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]
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.