Khattak Dance: A Hallmark Of KP’s Culture

News Desk

Peshawar: Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, known as the home of musicians and artists, has managed to preserve the centuries-old Khattak dance despite terrorist attacks that have harmed the province’s cultural pursuits.

Being the national dance of Pakistan, the Khattak dance, which was first performed by the Pashtun Khattak tribe in the 14th century, is still frequently presented at weddings, births, and VIP welcome events throughout the province, including in the merged tribal districts, leaving an enduring impression on the minds of spectators.

The Khattak dance has survived for six centuries despite the passage of time because its core represents the agility of a dancer who performs to the exhilarating beat of drums and from the core of his heart.

History of Khattak Dance: The Khattak dance predates the tribe’s history in KP, which dates back to the 14th century. The Khattak tribe developed various dances from the Khattak dance, including the braghoni, shahdola, bangra, balballah, chatrali, tamseelicana, and charridana, that made deep inroads in our society, Archaeology and Museums Department KP Research Officer Bakhtzada Khan said.

BakhtzadaKhan added that the Khattak tribe was mostly rigid in the past due to a lack of education and felt proud of its traditions by carrying on the legacy of their forefathers. The Khattak tribe, which mostly lived in Karak, Nowshera, and other districts of KP, used to dance to the mesmerising movement of swords as a warm-up exercise before taking on their rival tribes on a battlefield or succeeding against other warring tribes in wars.

The dance was particularly well-liked throughout the Mughal and British eras, when those two countries employed Khattaks in their respective armies due to their bravery in battle. The Mughal emperors were deeply moved by the courage of the Khattak tribesmen, particularly freedom fighter Khushal Khan Khattak, who fought for the independence and unity of the Pakhtoons. They hailed their valiant actions on the battlefield.

Research Officer mentioned that as time went on, the dance became a constant component of their fairs, weddings, engagements, receptions for guests, and sporting events, providing the tribe with another symbol of their unique identity in KP.

Pashto Singer Khayal Muhammad said that KP’s cultural and musical programmes, including Khattak dance, highly impressed UK Queen Elizabeth II, who came along with a high-level delegation to the Khyber tribal district in 1961.

Dance Attire and Choreography: The Khattak dance is performed while wearing a bright and colourful traditional ‘shalwar’, a specially constructed dress called a ‘Kamiz’, as well as a crimson waistcoat with red embroidery and a wide ornamental scarf knotted around the waist.

To the beats and melodies of the surnai, the dancers spin while waving sparkling swords in the air. District Nowshera Khattak Dance and Musician Expert Shahzaib Khan told that 100 percent fitness is required to perform Khattak dance.

Shahzab, who learned the Khattak dance from his late father Khalil Khan, performs the dance with heroic fervour and exhibits his extreme physical fitness with quick body movements while carrying one, two, or even three swords at once.

The dance is a five-step sequence that includes spins with the swords crossed over the dancers’ backs and their elbows or swords out to the sides. Half of the spins are often in place before moving into a complete spin. The spin is reversed in complete synchronisation while the dance is being performed, with musicians adjusting the beat to the performers’ technique.

Bhangarah is the first step in which each member of the troupe spins around while holding a sword as a prop. This is followed by Derabi, in which two young people at a time start dancing while holding a sword and a handkerchief in each hand in front of a man holding a surnai, while the other members of the troupe wait for their turn.

Dance Expert Shahzaib Khan stated that Laila is the third step, wherein a group of four performers were holding two swords each while performing stunts while moving in a circle. 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, it required super fitness and skills, Music expert said.

Bulbullah is the last of the twelve steps, which are performed 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.

Tradition Continues Despite Terrorism: PMLN KP Spokesman Ikhtair Wali Khan said that the tradition of cultural dances, including the Khattak dance, has continued in KP despite brutal incidents of terrorism.

KP has produced international artists of the calibre of Bollywood superstars Yousaf Khan alias Dalip Kumar, Raj Kapoor, and Pakistani legends Qavi Khan, Javed Babar and Firdus Jamal. However, it is heartening that seven of the oldest cinemas out of 15 in Peshawar were closed and converted into trade and commercial centres in the last 10 years, Wali Khan said.

To advance the film and music industries in KP, it is necessary to strengthen the plot, swap out antiquated cinematography, and prevent profanity, Ikhtair Wali informed.

In addition to the introduction of a medical insurance programme for the artistic community and tax exemptions, a PMLN spokesman stated that the federal government has also announced tax breaks for filmmakers for five years, the exclusion of new theatres and production companies from income taxes, and a ten-year tax break on the export of films and dramas.

A national film studio is being established at a cost of Rs 1 billion, in addition to the development of a national film studio and a post-film production facility, Wali added.

The PML-N spokesperson further said that rebates would also be given to foreign filmmakers on joint film and drama projects locally, adding that the condition of shooting 70 percent of the film in the country would be applicable to them.

Besides abolishment of an eight percent withholding tax on distributors and producers, he said there was a five-year exemption from customs duty on the import of machinery, equipment, and supplies for films and dramas.

Ikhtair Wali informed that the Finance Bill 2018 has been amended to exempt the import of equipment for new films and dramas from sales tax and entertainment duty.

In addition to offering people high-quality entertainment options, promoting art, cultural events, and traditional dances is essential to combating the rise in intolerance and changing society’s mentality.

The feature has been published in APP and reproduced by The PenPK.com

Photo Credit: Jala Qazi via twitter