Buzkashi

Buzkashi is the most favored sport in Afghanistan and a deep cultural passion.

It is a traditional equestrian sport where mounted players compete for a carcass. The players attempt to place a goat or calf carcass into a goal. Similar games exist across Central Asia. In Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, these games are known as ulak tartysh. In other regions, they are called kokpar or kupkari. The sport serves as a display of skill, power, and intense competition.

To prepare for a match, the carcass undergoes a specific process. Usually, a calf is used because it is less likely to disintegrate than a goat. The animal is typically beheaded and disemboweled. Two limbs are also cut off before the game begins. The carcass is then soaked in cold water for 24 hours to toughen it. Sometimes, players pack sand into the carcass to add extra weight.

During play, a rider might wedge the carcass under one leg to free his hands.

There are two main styles of play: Tudabarai and Qarajai. Tudabarai is considered the simpler version of the game. In this style, the player simply grabs the carcass and moves in any direction to escape other players. Qarajai is more complex and structured. In Qarajai, riders must carry the carcass around a flag or marker. After circling the marker, they must throw the carcass into a scoring circle known as the "Circle of Justice."

Buzkashi has roots in the nomadic Asian tribes of the north and east. These tribes migrated from China and Mongolia between the 10th and 15th centuries. This long series of migrations ended only in the 1930s. The sport remains a legacy of that ancient era. In Tajikistan, the buzkashi season usually runs from November through April. This timing helps avoid high temperatures that might prevent outdoor matches. In some cooler mountain areas, isolated games can still be found.

Professionalism and skill define the highest levels of the sport. A highly skilled rider is called a chapandaz. Many in Afghanistan believe a master chapandaz reaches his peak in his forties. This is because the game requires severe physical practice and long-term observation. The horses also undergo intense training and receive great attention. These horses are often owned by wealthy landlords or rich individuals. A winning horse brings immense pride to its owner.

Rules vary significantly depending on the country and the specific organization. In Kabul, matches are strictly regulated by the Afghan Olympic Federation. Each team consists of 10 riders, though only five play in each half. Each half lasts 45 minutes, with one 15-minute break. In Kyrgyzstan, the rules for kokboru were officially defined in 1949. Their matches take place on a field 200 meters long and 70 meters wide.

In Kyrgyzstan, two teams of 12 participants compete, but only four players per team are on the field at once.

Buzkashi connects to many different social and cultural systems. In Tajikistan, the games are often sponsored by the father of the bride during wedding festivities. In Kazakhstan, the sport is highly organized through the National Kokpar Association. This association has held adult championships since 2001 and youth championships since 2005. All 14 regions of Kazakhstan now have professional kokpar teams. The sport even traveled to the United States. In the 1940s, men in Cleveland, Ohio, played a version called kav kaz using a sheepskin-covered ball.