Kok-Boru: A combination of horseback riding and football played with a dead goat
It’s been almost a month that FIFA World Cup is over, but the fever is still very much on. Such is the game of football. While there have been innumerable versions of the game, the basic idea remains the same. One game that is quite akin to football is Kok-Boru. In this traditional game of Kyrgyzstan, a lot of aspects are associated, starting from riding on the back of a horse, a dead goat and so much more. Curious to know more? Read on.
A combination of horseback riding and football
Played all across Central Asia, primarily in Kyrgyzstan and Afghanistan, Kok-Boru, requires one to ride on horseback and carry the carcass of a dead goat (called ‘ulak’) or calf (mostly headless) into the end zone (like a marked goal post) of the other team to score. While the modern versions of the game often use a fake stand-in instead of a real goat, people still try to avail the ancient rule if they can. The game is often supervised by referees and ‘kalystar’ or ‘seniors’ who remain present to ensure fairness. Each side comprises of 10 to 12 players and only half of the team can be present on the track at once.
While the name Kok-Boru refers to ‘blue wolf’ in Kyrgyz language, its other and more popular name Buzkashi refers to ‘goat pulling’ in Persian.
Inception of the game
Legends have it that Kok-Boru was born in the hands of nomadic Asian tribes as early as 10th century AD. Turns out, these tribes often travelled with their own flock, from which they ended up losing some sheep or goats to hungry mountainous wolves. By the time they realised what had happened, only the carcasses were left behind in the fields. Now, instead of leaving them behind, these natives decided to play around with it that too mounting on their horsebacks. The interesting part is that, they often took a portion of the carcass with them and organised a funeral to remember the animal for its service and also for their own redemption for having immoral fun. The game entered modern day scenario when the International Kok-Boru Federation was set up in 1998. Oh, before we forget, a professional level Kok-Boru player is called Chapandaz who is usually in the forties after earning years of experience.
Versions of the game
There are primarily two versions of Kok-Boru. The first is called Tudabarai wherein the teams face off, grab the animal carcass and move in any direction they please, until they are either clear of the other players and win or are detained by the opponent team and loses the match. Contrary to this simpler version is Qarajai in which players carry the carcass around a flag or marker at one end of the field and then have to toss it into the scoring circle or the ‘Circle of Justice’ located at the other end. You can find this particular version in Khaled Hosseini’s award-winning book The Kite Runner.
Interestingly, the game has been part of UNESCO’s Intangible Heritage List since 2017.
Bonus fact: The game is called Headless Goat Polo by the British.