KEY POINTS
- Mukha is an ancient archery-based sport played in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
- The game uses a special bow and arrow called Leenda.
- Players aim to hit a small wooden target known as Takai.
- Matches draw large crowds, mostly held in village hujras at night.
- Mukha’s origins are ancient, possibly dating back thousands of years.
- Players lament lack of government support for traditional sports.
- Mukha symbolises heritage, peace, and intergenerational cultural continuity.
- Provincial groups seek recognition of Mukha as cultural heritage.
MARDAN, Pakistan: Deep in the rugged valleys and mountain villages of the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province — which shares a roughly 1,200-kilometer-long border with war-torn Afghanistan — men still gather to play Mukha, a traditional sport believed to date back thousands of years, blending skill, teamwork, and history.
The game involves a specially designed bow and an arrow called Leenda, which is shot at a small circular wooden target known as Takai.
Unlike modern archery, Mukha is played in open fields or village courtyards, and the goal is to hit the Takai fixed several metres away with precision and force.
Despite modernisation and the popularity of cricket and football, Mukha continues to thrive in parts of Mardan (especially in its Katlang tehsil), Bunner, Swabi, and other districts.
Matches are often organised to attract large crowds who cheer loudly as teams take turns shooting. Matches of Mukha are mostly held at night, where farmers, government employees, school students, and villagers gather in the hujras (male community spaces in Pashtun culture).
Each time a player hits the target, the crowd cheers in appreciation, while those who miss receive words of encouragement from the spectators.
Ancient roots of Mukha
There are many accounts regarding the history of Mukha, but no one knows the exact date or origin of the game. However, it is widely believed to be a traditional form of archery.
Before the time of Mahmud of Ghazni, it used to be played in Tajikistan. Back then, instead of a mud pedestal, a piece of leather was fixed into a wall.” – Fazal Jameel, a Mukha player
Fazal Jameel, 81, a former player and local elder of Katlang — about 20 kilometres north of Mardan city — recalls that the sport traces its roots to ancient times — some even link it to the era of Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham), who, according to him, invented the type of bow used in the game.
He further says that some claim that Mukha originated in the Pashtun region around 1870 but others believe that this game dates back to 1876-1877 — no one really knows its exact origin.
“Before the time of Mahmud of Ghazni, it used to be played in Tajikistan. Back then, instead of a mud pedestal, a piece of leather was fixed into a wall.”
Muhammad Naeem, a 46-year-old man who has been playing Mukha for the past 36 years, shares that he learned the sport in the same hujra where he still plays.
According to him, Mukha was once played in many areas of Mardan, but now it survives only in four villages of Katlang — Babuzai, Shamozai, Mian Khan, and Sangao.
Naeem laments that the game has lost popularity among the youth due to the lack of government interest. “The government spends money on sports like cricket, football, volleyball, and hockey, but traditional games like Mukha are ignored,” he complains.
The government spends money on sports like cricket, football, volleyball, and hockey, but traditional games like Mukha are ignored.” – Muhammad Naeem, Mukha player
Pointing towards the elders still active in the game, he observes, “It’s the older generation who continue to play, while the youth mostly come just to watch.”
To keep the tradition alive, Naeem mentions he has taught Mukha to his three sons, who now play for different village teams, in hopes of inspiring more young people to take up this centuries-old Pashtun sport.
Jameel adds more about the history of Mukha. Thousands years ago, instead of a blunt point, a sharp arrow was used to make a circular mark with a centre, and the goal was to hit that target to win the match.
He adds that over centuries, Mukha evolved into a competitive village pastime, passed down from generation to generation.
Traditions beyond generations
The material used to make Mukha equipment comes from Bajaur — a tribal district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Its bow is made up of nine parts, crafted from the horn of a markhor (wild goat).
The part in a bow is made of olive wood, the middle is crafted from markhor horn, and the handle is made of mulberry wood. It costs between Rs. 60,000 ($ 213) and Rs. 70,000 ($ 250).
“The equipment for this game is very expensive — beyond the reach of poor people,” Jameel remarks.
It’s not just a game; it’s our heritage. Our fathers and grandfathers played Mukha. We’re keeping their tradition alive.” – Sher Ali Khan, Mukha player
Sher Ali Khan, a 51-year-old former Mukha player who came to watch the match, tells WE News English that the sport belongs to the poor because it is “a game connected to the soil and played sitting on the ground.”
He adds that although the game is deeply rooted in local tradition, the equipment has become too expensive for poor players to afford.
“I’ve been watching this game for the past 40 years,” he recalls, describing how Mukha once united people from all walks of life.
“It’s not just a game; it’s our heritage. Our fathers and grandfathers played Mukha. We’re keeping their tradition alive,” says Khan.
He believes that Mukha is a symbol of peace, as it brings together elders and youth who sit side by side, sharing thoughts and stories. “What could be a greater message of peace than that?” he remarks.
Khan adds that his grandfather and father were skilled Mukha players, and now his son plays for the same team. “We’ve kept this game alive for three generations,” he says proudly.
“I’ve told my son to preserve it just as we did, because our culture and traditions are tied to these traditional sports. They are the legacy of our forefathers, and we have a duty to protect them.”
During the previous PTI government, with the help of Atif Khan, the government approved Rs. 39 million for Mukha, and a new ground is now being built in Shamozai.” – Amjad Yousafzai, office-bearer of Yousafzai Mukha Organisation
When asked why traditional games are disappearing while only a few like Mukha remain, Ali explains, “Because of technology and self-projection, young people now prefer games where their name and image reach a wider audience more quickly.”
Renewed push for preservation
In recent years, cultural organisations and sports departments have shown renewed interest in promoting Mukha as part of Pakistan’s intangible cultural heritage.
Efforts are underway to document its rules, equipment, and history to preserve it for future generations.
Amjad Yousafzai, provincial president of the Yousafzai Mukha Organisation, says that around 100 teams are currently playing Mukha across different districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, including Swabi, Mardan, Torghar, Buner, Haripur, and Battagram.
He points out that Swabi is the only district where almost 99 per cent of hujras have arrangements for Mukha, and every village has its own team.
To promote the sport, Yousafzai explains that the association organises district and provincial-level tournaments every year through self-help efforts.
“We’ve shared our challenges with the district administration as well as the provincial and federal governments. The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Sports Department promised to include Mukha in the official sports calendar, but no notification has been issued hitherto,” he notes.
Amjad adds that some members of the provincial and National assemblies — the provincial and federal legislatures, respectively — who attend Mukha matches occasionally announce small grants, which the association uses for the sport’s development.
He also mentions that the Sarhad Rural Support Programme — a non-profit organisation driving community development across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa — has been supporting them for the past 12 years.
“During the previous PTI [Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf] government, with the help of Atif Khan, the government approved Rs. 39 million for Mukha, and a new ground is now being built in Shamozai, which will soon be completed,” Yousafzai adds.
For many in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Mukha remains more than a sport — it’s a living symbol of identity, craftsmanship, and pride that continues to connect modern players with their ancient past.
