Mukha or makha is the traditional Pashtun archery sport played in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan. The game is played with a long arrow (ghashay) and a long bow (leenda). The arrow has a saucer shaped metallic plate (tubray) at its distal end. The archers play in teams and attempt to hit a small white wooden target called takai surrounded by a circular ring called kwaara. The target is secured in fresh clay placed at some height a few meters away from the archer. It is played only in summer season because the bow and arrow can’t work perfectly in the winter season. A type of archery is the traditional game of Swabi District, especially in the village of Kaddi. The game is played as follows: • A long bow (ghashay) and a long arrow (leenda) made from bamboo sticks are used. • Instead of a pointed tip, the arrow has a saucer-shaped metlalic plate at the blunt end, which is called the Tubray. • The archers play in teams and attempt to hit a small white wooden target called Takai which is surrounded by a circle or ring or Kwaara. • The target is kept in wet clay at some height, a few meters away from the archer. • The team that hits the maximum number of targets accurately wins.
"When a sport disappears, it is like a language no longer spoken. When we revive a game, we revive a culture."
Khalil Ahmed Khan — President, ICTSG
