The Khattak dance is the sword dance of the Khattak Pashtuns of Karak, Nowshera and the surrounding districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: a fast, martial form of the attan, danced to drum and pipe with swords and a handkerchief, and built up in stages until a single dancer spins with three swords at once. It began as a war dance, performed before battle, and today it is danced at weddings and Eid, at cultural festivals, and to welcome important guests. The easiest place for most visitors to see it is the annual Lok Mela at Lok Virsa in Islamabad.
Our attan guide compares the Khattak dance with the Waziri and Mehsud styles. This post is about the Khattak dance itself: where it comes from, how a performance unfolds, and where you can watch one.
| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| What it is | A martial Pashtun sword dance, a form of the attan |
| Home area | The Khattak tribe's lands: Karak, Nowshera and surrounding districts |
| Props | Swords of about 1.5 kg each, and a handkerchief |
| Music | Dhol drums and the surnai pipe |
| Stages | Bhangra, derabi, laila, braghoni and bulbullah |
| When danced | Weddings, Eid, welcoming guests, cultural festivals |
| Easiest to see | Lok Mela, Lok Virsa, Islamabad (usually November) |
Where does the Khattak dance come from?
The dance takes its name from the Khattak tribe of Pashtuns, whose lands stretch across today's Karak and Nowshera districts and the country around them. Wikipedia describes it as a swift martial version of the Pashtun attan, and as a national dance of Pakistan.
Its purpose was war. Khattak warriors danced it before going into battle, as a physical warm-up and to raise their spirits, in the time of the tribal chief Malik Shahbaz Khan Khattak and then of his son, the warrior poet Khushal Khan Khattak (1613 to 1689). Khushal led the Khattaks against the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb and is buried at Akora Khattak; our guide to Khushal Khan Khattak's tomb covers a visit.
An Associated Press of Pakistan feature from January 2026 dates the dance's introduction by the Khattak tribe to the 14th century and notes that it was popular in both the Mughal and British eras, when rulers recruited Khattak fighters into their armies. A photograph published by The Friday Times shows tribesmen performing it around 1890.
You will also read that the dance descends from an ancient Greek dance for the goddess Athena, brought by Alexander's armies. It is an old and popular theory, but no more than that; treat it as a story, not history.
How is the Khattak dance performed?
A Khattak performance is a sequence, not a single dance. Each stage is faster and harder than the one before. Sources differ slightly on the names, but the Associated Press of Pakistan, quoting the Nowshera dancer and musician Shazeb Gul, gives five:
- Bhangra (or bangrai). The opening, danced with swords, often in a circle, and described by Wikipedia as a warm-up.
- Derabi. Performed by two dancers together.
- Laila. Four dancers moving in formation.
- Braghoni. The fastest and most difficult stage: a single dancer performs with three swords at once.
- Bulbullah (or balbala). The closing stage, fast but danced without swords.
Dancers spin, swing their heads and turn the swords around their bodies while moving to the beat. Wikipedia puts each sword at about one and a half kilograms, so a braghoni dancer is handling more than four kilograms of steel at speed. Reports from Lok Virsa describe dancers twirling red handkerchiefs with their swords drawn.
The music
The rhythm is set by the dhol, the double-headed drum beaten with sticks, and the melody by the surnai, a loud reed pipe. The Friday Times notes that the drummer follows the dancer, changing the rhythm to match his technique as the dance speeds up. Traditionally the dance was performed at night, in a circle around lanterns or a bonfire, with the drum beating slowly and irregularly.
The costume
For a full performance, dancers wear a wide shalwar, a long frock-style kameez, a red embroidered waistcoat and a decorative scarf at the waist, according to the 2026 APP report. Our guide to Pashtun dress explains each piece.
When is it performed?
Away from the stage, the Khattak dance belongs to celebrations. The APP report lists weddings, Eid festivities, birthday celebrations and the reception of important guests, alongside its old role before battle and after victory. In Khattak villages, a wedding with a dhol player is the most likely place for it to start.
On stage, Khattak dance groups appear at national and provincial cultural events, university festivals and on Pashtun Culture Day, 23 September. Our Pashtun Culture Day guide covers that day.
Some dancers have made it a profession. The dancer Asfandyar Khattak, described by The Friday Times as a 12th-generation descendant of Khushal Khan Khattak, has performed the Khattak dance at Lok Virsa, the Pakistan National Council of the Arts and the arts councils of Karachi and Lahore.
Where can I see the Khattak dance?
Lok Mela, Islamabad
For most people, the most reliable chance is Lok Mela, the national folk festival held every autumn at Lok Virsa in Shakarparian, Islamabad. Each province has a pavilion, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's usually brings a Khattak dance group; reports from several years describe the sword dance as one of the festival's biggest draws. The 2025 festival ran from 7 to 16 November, open daily from 10am to 10pm. Dates are announced each autumn, so check before you go. Our guides to Lok Mela and the Lok Virsa museum have the details.
Cultural events and weddings
Khattak dancers have performed at the Pakistan National Council of the Arts in Islamabad and at the arts councils of Karachi and Lahore. Watch their announcements rather than turning up hoping for a show; we could not find any venue that stages the dance on a fixed weekly schedule.
The real thing, though, happens at Pashtun weddings. If you are invited to one in Nowshera, Karak or Kohat, there may well be a dhol and a circle of dancers.
A note on safety
The Khattak heartland is in districts with current travel advisories. As of September 2026 the UK government advises against all travel to Karak and Kohat, and against all but essential travel to Nowshera. Pakistani visitors still travel there, especially for family events, but check local news and police advice first. Foreign-passport holders should read their own government's advice, since travelling against it can void insurance. Islamabad, where Lok Mela is held, is not on that list.
Watching, filming and joining in
- Keep your distance. The swords are real and swung fast. Stay behind the circle unless you are invited in.
- Ask before filming at a wedding. It is a family event, and women guests should never be filmed without permission.
- Stay clear of celebratory gunfire. The APP report mentions firearms alongside drums and swords; move away if guns appear.
- Join only when asked. If you are pulled into a circle at a wedding, follow the person in front and keep it simple.
Is it worth going out of your way to see?
If you are in Islamabad in November, yes: an evening at Lok Mela is the easiest way to see a proper Khattak performance with full costume, drummers and braghoni, and to see the other provinces' dances on the same night. Our experiences page has ideas for building a cultural trip around it.
As a reason to travel to Karak or Nowshera on its own, it is a harder case. There is no regular show, and the districts carry current advisories. Unless you have an invitation to a wedding, wait for a festival. For how the Khattak dance sits among Pakistan's other folk dances, see our folk dances of Pakistan guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Khattak dance?
A fast, martial Pashtun sword dance from the Khattak tribe of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, danced to drum and pipe with swords and a handkerchief. It is a form of the attan.
Why is it called the Khattak dance?
It is named after the Khattak tribe of Pashtuns, centred on Karak, Nowshera and the surrounding districts, whose warriors danced it before battle.
How many swords are used in the Khattak dance?
Up to three. In the braghoni, the fastest stage, a single dancer performs with three swords of about 1.5 kg each.
Is the Khattak dance the national dance of Pakistan?
Wikipedia describes it as a national dance of Pakistan, and it is regularly performed at national cultural events.
What is the difference between attan and the Khattak dance?
Attan is the general name for the Pashtun circle dance. The Khattak dance is one style of it: faster, performed with swords, and built up in stages.
Where can I watch the Khattak dance in Islamabad?
At Lok Mela, the annual folk festival at Lok Virsa in Shakarparian, usually held in November, and at cultural programmes run by the Pakistan National Council of the Arts.
