View source for Boli Khela

{{Short description|Traditional form of wrestling}}
{{EngvarB|date=March 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2017}}
{{Infobox martial art
| image        = File:Boli Khela, Pohela Boishakh (2014) (19204236770).jpg
| imagecaption = Two players (boli) playing Boli khela in Chittagong
| imagesize    = 
| name         = Boli Khela<br />(বলি খেলা)
| aka          = 
| focus        = [[Grappling]]
| hardness     = Full Contact
| country      = [[File:Flag of Bangladesh.svg|20px]] [[Bangladesh]]
| creator      = 
| famous_pract = Didarul Alam, Marma Singh
| parenthood   = Historic
| olympic      = No
}}
{{Culture of Bangladesh}}

'''Boli Khela''' or '''Bali Khela'''<ref name=lapedia>{{cite book |last=Haque |first=Mahbubul |year=2012 |chapter=Bali Khela |chapter-url=http://en.banglapedia.org/index.php?title=Bali_Khela |editor1-last=Islam |editor1-first=Sirajul |editor1-link=Sirajul Islam |editor2-last=Jamal |editor2-first=Ahmed A. |title=Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh |edition=Second |publisher=[[Asiatic Society of Bangladesh]]}}</ref> ({{langx|ctg|বলীখেলা}}) is a traditional form of [[wrestling]] in Bangladesh, particularly popular in the [[Chittagong]] area considered as a national game of the district.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=DgNuAAAAMAAJ&q=boli+khela Bangladesh. Ministry of Cabinet Affairs, Establishment Division]</ref> It is a form of [[combat sport]] involving [[grappling]] type techniques such as [[clinch fighting]], [[throws]] and [[Takedown (grappling)|takedowns]], [[joint locks]], [[pins]] and other [[grappling holds]]. It is one of the oldest traditions of the [[Chittagong]]. The sporting event, held in the first month of the Bengali year date of 7th, always takes place at [[Madarsha Union]] as Mokkaro boli khela & same month date of 12th, always takes place at Laldighi Maidan as Jabbarer Boli khela.<ref>{{cite news |title=Jabbar-er Boli Khela and Baishakhi Mela in Chittagong |url=http://archive.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=136182 |newspaper=The Daily Star |date=28 April 2010 |access-date=8 June 2013}}</ref>

==Etymology==
'''Boli''' means wrestler<ref name=daily-sun.com>{{cite news |title=Jobbarer Boli Khela begins April 25 |url=http://www.daily-sun.com/details_yes_22-04-2013_Jobbarer-Boli-Khela-begins-April-25_475_1_10_1_5.html |newspaper=Daily Sun |location=Dhaka |date=22 April 2013 |access-date=8 June 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131103163020/http://www.daily-sun.com/details_yes_22-04-2013_Jobbarer-Boli-Khela-begins-April-25_475_1_10_1_5.html |archive-date=3 November 2013 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> or a powerful person in [[Chittagonian language|Chittagonian]], while '''Khela''' denotes a game. So, Boli Khela means game of the powerful person.<ref name=lapedia/>

==History==
Boli Khela was introduced in the last 19th century by Kader Boxo. He was a landlord and resident of [[Satkania Upazila]] under [[Madarsha Union]] in [[Chittagong]] district.  Reportedly, beginning in 1879, during the first month of each year, he collected dues from his renters and arranged a boli khela match. After his death, the 7th of Boishakh, the first month of the Bengali calendar year, started being called "Mokkaro Boli Khela". 

A 20th century merchant, Abdul Jabbar Saodagor from Chittagong, arranged a boli khela in 1907 match to cultivate a sport that would prepare the youth to fight against British rule. Broad appeal for the sport began at the end of the [[World War I|First World War]] but subsided at the end of the [[Second World War]].<ref name="independent">{{cite news |last=Zaman |first=Jaki |title=Jabbarer Boli Khela: Better Than WWE |url=http://theindependentbd.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=168299:jabbarer-boli-khela-better-than-wwe&catid=175:weekend-independent&Itemid=213 |newspaper=The Independent |location=Dhaka |date=10 May 2013 |access-date=8 June 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131104225255/http://theindependentbd.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=168299%3Ajabbarer-boli-khela-better-than-wwe&catid=175%3Aweekend-independent&Itemid=213 |archive-date=4 November 2013 |df=dmy-all }}</ref><ref name="thedailystar.net">{{cite news |title=Jabbarer Boli Khela tomorrow |url=http://www.thedailystar.net/beta2/news/jabbarer-boli-khela-tomorrow/ |newspaper=The Daily Star |date=24 April 2013 |access-date=8 June 2013}}</ref>

In the year 2020 and 2021, the event was not held due to Covid pandemic situation. After two years on 24 April 2022 the 113th edition and then the 114th edition of the historic Jobbarer Boli Khela, a traditional form of wrestling, took place in Chattogram on 25 April 2023.<ref name="tbsnews.net">{{cite news |title=Jabbarer Boli Khela on 25 April |url=https://www.tbsnews.net/bangladesh/jabbarer-boli-khela-25-april-612938 |newspaper=The Business Standard |date=7 April 2023 |access-date=26 October 2023}}</ref>

==Participation==
The arena is either a circular or square shape, measuring at least fourteen to twenty feet across. Rather than using modern mats, Boli wrestlers train and compete on dirt floors. Match started in a sandy wrestling ground.<ref name=archive.thedailystar>{{cite news |title=Didar, Marma Singh Tripura joint champions |url=http://archive.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=33825 |newspaper=The Daily Star |date=26 April 2008 |access-date=12 September 2013}}</ref> Each year, Boli Khela attracts new participates and fans because the sheer enjoyment of the sport is not only contagious for local enthusiasts but inspires tourists to Bangladesh an opportunity to get a glimpse of an exciting and unique event.<ref name=thedailystar.net />

==Rules==
The event starts at afternoon in a festive mood with the music of 'Dabor' (one kind of folk drum)and 'Sanai' (folk flute).<ref name=thedailystar/> Each match lasts about 25–30 minutes but if both competitors agree, the length of the final match may be extended up to 10–15 minutes.<ref name=archive.thedailystar/>

==Competitions==
• [[Mokkar Boli Khela]]

• [[jobbarer Boli khela]]

==Great practitioners==
* Didar Boli, a trader from Omkhali under Ramu upazila in [[Cox's Bazar]] district.<ref name=independent/>
* Oli Hossain of [[Brahmanbaria]] district.<ref name=thedailystar>{{cite news |last1=Chakraborty |first1=Pranabesh |last2=Chowdhury |first2=Tymur Jahan |title=Grocer Oli new champ |url=http://archive.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=231654 |newspaper=The Daily Star |date=26 April 2012 |access-date=11 September 2013}}</ref>
* Marma Singh, a sub inspector of Gulshan Police Station in [[Dhaka]].<ref name=independent-bangladesh>{{cite news |title=Grocer Oli new champ |url=http://www.independent-bangladesh.com/200804264769/events/didar-boli-marma-singh-joint-champions.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080517053444/http://www.independent-bangladesh.com/200804264769/events/didar-boli-marma-singh-joint-champions.html |url-status=usurped |archive-date=17 May 2008 |newspaper=Bangladesh News |date=26 April 2008 |access-date=12 September 2013}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Kabaddi]]
* [[Lathi khela]]

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Boli Khela}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20130704083638/http://www.tripbd.com/ne/JABBARER-BOLI-KHELA JABBARER BOLI KHELA]
* [http://www.bangladesh.com/blog/the-sport-of-boli-khela The Sport of Boli Khela]

{{Portal bar|Martial arts|Bangladesh}}
{{Folk wrestling}}
{{Martial arts}}

[[Category:Sport in Chittagong]]
[[Category:Bangladeshi martial arts]]
[[Category:South Asian martial arts]]
[[Category:Sports originating in South Asia]]
[[Category:Traditional sports of Bangladesh]]