Culture

The culture of Tajikistan has developed over several thousand years. Historically, Tajiks and Persians come from very similar stock with a mutual language and are related as part of the larger group of Iranian peoples.

The Yaghnobi people live in mountainous areas of northern Tajikistan. The estimated number of Yagnobians is now about 250,000. Forced migrations have decimated their numbers. They speak the Yaghnobi language, which has its roots in the Sogdian language.

The national sport of Tajikistan is wrestling, where it is known as Gushtin Geri. Other sports include bushkashi, a game in which two mounted teams attempt to deliver a headless and legless goat's carcass weighing up to 40 kg (over 6 stone) over the opposition's goal line. Players are allowed to wrestle the goat from an opponent, although actual physical assault is frowned upon.