INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
TEHRAN--Isfahan Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts Department and Isfahan Municipality are preparing plans to hold Chogan, a
traditional horse-riding game accompanied by music and storytelling, in Naqsh-e Jahan Square, said director general of the department.Amir
Karamzadeh explained that the northern part of Naqsh-e Jahan Square has been allocated to be the venue of Chogan game, CHTN reported.Chogan
game will be held in this historical square with a specific schedule and calendar provided that the structure and visual identity of the
Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity
The game is commonly known around the world as polo
separate field, on specially trained horses
Nowadays, Chogan is played in Iran, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan.In Chogan, two riding teams compete and the aim is to pass the
Chogan includes the main game, a corresponding musical performance, and storytelling
Bearers include three primary groups: the players, the storytellers, and the musicians.According to the UNESCO, Chogan is a cultural,
artistic, and athletic element with a strong connection to the identity and history of its bearers and practitioners
It has a strong presence in the literature, storytelling, proverbs, handicrafts, and ornaments that are valuable parts of the symbolism of
its practitioners.Available evidence suggests that the game spread from its Iranian origins in Persia to Constantinople, eastward through
Bactria and Afghanistan to Tibet, China, and Japan, and from Tibet to India, where it flourished throughout the Mughal (Mogul) dynasty
This article first appeared/also appeared in Tehran Times
