Traditional cultural dances keep alive in KP despite mushroom growth of social media
PESHAWAR (APP): The centuries- old traditional dances of Khyber Pakthunkhwa, which was mostly used to infuse energy among tribesmen before going to the battlefiled or achieving success, was kept alive in the province despite the mushroom growth of information technology and social media in Pakistan.
Mehsud, Khattak and Yousafzai attarns (dances) were used in the past to warm up tribesmen ahead of the start of a battle or war and get psychological advantage upon the warring tribe or external aggressor.
Despite mushroom growth of information technology and social media in last two decades in KP, these cultural dances are still being praticed by the professional dancers during happy occasions of marriages, Eid, birthday parties and welcoming of VVP guests in the province including merged tribal districts.
“Mehsud dance, which is believed to be originated from South Waziristan centuries ago was mostly used by Mehsud tribe in a bid to bring the warring tribe under presure before start of the battle in a bid to ensure their independence, protect lands, mines caves or settle disputes in case of unsuccessful negotiations by the peace jirga” said Bakhzada Khan, research officer, Archealogy and Museum Department, while talking to APP.
He said Mehsud, Khaatak and Yousafzai tribesmen had also performed their traditional dances after achieving victory in the battlefield.
In Mehsud dance, the active members of Mahsud tribe equipped with guns gather and the loud gunfire by them create an echo in the area that added to the fierce and proud energy to the dance besides creating an inerasable imprints on the minds of the spectators.
“In Mehsud dance, the male dancers with handkerchiefs mostly with long and lustrous hair flick it around while carrying guns on high beatsdrums. They fire with their weapons into the air as they kneeled and the sound of the gunfire create an echo that infused new energy and spirit among participants,” said Gohar Mehsud, an expert of Mehsud dance told APP on Sunday.
He said that 100 percent fitness is required to perform Mehsud dance. “The dancer performs the dance with high zeal like a hero and displays his supper fitness through speedy body movements while holding guns and firing similantanously at a same time.”
Bakhtzada said the practice of Mehsud dance continued even in the colonial era in Waziristan where Mehsud, Ahmadzai Wazir, Bhittani and others tribes known for their bravery had never allowed British to establish their rule in erstwhileFata.
Sir Olaf Caroe, who acted as the former Governor of the British Indian Frontier said, “The Masud tribe are a people who can never even think of submitting to a foreign power. From 1860 to 1937, the English forces had repeatedly attacked Mahsud positions, but never got a foothold in the area.
In spite of the passing of many centuries, Mehsud dance is still able to withstand the change of times as its essence depicts an agility of a dancer, who performs at the thrilling beat of drums and from the core of their heart.
Like Mehsud dance, the subcontinent oldest and most popular Khattak dance was also being practiced in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa despite mushroom growth of IT and social media.
Being the national dance of Pakistan, Khattak dance introduced by Pashtun’s Khattak tribe in the 14th century, is still being performed mostly on the occasions of weddings, births and welcoming functions of VIPs in the province including merged tribal districts, leaving an indelible imprint on the minds of the spectators.
Bakhtzada said Khattak dance is as old as the history of the Khattak tribe in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, which goes back to the fourteenth century.
Khattak dance passed from one generation to another in Khattak tribe and gave birth to many dances including braghoni, shahdola, bangra, balballah, chatrali etc that later made deep inroads in our society.
Khattaks mostly lived in Karak, Nowshera and other districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had used to dance on mesmerizing movement of swords as a warm-up exercise prior to taking on their rival tribes in a battlefield or achieving success against other warring tribes in wars.
“The dance was very popular during Mughal and British eras, who recruited Khattaks in their respective armies for their heroic warfare skills on battlefields. The Mughals rulers were highly impressed with the bravery of Khattaks including freedom fighter Khushal Khan Khattak, who stood for the freedom and unity of Pakhtoons’, he said.
Khattak dance is performed in a bright and colourful traditional ‘shalwar’ and custom-made frock like ‘Kamiz’ in additional to a red embroidered waistcoat with a large decorative scarf tied around the waist. The dancers wave glittering swords in the air and swirl to drumbeats and tunes of the surnai.
The dance is a five-step routine involving spins, with the swords crossed over their backs and elbows outward or swords out to sides and typically attains half spin in place leading to a full spin.
Depending on rhythm of the beat, the spin was reversed in full synchronicity as the dance was being performed with musicians turning the beat to the technique of the performers.
Irshad Gul, an expert of Khattak dance and local musician of Nowshera district said that Bhangarah is the first step where every member swirls while carrying swords as the prop followed by Derabi in which two youths at a time carrying one sword and handkerchief each in their hands start dance in front of a man with surnai and the rest of troupe members wait for their turn.”
Laila is the third step wherein a group of four performers were holding two swords each while performing stunts moving in a circle.
He said Braghoni was the fastest and the most adventurous of all steps, which a single dancer performs with three swords.
“The performer very skillfully swings two swords in the air while holding the third in his mouth,” he said, adding it required supper fitness and skills,” Irshad said.
Bulbullah is the last of the twelve steps, which is staged without swords. “The dancers normally sing a love song at a high pitch and at the end of the song, the drumbeat slightly increases and the dance goes on.
The experts said that establishment of Rs. 1 billion film fund, national film institute and studio besides post-production facility centre for artists and musicians by the federal government would immensely benefit artists’ community, musicians and film industries in the country.
They said promotion of art, music, cultural programs and traditional dances were imperative to counter the rising intolerance in society besides providing quality entertainment facilities to the people.
