NAADAM IS INNATE TREASURE OF MONGOL PEOPLE

Mongolia’s tradition of Naadam’s ‘Three Men’s Games’ (wrestling, horserace and archery) becomes a major contributor to the world’s cultural heritage. The Naadam Festival is the ‘brand’ of Mongolia to advertise the country abroad. In 2011, the Naadam Festival was registered in UNESCO’s ‘List of Intangible Cultural Heritage’. As usual, on July 11-13, all Mongolians proudly celebrated the National Naadam Festival of the 2223rd anniversary of Mongolian Statehood, the 808th anniversary of Great Mongolian Empire and the 93th anniversary of People’s Revolution. On July 11, Naadam begins with a ceremony to place the Great White Banners at the Central Stadium in Ulaanbaatar. Then, Mongolia’s President Tsakhia Elbegdorj made an opening speech saying “At this auspicious rostrum of confluence of the glorious past, assiduous present and prosperous future, the heart of Mongol Naadam and the heart of our beautiful country, the capital Ulaanbaatar, I convey my hearty greetings for a joyous Naadam, the Great National Festivity, to all my fellow Mongolians throughout our vast motherland.” The President highlighted that “The Great National Festivity, Naadam, is an innate treasure of the Mongol people, which embodies our glorious history, cherished dreams and collective power. The Mongol Naadam attests through time that the accuracy of aiming the arrow, speed and stamina of the horses, and the strength and clout of the fine men of our fathers and forefathers, who upheld good governance, rule of law and order in the world, remain as firm and sustained as ever.” President Elbegdorj went on to say that “Naadam starts rendering every Mongolian a splendor and pride for our culture and traditions and entertaining a happy talk for further prosperity and wellbeing. At this momentous hour, I convey my heartfelt wishes for success and happiness to my fellow Mongolians, near and far both in Mongolia and abroad.” Afterwards, the Naadam Festival opening featured art and cultural performances such as singling long song, bielgee-Mongolian folk dance, gymnastic events and other magnificent presentations. After having opened the Naadam Festival in the Central Stadium on July 11, President Elbegdorj visited a nearby archery field and ankle bone shooting event. Mr. Elbegdorj shot a whistling arrow, made by inserting an arrowhead of bone in which air channels have been created, thus when shot, such arrowheads make a very audible sound through the air. In respect to the people watching the archery tournament, Mr. Elbegdorj shot the arrow three times. The State Head came to the Shagai (anklebone shooting) tent where the Naadam tournament of ankle-shooting was running. He thanked shooters for keeping the traditional sport alive and wished them great success. On July 12, after watching the four-year old horse’s race in the Khui Doloon Khudag horse-racing area, President Elbegdorj visited a family of D.Bayanbat, the stallion race winning trainer. At the place where Bayanbat prepares his horses for races, Mr. Elbegdorj rode the tawny stallion that won the national Naadam race a number of times. Mr. Elbegdorj talked with horse trainers about the race horse training, the weather, the Naadam organization, and wished them success in the tournament. He then tied the khadag, a sacred silk scarf, to the winning Naran Solongo (literally Sun Rainbow) stallion, and gave presents to child jockeys. The 2014 Naadam Festival featured a 512-wrestler competition with newer and younger wrestlers showing off their strengths and skills to enthusiastic audiences. Over 760 archers from every corner of Mongolia competed in the Naadam archery contest. This year’s summer conditions have been so pleasant that horse trainers from every part of the country participated in racing with 1,570 fast horses of six different ages. The shagai (ankle bone) shooting was another contest at Naadam, a total of 490 anklebone shooters took part in the contest in 50 teams. Wrestling competition: A wrestler from Uvs Aimag and ‘State Garuda’ title holder N.Batsuuri won the wrestling competition defeating his powerful contestants in all 9 rounds. In the final round, Batsuuri defeated Sh. Jargalsaikhan, a ‘Falcon’ title owner from Zavkhan Aimag. When his wining moment occurred, the entire stadium rocked with shouts, yells and whistles at their loudest. The energy of the stadium was truly amazing and truly beautiful at this very moment. The title of ‘Lion’ is given to a first time Naadam winner and Batsuuri won the Naadam wrestling competition for the first time; thus he became holder of the state title ‘Lion’. The runner-up Sh. Jargalsaikhan was awarded with the ‘Garuda’ title with eight wins. Under a decree of the President, the state title ‘Hawk’ was awarded to B. Purevsaikhan (Khovd Aimag), who gained six wins, and the state title of ‘Falcon’ went to Ch. Batchuluun (Tuv Aimag), B. Sumanchuluun (Gobi-Altai Aimag), N. Adiyabat (Arkhangai Aimag), L. Lkha-Ochir (Zavkhan Aimag) and B. Badamsuren (Zavkhan Aimag) who had five wins. In the children’s wrestling contest, B. Lkhagvadorj ‘Hawk’ title holder from Uvurkhangai Aimag won for the third time. A total of 128 children wrestlers competed in the contest. The runner-up was N.Usukhbayar from Sukhbaatar Aimag. Horse racing: This event started on July 10 with a race between Khyazaalan horses (four-year-olds) in which 307 horses raced. T. Batzorig, a horse trainer from Dornod Aimag finished first. A horse owned by D. Bayanbat from Tuv Aimag won the horse race of Stallions among 223 horses. A tawny horse of A. Amarbat (Khentii Aimag) took first first place in the race of horses more than five years’ old in which 325 horses raced. In the Soyolon horses’ (five-year-old horse) race with 230 runners, G.Temuulen’s (Arkhangai Aimag) horse came first. It is said that the ‘Dust of the Soyolon horse’ race will give people energy and strength.’ In the Shudlen (three year-old) race, 307 horses ran with a horse owned by B.Tserenbaltav of Sukhbaatar Aimag finishing first. The colt race saw 291 runners, with first place going to a colt owned by Gobi-Altai Aimag’s Kh. Bat-Erdene. Archery contest: Over 760 archers from every corner of Mongolia competed in the Naadam archery contest. Archer L. Otgonbayar hit 38 targets out of 40, becoming a three-time winner in the Naadam archery contest. Otgonbayar from Khovd Aimag was awarded with the title ‘Gots Mergen’(Outstanding Shooter). He was followed by archers B.Batbaatar and S.Ulziisakhan. In the women’s category, a holder of the title ‘Gots Mergen’ and three-time winner Kh. Ouynchimeg placed 36 targets out of 40, becoming the four-time winner and receiving the ‘Garamgai Mergen’ (Prominent Shooter) title. Archer D. Norjmaa and I. Tsetsegmaa took second and third places. The shagai (ankle bone) shooting was another contest at Naadam. More than 490 shooters from 50 teams competed at shagai shooting, resulting in a team headed by Ts. Iderzorig of Umnugobi Aimag gaining first place. On the evening of July 12, President Ts. Elbegdorj granted the winners of ‘Three Men’s Games’ (wrestling, archery and horse racing) diplomas of the state titles and then delivered the closing speech of Naadam. At his closing speech, he emphasized “In these beautiful summer days of sun, rain and bloom, the Mongol people have proudly and blissfully celebrated our great national festivity, Naadam. Our wrestlers were strong and deft. The cheer of our children riding fast horses was lively, and our horses were tended masterfully to attain great speed. Our archers were accurate and precise. The great national Naadam incited the vigor and pride of the Mongol people for it is the very essence of Mongol culture. It is the mirror of Mongol history, of Mongol mind, of Mongol identity.” “We, Mongolians, foster a dear goal, firm resolve and genuine verve to consolidate our past with solid achievements of the present and harness our prosperous future. Cherishing our independence and freedom, honoring harmony and justice, cognizant of duty and accountability, and aware of the historic importance of the time we live in for the development of our country, let us Mongolians, do our best in all our fair efforts and aspirations. From the high rostrum of the great Mongol Festivity, looking forward to the next year’s celebration, I announce the Naadam of 2014 closed. May every Mongolian enjoy sound health, clever mind, seasoned education and a joyful spirit. May the Eternal Blue Sky Grace you all,” he said.