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EntityQ176076· pop 15· linked from 66 articles

Attan ( ) is a Pashtun dance. It is performed during weddings or other celebrations (engagements, weddings and informal gatherings). The Attan was 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. It is now considered the national dance of Afghanistan, popularly carried by other ethnic groups in Afghanistan as well as by the Pashtuns of Pakistan.

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  • Origin
  • Movement
  • Attire
  • Styles and types
  • Gender roles
  • References
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Attan ( ) is a Pashtun dance. It is performed during weddings or other celebrations (engagements, weddings and informal gatherings). The Attan was 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. It is now considered the national dance of Afghanistan, popularly carried by other ethnic groups in Afghanistan as well as by the Pashtuns of Pakistan.

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 Kabuli, Wardaki, Logari, Paktia, Khosti, Kandahari, and Herati

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