Annual Naadam Festival in Mongolia

The Naadam festival is an age old celebration of the tests of courage, strength, dexterity, and marksmanship of the Mongolian nomads. It is held annually on July 11,12 and 13 throughout the country. The three “manly games” consist of horse racing, wrestling and archery. The race is over 30 km in distance and is raced by young riders - some as young as six years old. Wrestling starts with traditional “eagle dance” that is supposed to lift the wrestlers spirit. Archery dates back to the times of Genghis Khan's warriors. People also compete in ankle bone shooting.

This is the saddle that Genghis Khan rode on when he went into battle - it is dated about 1208.

The Mongolian Honor Guard arrives at the Ulan Bator Naadam Festival.

A boy in traditional wrestling dress walks in front of a Guardsman

In average, 400 horses of six age categories, or 2400 horses, participate in 2 days of  horse racing in Ulan Bator.  Actually, more than 26,000 horses, including local smaller Naadam horses, participate in a race all over the country. The horses race for 15-35 km putting forth all strength. Training a horse for such a race requires experience and patience.  Both boys and girls compete as jockeys, or riders, in the horse races, which take place in the open steppes, with no marked race course.

  Men only compete in the wrestling events, but both men and women compete in the archery tests.

  The Naadam Festival has taken place for centuries, and is, essentially, a memorial celebration of the great past of the Mongols and their empire under Genghis Khan.