Lathi khela (Bengali:লাঠি খেলা) is a traditional Bengali martial art^[1][2] – a kind ofstick fighting practiced inBangladesh.^[3] A practitioner is known as alathial.^[4] Lathi khela originated from theBengal region inIndian subcontinent.

Lathi Khela

Lathi khela competition in Bangladesh
Focus	Stick fighting
Famous practitioners	Pulin Behari Das
Olympic sport	No
Meaning	Staffplay

The wordlathi is theBengali word meaning stick, whilekhela means a sport or game. Therefore,lathi khela translates as a game of sticks.^[5][6]

The lathi is normally made of themale bamboo and sometimes bound at short intervals with iron rings. A typical lathi measures 6 to 8 feet (2 to 2.4 m). Some, called bari, are shorter and may be wielded like a baton or bludgeon. In the past, sticks could be paired with shields, as can still be seen innori bari (mock stick-fight) demonstrations.

Rich farmers and other eminent people hiredlathial for security and as a symbol of their power. Duels were used as a way to protect or take land and other possessions. Aproverb in some South Asian languages is "whoever wields the lathi keeps thebuffalo".Zamindars (feudal lords) sent groups oflathial to forcefully collect taxes from villagers. Lathi training was at one time included in theBratachari system of education.^[7]

Although lathi is practised in Indian and Bangladeshi villages, urbanization has led to its decline as a ruralmartial art in recent decades. Until 1989, an annual nationwide lathi khela convention was held in Kushtia, Bangladesh, where troupes from all over the country took part.^[4] Due to the drop in practitioners and spectators, the convention is now held once every three years. Even in the districts where lathi troupes once flourished, only several now remain. Today, lathi khela is most often seen during festivals and weddings.^[8] Matches are held inWest Bengal for certain puja rituals, and a similar sport calledchamdi is played during Eid in North Bengal.

Lathial group performed acts like Baoi Jhak (group fight), Nori Bari (mock fight with sticks), Fala Khela and Dao Khela (mock fight with sharp weapons) and Chhuri dance to music, in the presence of hundreds. These groups may learn the arts ofdao khela (machete fighting) andfara khela (sword fighting), both of which are preserved today in the form of mock-fights. Matches are generally one-on-one, but the art includes mock-group fights orbaoi jhak. In lathi the centre of energy is the heartchakra, and practitioners fight in a more upright position.^[7][8]

• Boli Khela

• Traditional Bengali martial arts Lathi Khela is performed