circle called (Daira-i-Hallal) in Afghanistan players called 'Chapandaz' normally they need to exercise for many years.

The carcass for use of the game normally is newly slaughtered goat, which its hand and leg will cut from knee part and held in cold water for 24 hours before the game to become stiff, sometimes 'Chapandaz' put stones inside carcass to make it heavier.
In big games some times several hundreds of horse riders (Chapandaz) compete in the same time. In Afghanistan mostly wealthier people such as (Khan, commanders and local governors) keep several strong and most expensive horses with strong players called 'Chapandaz' for performance.
It is very common that some times people gamble in such kind of games such as cock fighting, bird fighting, dog fighting, etc.

Announcer ride on horse ask people to make people far away from the Buzkashi ground and empty the play ground space.

Horse riders 'Chapandazs' are competing even near to the circle to take the carcass of goat to drop the circle (Daira-i-Hallal), where they gain score for their own team.

Horse riders 'Chapandazs' are competing to take the carcass of goat to the circle (Daira-i-Hallal), where they gain score for their own team.

Horse riders 'Chapandazs' are competing to take the carcass of goat from the ground.

Horse riders 'Chapandazs' are competing to get the carcass of goat

Horse riders 'Chapandazs' are running toward the circle (Daira-i-Hallal), where they gain score for their own team.

Horse riders 'Chapandazs' are competing to take the carcass of goat from the ground.

Horse riders 'Chapandazs' are running toward the circle (Daira-i-Hallal), where they gain score for their own team.

Horse riders 'Chapandazs' dropped the carcass of goat inside circle (Daira-i-Hallal), where they gain score for their own team.

one of Horse riders 'Chapandazs' run toward the circle (Daira-i-Hallal), where they gain score for their own team.

Horse riders 'Chapandazs' are running toward the circle (Daira-i-Hallal), where they gain score for their own team, on the dusty ground of 'Chamani Hozori' in Kabul.

Horse riders 'Chapandazs' run toward the circle (Daira-i-Hallal), where they gain score for their own team.

Horse rider 'Chapandazs' get ready back to take the carcass of goat after gaining of score by dropping it on the circle (Daira-i-Hallal), where they gain score for their own team.

Horse riders 'Chapandazs' ride on his horse.

Horse riders 'Chapandazs' try to get near the carcass of goat holder.

Horse riders 'Chapandazs' driven on to the audience location, which most of the time people get inside the ground for watching the game.( sometimes in such crowds most 'pick pocket' steal people's money, mobile, etc).

Horse riders 'Chapandazs' driven on to the audience location, People are escaping from the Horse riders 'Chapandazs' way ,most of the time people get inside the ground for watching the game despite of announcer call by loud speaker during the game to empty the ground space.

People are escaping from the Horse riders 'Chapandazs' way ,most of the time people get inside the ground for watching the game despite of announcer call by loud speaker during the game to empty the ground space.