ELEPHANT RACING

Evening Star, Issue 20033, 26 November 1928, Page 13

ELEPHANT RACING

THRILLING DISPLAY AFGHAN ENTERTAINMENT It may bo easy enough to persuade Afghan hillsmen to discard their robes by a royal decree; it may also be comparatively easy to influence them to cut their beards (writes Dr Edward Luboff in tho ‘ Daily Mail ’). All this has been done before by an earlier “revolutionary” monarch, Peter the Great. _ , To my mind, however, King Amauuilah’s greatest achievement was tho organisation of a fete in which the populace were eager and joyful participants, for in my experience of Central Asia and Afghanistan the absence of all organised popular amusements was duo to the inability of tho people to take part in them. During my stay in Kabul I questioned my guide on this subject, but he was emphatic on tho point that no true believer needs amusement. “Let him,” he said, “ employ his ■ spare time in reading tho Koran, It is because of that I marvel at the success of this and last year’s Kabul celebrations, commemorating Afghan independence. Day after day for a week the population of tho capital and its environs and thousands of tribesmen from the whole kingdom not only watched grand spectacles staged for their amusement, but also took part in them. _ And all this without any pretence of it being a religious celebration. Tho programme for the week was interesting First of all tho crowds were entertained by a flow of oratory which they could applaud, and during which they wore allowed to make as many interjections as they pleased. To a people whoso only speeches are sermons and prayers with their regular and prescribed responses, this new innovation was in itself a tremendous source of enjoyment. Moreover, the principal orator was the King, who is a fine speaker; bis speeches are inspiring and arresting. He speaks freely without any sign of nervousness; bis gesticulations add vigour to his fiery words, and hold the crowds entranced. The speeches over, tho crowds were invited by royal heralds to see military parades reviewed by the King. These were followed by exciting elephant races, tng-of-wars, and other displays. _ At tho conclusion of the official sjiectacles—and this is where King Amanullah’s cleverness is shown—an informal gymkhana was hold, in which anybody ifi the crowd •'could take part. Dancing and singing went on constantly day and night in a special enclosure in front of the newly-erected Arch of Independence and in the Royal Park. Not only were profession dancers employed, but the crowds also were encouraged to join in. Last year special bands were imported from Persia, while this year German musicians trained for the occasion a large number of Afghan performers. . . Afghan women are already beginning to emerge from their veiled seclusion, and took part in the festivities. Last year tho first step was taken in this direction by a number of progressive young women. This year, seeing that tho experiment has not resulted m any loss of caste, a number _ of other Afghan women followed suit. On the other hand, the pious still look askance at tho reforms of their King, and do not permit their young people or their womenfolk to take part in the festivities not proscribed by the Koran, It is hoped, however, that in time their opposition will bo defeated, and then Kabul during a fete will be worth visitthrowing off the restraint imposed by centuries of religious veto, tho Afghans will abandon themselves with a fervour that will surprise the outside world.