Nadam festival has a long history. In ancient times, Mongol kings and military leaders trained soldiers and horses for war throughout the year. To boost the morale of the soldiers and break the monotony of training, on this day they used to organize three sports competitions among the soldiers - wrestling, archery and horse racing.
The festival continued after Genghis Khan, the founder of the Mongol Empire, took power in 1206. Even during his time, the customs of this festival which were in ancient times, were kept unchanged. In 2006, the 800th anniversary of Nadam festival was celebrated in a grand manner. Although the year 1206 is counted as the year of the beginning of Nadam in history, the festival was originally celebrated before Genghis Khan under a different name. In 2010, the festival was included in UNESCO's 'Cultural Heritage' list. In 1939 this festival was celebrated in a somewhat religious manner. Five-year-old Janabazar was declared the spiritual leader.
Nadam festival usually takes place on 11th and 12th of July every year. But in some places the festival is also celebrated at different times. The National Stadium in the capital Ulaanbaatar hosts colorful opening ceremonies, parades and various national level competitions. Mongolians participate in this event by buying tickets and taking seats. Each of the three sports are held, although cultural events or parades are not held in other parts of the country. Even if you fail to enjoy the main events of the capital Ulaanbaatar as a tourist, you can easily enjoy the local sports. A chance to observe local level festival games more closely. Besides, these become the annual gatherings of the local people. Mongolia consists of twenty-one states and three hundred and thirty 'soums' (soums meaning small towns). Naadam festival is celebrated in all states and Soumei.
One of the three sports that is the main attraction of Mongolia's Nadam festival is wrestling. Wrestlers prove their mettle at the regional level and then get a chance to prove their excellence at the national level. They are highly respected by the people of the region they hail from. If someone wins national level wrestling, the people of Mongolia start to respect him like a god. It is said that Genghis Khan emphasized wrestling to keep his army physically and mentally fit. This competition is restricted to men only, women cannot participate in this competition.
The rules of Mongolian wrestling are very simple. Time doesn't matter here. While wrestling, you are considered defeated if any part of your body except the bottom of your feet touches the ground. In the beginning of July wrestling starts in soums or small towns. If you win the soum level then you will be allowed to participate in Imag or state level. If you win here too, your next destination will be Ulaanbaatar. There you will face the champions of each province. These national level games are held at the National Stadium in Ulaanbaatar on the first day of Nadam festival, i.e. 11th July. And the next day, July 12th, the Mongolian national wrestling champion was determined through the final match.
Another notable sport of Nadam festival is dart throwing. Although there are three types of archery competition, the most common is 'Khalkha Kharva'. In this type of competition, female contestants get to shoot twenty arrows at a target of sixty meters distance, while male contestants can shoot forty arrows at a target of seventy five meters distance. A cylinder shaped object of leather is placed as a target. Each time the arrow hits the target, the archer gets a point. Usually two to three targets are placed at fixed distances. But it is not only touching the target, but also ensuring that the target moves from its previous position. Mongolian women spontaneously participate in this competition.
Horse racing is the most popular sport of Nadam festival. The distance the horses have to cover in this competition depends on the age of the horse. Two-year-old horses have a distance of fifteen kilometers. On the other hand, horses that are more than six years old have to run thirty kilometers. One thing to note about horse racing is that the jockeys who mount the horses are all children. Their age is 6-12 years. Both male and female jockeys are seen. The sweat of a winning horse in a competition is considered a symbol of happiness. After the competition, the spectators spread sheets under the feet of the winning horse and use the sheets in their homes.
Nadam festival is a symbol of national unity and unity of Mongolians. It is a festival that reminds them of their glorious past. However, not everyone gets the opportunity to participate in the central stage celebrations of this festival. Because many people are eager to enjoy the festival at the National Stadium in the capital Ulaanbaatar. Mongolians get about two weeks off to celebrate this festival During this time, government offices are closed, the main gates of banks are locked, and even restaurants and museums are closed. Many people travel to different places on this holiday. People who usually travel to Mongolia, set foot in the country during this Nadam festival. However, due to high demand during this time, hotel rent, guide fee or vehicle rental is high. There is no alternative to enjoying the Nadam Festival to experience Mongolia's distinct cultural and social identity.
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