Mongolia’s Naadam Day winds up today! 
 

Wrestling, Horse Racing, Breaking of Wild Horses, Capture of Wild Horses, Archery, Archery from a Horse, Competitive Riding
From the National Naadam Celebration series
Issued by Mongolian post in 1974

Naadam is a 3 to 5 day event celebrating traditional Mongolian sports – wrestling, horseracing and archery, singing, and dancing. Naadam dates to the early 13th century when Genghis Khan defeated warring factions and united the Mongolian tribes. The festival began July 7 and runs until July 13 this year. 

The festival is such an integral part of Mongolian history and culture it is recognised as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. 

Naadam is a national festival celebrated every year from 11 to 13 July across Mongolia that focuses on three traditional games: horseracing, wrestling and archery. Mongolian Naadam is inseparably connected to the nomadic civilization of the Mongols, who have long practiced pastoralism on Central Asia’s vast steppe. Oral traditions, performing arts, national cuisine, craftsmanship, and cultural forms such as long song, Khöömei overtone singing, Bie biyelgee dance and Morin khuur fiddle also feature prominently during Naadam. Mongolians follow special rituals and practices during the festival, such as wearing unique costumes and using distinctive tools and sporting items. Festival participants revere the sportsmen, sportswomen, and children who compete, and winners are rewarded titles for their achievements. Ritual praise songs and poems are dedicated to the contestants in the events. Everyone is allowed and encouraged to participate in Naadam, thus nurturing community involvement and togetherness. The three types of sports are directly linked with the lifestyles and living conditions of the Mongols and their transmission is traditionally undertaken through home-schooling by family members, although formalized training regimens have recently developed for wrestling and archery. The rituals and customs of Naadam also accentuate respect for nature and the environment.
Naadam, Mongolian traditional festival – intangible heritage – Culture Sector – UNESCO