Buzkashi (pulling a goat) is a traditional group game played on horseback. Among the tribes of northern Afghanistan from the time of the Scythians to recent decades, Buzkashi has remained as a legacy of the past.
During the Taliban regime, Buzkashi in Afghanistan was stopped by the government because it was considered immoral, primarily because of playing with a halal meat animal carcass. However, after the defeat of the Taliban, the game resumed.
This game is standard among most ethnic groups in Afghanistan. It is prevalent in northern Afghanistan and is known as a cultural sport among these people. At present, except for the southern provinces, there are selected teams in 28 areas of Afghanistan.
The gameplay is played by a group of horsemen competing to move the carcass of a newly slaughtered goat or calf. Riders must remove the goat carcass from the ground while riding and place it on the floor, overtaking rivals in a designated area, usually a marked circle on the playground. Buzkashi players, called printers in Afghanistan, sometimes need years of practice to acquire skills.
The carcass used in Buzkashi is usually slaughtered, and its arms and legs are cut off from the knees down. Then, the carcass is soaked in cold water for about 24 hours before playing to harden. Sometimes the corpse is filled with stones to add weight.
According to the Iranica encyclopedia, Buzkashi in Afghanistan has had the support of successive governments, so much so that in the time of Mohammad Zahir Shah (until 1973), these competitions were held a simultaneously royal birthday party. Subsequent regimes changed the date of the match to the anniversary of the United Nations. In northern Afghanistan, at least before the Soviet invasion in 1979, up to several hundred, horseback riders could compete simultaneously in a particular type of Buzkashi known in Dari as Tudeh Barai. This competition was standard at weddings and circumcisions.