PESHAWAR: Known as the land of musicians and artists, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP) has kept the centuries-old traditional Khattak dance alive despite waves of terrorism that negatively impacted cultural activities in the region.
Being the national dance of the country, Khattak was introduced by Pashtun’s Khattak tribe in the fourteenth century, and it is still being performed mostly on weddings, births and other functions.
Despite the passing of 6 centuries, Khattak dance is still capable of withstanding to the change of times as its essence shows and beautiful scene of a dancer, who performs at the thrilling beat of drums.
Khattak dance’s history
“This dance is as old as the Khattak tribe’s history in KP, which goes back to the 14th century. It passed from one generation to another in the tribe and gave birth to many other dances including shahdola, bangra, braghoni, chatrali, tamseeli cana, balballah, and charri dana,”
Research Officer at Archaeology and Museums Department KP, Bakhtzada Khan said while talking to APP.
He said that the Khattaks mostly lived in Nowshera, Karak, and other districts of KP had used to dance on the movement of swords as a warm-up exercise prior to war with rival tribes.
Khattak dance is performed in a colourful and bright traditional ‘shalwar’, frock like ‘Kamiz’ and a red embroidered waistcoat with a long decorative scarf tied around the waist. The dancers bravely wave glittering swords in the air and swirl to tunes of the surnai and drumbeats.
Khattak dance requires 100 percent fitness
Expert in Khattak dance and a musician, Shahzaib Khan told APP that 100% fitness is required to perform this dance. “The performer dance with high zeal like a hero and displays his super fitness through rapid body movements while holding one or 2 and even 3 swords at a time.
PML-N KP spokesman and former member provincial assembly Ikhtair Wali Khan told APP that the tradition of cultural dances, including the Khattak has continued in the province despite brutal waves of terrorism. –APP
