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The Mongolians have the beautiful traditional festivals
and celebrations that they have kept for centuries.
These include the fantastic Naadam Festival and Tsagaan
Sar (White Month) Celebration. Nowadays, several fantastic
new festivals such as the Nomads' Day, Camel Festival
etc are initiated by some very creative Mongols to
preserve traditional Mongolian heritage. We enlist
the most important events in 2008, and the events
are listed in their date order.
Mongolian festivals are fantastic and truly a lifetime
experience. Last years, some good Mongolian tourism
events are taking place as well as Mongolia festivals
like Mongolia Naadam Festival Holiday, Camel Festival,
Ice Festival, Nomads' Day Festival and some more.
We welcome you to come and take part in Mongolia festival
and Mongolia events with us!
MONGOLIAN NATIONAL HOLIDAYS
& FESTIVALS IN 2008
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February
8. WHITE
MONTH NATIONAL HOLIDAY - Traditional Mongolian Lunar
New Year
Tsagaan Sar or White Month is one of Mongolia's two
major and long-awaited holidays, the other being Naadam
in July. For Mongols, Tsagaan Sar is not only an ancient
holiday marking the end of winter and the beginning
of a new year's cycle, but is also a time for unification
and reinforcing social bonds. Preparations for the festive
start well ahead of time. Several families usually gather
in the eldest man's ger ( traditional dwelling), where
the holiday will take place. Since the holiday means
all relatives, neighbors, friends and guests will be
treated to a lavish meal, women make more than a thousand
buuz and dumplings. Ready dumplings are lined on wooden
plates and put outside. The next day, the frozen buuz
are ready to be steamed. Families all across the country
stock-up on food, dairy, mild milk vodka and other specialties
for the occasion.
Take a Tsagaan Sar tour here... |
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February
15-16. THOUSAND CAMEL FESTIVAL
 Travel
south to the Gobi Desert to attend the renowned "Thousand
Camel Festival," organized by a local non-governmental
organization working to protect and preserve the Bactrian
camel population, which has been steadily declining
over the past twelve years. This extraodinary festival
allows travelers a rare opportunity to interact with
and learn first-hand about these amazing animals and
the camel herders' nomadic lifestyle. Highlights of
the festival include camel races, performances by traditional
Mongolian musicians and dancers, and visits to significant
paleontological and cultural sites of the Gobi. Attend
the camel races at the Thousand Camel Festival, a unique
opportunity to witness the speed and agility of Bactrian
camels. Enjoy performances by traditional Mongolian
musicians and dancers, and visits to significant paleontological
and cultural sites in the Gobi. Take a Camel Festival
tour here... |
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July
11-12. The GREAT NAADAM
FESTIVAL - Biggest National Holiday of Mongolia
 The
Naadam festival is the biggest and most joyful celebration
for Mongolians. It takes place on the 11-12th of July
each year. The festival originated from the era of Khunnu
Empire and was originally organized as a competition
to test the skills of Mongolian Warriors of different
tribes. The festival comprises the "Three Manly
Sports": wrestling, horse racing and archery. A
fascinating and interesting event for all is where the
9 White Flags of Chinghis Khan are carried in a ceremonial
parade from the State Parliament House to the Central
Stadium. 512-1024 wrestlers compete on the green field
of the State Central Stadium-there is no time limit,
no weight category. There are 6 different categories
of horse racing depending on the age of horses. The
riders, both boys and girls are aged between 7-12 and
the distance of the race ranges from 15-30 km. Archery,
originating from time immemorial, is the oldest sport
of the Mongols. Traditionally, this was only men's sport
but nowadays both men and women compete in separate
divisions. Take a Naadam tour here... |
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August
1. TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE- Natural
Phenomena in Mongolia.
 Watching
a Total Solar Eclipse -2008 is a dream of every adventuruous
eclipse chaser and this is the one and only chance to
enjoy a total eclipse in the Land of Genghis Khan! The
total eclipse duration is some 2.5-4 minutes and the
eclipse path is entire 250km in width! This total solar
eclipse offers a wonderful chance to watch the Solar
Eclipse in this land of legends and comprehensive introduction
to this varied, ancient and extraordinarily beautiful
country, visiting regions that many others do not cover.
Take a fantastic Solar
Eclipse trip here!
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September
17-18. The
"NOMADS' DAY" FESTIVAL
 Gun-Galuut
Nature Reserve, Tuv province
The two-day festival will be held near the
Steppe Nomads Ger Camp in the tranquil and scenic surroundings
of the Kherlen River and Gun-Galuut Nature Reserve of
Mongolia. Let's see, hear, feel, taste and experience
the nomadic lifestyle of real Mongols! We are presenting
different types of the nomadic customs and ceremonies
including challenging games between kids, horsemen,
women and families. You will be a true nomad only on
this day. Under the starry sky of the night you will
enjoy watching Mongolian unique culture, such as long
song, dancing, horse-head fiddle melody and throat singing
as well as ritual ceremony of "Fire and Sky worshipping",
reflecting the people's feeling towards Mother Nature.
more
about the festival or take a Nomads' Day
tour here... |
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October 4-5 GOLDEN
EAGLE FESTIVAL
 Ulgii,
Bayan Ulgii province
Kazakhs are renowned for their unique and extraordinary
skill in using Golden Eagles to hunt small prey. The
Golden Eagle Festival is organized in order to help
revive this remarkable tradition and promote it among
the younger generations in an effort to balance the
preservation of Mongolia’s past traditions with
conservation of nature and the modern demands of a
growing population. The festival is arranged by locals
that are committed to preserving traditional Kazakh
heritage. Attend the spectacular Golden Eagle Festival,
with up to 60 Kazakh participants and their magnificent
Golden Eagles. Experience the sight of Kazakhs on
horseback, dressed in their traditional dark coats
and scarlet hats, with Golden Eagles hovering on their
arms. Take a Golden Eagle Festival tour here...
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