One of the traditional games played in Iran that has been played in Iran for over 2,000 years, and it is a sort of team-based sport in which players pass the ball through the opposing team's goalposts using a wooden stick called Chogan.
In the Sasannian Empire, chowgan was part of the royal education system for the Sasanians. The Romans adopted it and called it tzykanion. During the reign of Theodosius II, in the tzykanisterion, tzykanion was played by the Roman imperial court. By the Tang dynasty (618–907), polo was well-established in the Chinese.
A Chogan team consists of two riders and their goal is to pass the Guy (ball) through the opposing team's goals by using a Chogan (wooden stick). Players compete in a large open area known as a Meydan, in several “Chukkehs” (rounds). Each Meydan is different, as are the number of Chukkehs and the number of "Choganbazin" (players
There are three pieces of Chogan: Choganbazi (the main game), corresponding musical pieces, and narration (Naqqali, Morshedkhani).
Due to the fact that the game needs several Chogan horses, a skilled Choganbazin, and a level Meydan, it is mostly performed in specific places and large events, such as Nowrouz. The artists often participate in this game on their own initiative and without any compensation. They usually tell stories and poems about the local, national, and mythological areas and used local tunes and melodies. Performing in various areas, the local literature and music of the specific areas are promoted which reinforces their sense of belonging, whether it's local, national, or ethnic.
Various Chogan skills are often passed down informally and orally by parents and their children, or masters and apprentices. Considering the reasons which will be cited in the social functions section, it is very appealing to the youth to learn this game. As a result, the masters and veterans in society have gained a high social standing. Apprentices are encouraged to display their creativity when learning about the music and storytelling related to the harvest festival.
Over decades, Chogan practices have continued to be actively safeguarded by local practitioners and their families. However, Chogan associations have been formed, which hold training courses, support local masters, and help to transmit all aspects of Chogan while simultaneously safeguarding local diversity. Despite the presence of Chogan patterns and figures in contemporary Iranian culture, now, many motifs used in the literature and culture of Iran, as well as art, handicrafts, and architectural ornaments are derived from Chogan.
References
(https://ich.unesco.org/en/RL/chogn-a-horse-riding-game-accompanied-by-music-and-storytelling-01282) (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chovgan) (https://www.ichlinks.com/archive/elements/elementsV.do?nation=IR&page=1&elementsUid=13829896118431900119&mode=grid)