Celebrating Naadam Festival in Mongolia

We leave Russia and some 30 hours later we arrive in the capital of Mongolia. Here our Trans-Siberia train changes into the Trans-Mongolia Express. As we enter Ulaanbaatar in the morning mist, the gers (Mongolian tents, the houses of the nomadic families) pop up between the green hills. In the suburbs of the capital you find the gers and stone cottages all mixed together. Just imagine that in ‘our’ Amsterdam or in your own hometown; in every backyard, there would be a tent which houses a complete family, an unusual sight.

Ulaanbaatar is a lot more dynamic than we have thought. We find a bizarre mix of ancient temples, Soviet-style apartment buildings, modern squares and shimmering glass towers in the heart of the city, surrounded by lush hills. A big contrast to the Mongolian steppe which we will discover later on.

Cultural surprise on the Naadam Festival

We don’t have a lot of time to acclimatize. A day after arriving in Mongolia the Naadam Festival starts! This annual festival is actually kind of a ‘Mongolian Olympics’. It begins with a spectacular opening ceremony in the stadium of the capital. During the two festival days, three sports are in the centre of it all: wrestling, archery and horse racing. All Mongolians have a week off around Naadam festival and the visitors are dressing up in their most distinguished clothing. Because the Mongolian population is made up out of numerous tribes, you will see the most beautiful colorful robes passing you by.

The Naadam Festival is not only celebrated in Ulaanbaatar. Also in the inland villages ‘the games’ are the highlight of the year, with local leagues in all the three sports.

We thoroughly enjoy the cultural festival. We see how the President opens the festivities and actually dances after his speech. How hundreds of Mongolians represent the entire history of the Mongol Empire in a truly fantastic opening show with horses, camels, theatre, dance, fire, parachute jumps and floats. But also how smal and gigantic men wrestle against each other (there are no weight limits applying in wrestling) after they first perform a ceremonial eagle dance. How archers that have lost already are cheering for the remaining finalists. And how children between 7 and 12 years old race on their steppe horses as if their life depends on it.

The horse races are held outside the city and cover about 15 kilometres of steppe. Only children participate, the lighter the rider the more chance the horse has. Does the child fall down from his horse halfway? No problem, as long as the animal reaches the finish he is “only” placed down five places in the final standings. Now that’s convenient.

Around the wrestling arena countless of merchants are selling their homemade mare’s milk drinks and fried bread with mutton. You can throw a ball in a basket and win a second-hand teddy bear, or throw darts at a dart board and win a real, breathing bunny.

Everyone is in a festive mood, and we feel lucky to be able to celebrate a little bit, along with the locals. It is only the beginning of our adventure in Mongolia, but we are already fans of this fascinating country.

Also watch our 360 movie of the festival: