Naadam Festival
The Naadam
Eight centuries of steppe heritage: the history, the three games, and the ceremonies that frame them.
History of Naadam
From military training of the khans' warriors to a UNESCO-inscribed national festival — eight centuries of the three games.
Read more →Mongolian wrestling — bökh
512 wrestlers, nine elimination rounds, no weight classes, no time limit. The eagle dance, the zodog and shuudag, and titles that follow a man for life.
Read more →Horse racing at Khui Doloon Khudag
Not a racetrack — the open steppe. Races of 12 to 26 km, thousands of horses, and the giingoo song of young riders at dawn.
Read more →Mongolian archery
Three traditions — Khalkh, Buriad, Uriankhai — one composite bow, and judges who sing the score.
Read more →Shagai — ankle-bone shooting
The fourth game of Naadam: sheep ankle bones, polished shooting tablets, and a hall that hums like a beehive.
Read more →Ceremonies & the Deeltei Mongol parade
The Nine White Banners, a stadium ceremony of a thousand performers, and a city dressed in silk deels.
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