Tees Maar Khan

Tees Maar khan is The timeless Punjabi legend of Tees Maar Khan.

History

A village tailor, was working away in his shack one dog-day afternoon, struggling with his endless measuring and cutting and stitching, while waving the flies away from his face every few seconds. Suddenly, he noticed a swarm of flies squatting on the honey bowl he had put aside earlier, after finishing his luncheon dessert.

Seeing an opportunity to get back at the pesky creatures, he slowly leaned back to grab his jutti (shoe), coiled forwards - still without a sound - and then, pounced at the menacing little buzzers with lightning speed. It was a wholesale massacre!

He turned the jutti over and saw them all splattered on its sole, little streaks of blood streaming in every direction. It was a total victory, mind over matter, man over beast! He carefully counted the corpses ... they were THIRTY of them! He felt good. He felt strong. He felt mighty. He felt invincible. He had heard of many a fearless warrior and of many a daring deed, but never of anyone who'd slain thirty monsters in a single blow!

He quickly embroidered himself a bold and beautiful sash which proclaimed right across the front: "Tees Maar Khan" - The Brave Single-Handed Slayer of Thirty! He put it on, dangling it diagonally from one shoulder to the opposite hip, locked up his shop and headed into town to parade down its street and share the news of his unprecedented exploit. The adventures that followed are history, and his name is embroidered in gold ever since on the banner of Punjabi lore as The Man who Vanquished Thirty!