Wrestling, Horses and Archery: Mongolia’s Naadam Festival

Known as “The Three Games of Men,” Naadam is Mongolia’s celebration of traditional strength and skill competitions that predate the times of Genghis Khan. Naadam was originally held between clans as a showcase for weddings. It wasn’t until the 13^th century that Khan made it an official holiday, presiding over the inaugural event in addition to scouting for recruits to his army.

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Today, Naadam serves two purposes as a celebration of Mongolian culture and as a commemoration to the country’s independence. Under communist rule, Mongolian culture was heavily suppressed by ties to the USSR, but the festival was reinstated after a democratic revolution in 1990 and eventually declared a UNESCO Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Communities hold festivities all over the country, though the biggest is in the capital city of Ulaanbaatar where the nine horse tails (tribes) of Mongolia take part in a ceremonial parade from Sukhbaatar Square to the National Sports Stadium.

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Today, women are allowed to compete in horse racing and archery, though wrestling is still reserved for men only. This year’s competition is scheduled for July 9–16, with tour companies offering packages for Ulaanbaatar and excursions into the Gobi Desert. If you’re interested in witnessing Naadam or seeing the country of Genghis Khan, visit discovermongolia.mn.