Nadaam

Hi everyone

These last 3 days were Nadaam festival. Nadaam means “game” in Mongol. It is a very old tradition of a national competition for the 3 national sports which are wrestling, archery and horse racing. The different tribes of the empire would compete to show their strength. 

More recently, the festival was annualized and the dates were adapted to commemorate the victorious events of 1921 when Mongolia got out of China’s ruling.

So this is now national days. Competitions happen everywhere in the country but the most symbolic events are held in UlaanBaatar stadium, and I was lucky enough to attend.

There are maybe 5000 seats in the stadium, and Mongolian would put their traditionnal clothes to attend

The ceremony starts with the national pride related events. The 9 symbols of the 9 Mongolian tribes (which were unified by Gengis Khaan) are carried by horse into the stadium.

The president pronounces a speech and the national hymn is sung.

Then several animations in traditional costumes take place.

Of course Coca Cola is there

And it is afterwards time for naked man festival: wrestling competition. Usually the stadium emptied because wrestling schemes are difficult to catch for tourists, and so many fights are held at the same time, that watching it on TV is more pleasant for Mongolian.

Behind the stadium are held the archery competition. Opposite from wrestling, these one is open to women (a lengend explain that the reason why wrestlers are naked is to prevent women from participate)

And much further in the countryside happen horse races. Hundreds of horses ridden by kids as young as 5 years old race for around 30 km.

But Nadaam is before all a family holiday. People will spend time in the countryside with their family and rest, watching sport on TV.

Animations in town are more for tourists.