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Here you guys will find the best videos of Afghan attan, Quetta Attan, Zazzai attan, Akakhel attan, Waziristan attan, Paktia Attan, Hazargai dance, Khattak dance and the attan from all prominent Pashtun areas of Pakistan and Afghanistan.

The Attan originates from eastern Afghanistan, from where it travelled to western Pakistan and the tribal regions. Some believe it has spiritual roots connecting it to Zoroastrianism, a religion which traces back to 2000BC. Others link the dance to the British occupation and the Pashtun resistance movement, when Pashtuns used the dance to instil confidence and energy among warriors going out to battle the colonisers. A typidal Attan dance during wars and celebrations consisted of 50 too 100 people.

In different regions, the dance takes different names. Besides Bragai Attan, it is also known as Mehsudi, Kabuli, Wazristani, Khatak, Paktiyaki, Mazari, Shinwari, Kandahari, Sistani, Hirati, Pashai and Nuristani Attan. In his book ‘Culture and Customs of Afghanistan’ Hafizullah Emati explains how combined Attan dances gained momentum in the 1970s, and afterwards during Daud Shah’s and Zahir Shah’s communist regimes in Afghanistan.

During these times and earlier in Afghanistan, men and women dancing the Attan together was a common sight—once, it was even considered Kabul’s national dance. Since the Soviet defeat, however, the cultural activity has almost vanished and is now confined to private family gatherings.