Mongolians celebrate Naadam Festival

Mongolians are celebrating their National Holiday -- Naadam Festival, which run from July 11 - 13 every year.

On Saturday, on occasion of the 2224th anniversary of the Mongolian First Statehood, the 809th anniversary of the establishment of the Great Mongol Empire and the 94th anniversary of the People's Revolution, President Tsakhia Elbegdorj delivered opening remarks of the National Naadam Festival following a ceremonial event to place State Nine White Banners at Naadam Stadium.

After delivering the opening remarks, Elbegdorj paid a tribute to the State Nine White Banners of Mongolia. This has been the first time the President of Mongolia paid tribute to the State Nine White Banners.

President Elbegdorj visited the archery site to shoot arrows, paying respect to the ancient traditions of Mongolia. He also visited knucklebone shooting site to greet the competitors and citizens watching the competitions.

An opening of the Festival continued with cultural performances. Dancers and musicians made the delights of the public while athletes and horse riders marched across the Naadam Stadium in Ulan Bator.

And after the cultural performance, the tournaments, known as the "Three Manly Games" (national wrestling, horse racing and archery) launched.

Winners of the "Three Manly Games" will be selected and awarded on Sunday.

On Monday, the third day of Naadam, a special festivity will be organized as usual for horse trainers at Khui Doloon Khudag area, near Ulan Bator.

Naadam, the Mongolian national sports festival, is a traditional display of strength, horsemanship and marksmanship. In the 12th-13th centuries, military festivals were common, when men tried their strength and their steed agility. From the 17th century, Naadam contests were held regularly during religious holidays. Since 1922, they were held on the anniversary of the People's Revolution.

Naadam was inscribed on the List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity of UNESCO in 2010. Endi