{{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 = 20px Bangladesh | creator = | famous_pract = Didarul Alam, Marma Singh | parenthood = Historic | olympic = No }} {{Culture of Bangladesh}}
'''Boli Khela''', also known as '''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|bn|বলীখেলা}}), and popularly known as '''Jobbarer Boli Khela''' ({{langx|bn|জব্বারের বলীখেলা}}), is a traditional form of wrestling in Bangladesh. It is particularly popular in the Chittagong region, where it is regarded as the district's traditional national sport.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=DgNuAAAAMAAJ&q=boli+khela Bangladesh. Ministry of Cabinet Affairs, Establishment Division]</ref> This combat sport incorporates grappling techniques such as clinch fighting, throws and takedowns, joint locks, pins, and other grappling holds. It is one of Chittagong's oldest traditions. The event is held on the 7th day of the first month of the Bengali calendar at Madarsha Union as Mokkaro Boli Khela, and on the 12th day of the same month 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== In the Chittagonian dialect, ''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," while ''Khela'' means "game" or "sport." Thus, Boli Khela literally translates to "game of the powerful person."<ref name=lapedia/>.
==History== Boli Khela was introduced in the 19th century by Kader Boxo, a landlord and resident of Satkania Upazila in the Madarsha Union of Chittagong District. Starting in 1879, he collected rent from his tenants each year and organized a Boli Khela match. After his death, the 7th of Boishakh (the first month of the Bengali calendar) became known as "Mokkaro Boli Khela."{{cn|date=March 2026}}
The sport was popularized in the early 20th century by Abdul Jabbar Saodagor of Chittagong. It gained widespread appeal after World War I but declined after World War II.<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>
The event was not held in 2020 or 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. After two years, the 113th edition of the historic Jobbarer Boli Khela took place in Chattogram on 24 April 2022, followed by the 114th edition 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 circular or square, measuring at least fourteen to twenty feet across. Instead of using modern mats, Boli wrestlers train and compete on dirt floors. Matches begin on 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 participants and fans, serving as a spectator sport for local residents and enthusiasts while also demonstrating traditional wrestling techniques to the public.<ref name=thedailystar.net />
==Format== Events are divided into tournament sessions.<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> Each match typically lasts 25–30 minutes, but if both competitors agree, the final match may be extended by 10–15 minutes.<ref name=archive.thedailystar/>
==Competitions==
==See also==
''Boli – The Wrestler'' (film)
==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