Attan

For the village in Yemen, see ʽAttan.

Attan (Pashto: اتڼ), the national dance of Afghanistan, is a traditional dance originating from the tribal Pashtun regions.[1][2] The dance is performed during weddings or other celebrations (engagements, weddings and informal gatherings). The Attan was also conducted by Pashtuns in times of war such as the British occupation and the Pashtun resistance movement, when Pashtuns used the dance to instil confidence and energy among warriors readying to battle the colonisers.[3] It is now considered the national dance of Afghanistan,[4] popularly carried by other ethnic groups in Afghanistan[5] as well as by the Pashtun ethnic group in Pakistan.[6]

Attan is usually performed with a Dohol, which is a double-headed barrel drum. The dance can be anywhere from 5 to 30 minutes long. There are many different regional and tribal variations and styles of Attan, the most famous being Wardaki, Logari, Paktia, Khosti, Kandahari, and Herati.

Depending on the region and tribe, there are different methods and styles of the Pashtun attan, for example Paktia attan and styles. Attan is performed traditionally segregated although in modern times, Afghans have performed the dance with both men and women.

Closely related circle dances can be found in the Khorasan and Sistan and Baluchestan provinces of Iran,[7][8] commonly known as Chapi or Torbati there ("رقص خراسانی"or "رقص سیستانی").[8][9]

  1. ^ Lee, Jonathan H. X.; Nadeau, Kathleen M. (2011). Encyclopedia of Asian American Folklore and Folklife. ABC-CLIO. ISBN 978-0-313-35066-5. what is today known as the national dance of Afghanistan, the attan.
  2. ^ "Attan | General Knowledge | Simply Knowledge". simplyknowledge.com. Retrieved 2022-05-14. One such example is Attan. A form of dance originated in the Pashtun tribal regions of Afghanistan and Pakistan, Attan stands out as the cultural elegance of Afghanistan. Initially, it was performed by the Afghans in times of war or during celebration and is now considered as the national dance of Afghanistan.
    Attan historically originated as a war dance among the Pashtun tribes that now straddle Afghanistan and Pakistan.
  3. ^ Ullah, Izhar (2016-03-09). "Remembering a Waziristan where men and women once danced together". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 2022-03-27.
  4. ^ Rubin, D.; Pong, M. (2001). The World Encyclopedia of Contemporary Theatre: Asia/Pacific. Routledge. p. 38. ISBN 9780415260879. Retrieved 2015-04-13.
  5. ^ "attan." Encyclopædia Britannica. 2009. Encyclopædia Britannica Online. 13 Oct. 2009 <http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/42102/attan> Archived February 22, 2014, at the Wayback Machine.
  6. ^ Ullah, Izhar (2016-03-09). "Remembering a Waziristan where men and women once danced together". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 2021-05-28.
  7. ^ John, Katherine St; Miller, Lloyd; Harouny, Mahera (1987). Radif-e Raqs: Collection of Dance Sequences of the Persian Tradition. Society for Preservation and Propagation of Eastern Arts. DANCE MOVEMENTS Baluchi folk dance resembles Atan related folk dances in Khorasan and areas east . The dance is ... dohol (large barrel drum), the tabla, or frame drum (doira) . The music is ...
  8. ^ a b John, Katherine St; Miller, Lloyd; Harouny, Mahera. Radif-e Raqs: Collection of Dance Sequences of the Persian Tradition. Society for Preservation and Propagation of Eastern Arts. TORBA TI DANCE Torbat - e Jam is a city on the road between Mashad and Herat, and although located in Iranian Khorasan,........ This dance is similar to the Atan and the Atan - e Kaufi which also uses the 7 / 8 ..
  9. ^ Fraser, James Baillie. Narrative of a Journey Into Khorasān: In the Years 1821 and 1822. Including Some Account of the Countries to the North-east of Persia; with Remarks Upon the National Character, Government, and Resources of that Kingdom. Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, Brown, and Green. ... and listen to some one who reads, while the young people sometimes dance in a circle, clapping their hands in time the while