[2] The main purpose of the magazine was to satirically depict various social phenomena, such as inequality, cultural assimilation and corruption, and to ridicule backward lifestyles and values of the clergy and bureaucrats.

Khatabala harshly condemned the anti-Armenian policy of the Ottoman Empire and championed the friendship of the peoples of Transcaucasia.

[13] Khatabala differed from Karmir Motsak (another Armenian satirical periodical published in Tiflis) in its breadth of coverage of reality, the richness of factual material, and the color of artistic creativity.

Khatabala also stopped publishing along with such satirical periodicals Shesht, Zurna, Karmir Motsak as a result of censorship.

Among its contributors were Gevorg Bashinjaghian, Henryk Hryniewsky, Garegin Yeritsyan, A. Mirzoyan, Josef Rotter, Atrpet, Musheg Bagratuni, Tmblachi Khachan, Garegin Levonyan, Hovhannes Tumanyan (1869–1923, considered the Armenian national poet), Avetik Isahakyan (1875–1957, a well-known Armenian poet), Movses Arazi, Stepan Zoryan.