Attan

Attan (Pashto: اتڼ) is the national dance of Afghanistan.[1] It is a traditional dance originating from the tribal Pashtun regions of Afghanistan and North Western Pakistan.[2][3] Some believe it has spiritual roots connecting it to Zoroastrianism.[4]

Girls dancing the attan
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.[5] It is now considered the national dance of Afghanistan,[6] popularly carried by other ethnic groups in Afghanistan[7] as well as by the Pashtun ethnic group in Pakistan.[8]

The traditional Attan is a special type of dance performed by a troupe of Pashtun tribesmen who would wave swords by the Khattak tribe or guns by the Mehsud tribe or scarves in the air while drummers beat drums. They move around in a present circle whilst twirling aligned with the drum beat.