Mongolian NAADAM festival

What’s included in Naadam

  • Horse racing
  • Wrestling
  • Archery

JULY 11-13

  • July 11-13
  • 4 days
  • 3 Nights

Introduction

What is naadam?

Naadam is a traditional festival celebrated in Mongolia. The festival is also locally termed “Eriin gurvan naadam”.

The games are Mongolian wrestling, horse racing, and archery, and are held throughout the country during midsummer.

 

    • Wrestling A total of wrestlers meet in a single elimination tournament that lasts nine or ten rounds. Wrestlers wear two-piece costumes consisting of a tight shoulder vest (zodog) and shorts (shuudag) Only men are allowed to participate. Each wrestler has an encourager called zasuul. The zasuul calls their level name for the winning wrestler after round 3, 5, and 7. Winner of the 7th or 8th stage earn the title of zaan. The winner of the 9th or 10th stage called arslan. In the final competition, all the zasuul drop in the wake of each wrestler as they take steps toward each other. Two timed arslans are called Avraga.
    • Horse racing Children from 5 to 13 are chosen as jockeys and train in the months preceding the races. While jockeys are an important component, the main purpose of the races is to test the skill of the horses. Prizes are awarded to horses and jockeys. The top five horses in each class earn the title of ‘airgin tav’ and the top three are given gold, silver, and bronze medals.
    • Archery Archery is one of the oldest national sports and a cultural heritage with a rich history. The bow and arrow one of the main hunting tools of the Stone age, and from the Khunnu period its crafting shape has changed over time and found its present type.
    • In this competition, both men and women may participate. It is played by teams of ten. Each archer is given four arrows; the team must hit 33 ‘surs’. Men shoot their arrows from 75 meters away while women shoot theirs from 65 meters away. Traditionally the archers wear their national clothing ‘deel’ during the competition.

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