Mareke Giri

Mareke Giri (Persian: معرکه‌گیری, lit. 'fighting or combat') is a type of traditional street performance in Iran.^[1][2][3] The Mareke Gir is a person who entertains people with his "special powers", such as breaking chains with his arms, breaking stones with his hands, handling big cats, and/or handling snakes.^[1][4][5][6]

Persian dervish, holding a huge snake in his arms (1870s)

Mareke Giri (December 2014) in Tajrish Square, Tehran

Mareke Giri are free shows in public locations; viewers will give the performer some money to encourage them.^[7] Occasionally the shows will have a mix religious undertones, and sometimes an element of fraud will occur.

See also

• Persian theatre, history of entertainment in Iran
• Pahlevani and zoorkhaneh rituals, traditional system of athletics for men in Iran