The attan is a type of outdoor group ring dance that is danced among Pashtun communities. Different versions of the attan exist between different tribes, with many having their own characteristic rhythms and music. Traditionally, the attan was danced as a means of preparing for war by strengthening communal bonds. Certain tribes still use their weapons as part of their dance, such as the Khattak tribe who dance the attan with swords, the Mahsud tribe who dance with rifles, and other tribes who dance with daggers or wooden batons. Nowadays, the attan is considered the national dance of Afghanistan, and it is danced widely throughout the country during holidays, weddings, and other types of social gatherings.

 

The attan features a group of dancers that form a ring around a group of musicians. Dances start slow and gradually accelerate to an exciting final climax. The dancers will clap simultaneously during the dance, and cry out at specific times while whirling to the left and right. As the dance speeds up, dancers will drop out one by one until the climactic finish. The music that accompanies the attan is played by the dhol, a double-sided drum, and the sorna, a reed wind instrument. Music for the dance is set in a seven beat rhythm.