Mongolia Rural Naadam

FESCH.TV INFORMIERT:

Naadam is the biggest summer festival celebrated all over Mongolia. This festival has existed for centuries. Mongolian Naadam is connected to the nomadic civilisation of the Mongols. The most authentic festival in modern days is here in Karakorum, the ancient capital of the Mongol Empire. Every Mongolian will dress in their best and rides their best horses to the festival ground to celebrate the summer, Mongolia’s independence and to commemorate their ancient victories by the Great Chinggis Khaan. Their horses take centre stage, especially among the nomads. This is the time to show off their best groomed and fastest horses. There is a saying that a Mongol without their horses is like a bird without a wing. “The Three Games Of Men”, which are horse racing, wrestling and archery are traditional games of Naadam. These games are linked to the Mongols‘ way of life. These competitions, mostly horse racing among young children, will go on for days. Another popular Naadam activity is the shooting of sheep anklebones. In 2010, Naadam was inscribed on UNESCO’s Lists of Intangible Cultural Heritage to ensure better protection of important intangible cultural heritage. Music and song in this film are the Khoomei, an overtone throat singing played with a khuur fiddle, also a horsehead fiddle. It is a traditional Mongolian bowed stringed instrument, one of the most important musical instruments of the Mongol people. Songs, poems and musics that played during the Naadam are praise songs dedicated to the people, their daily lives and those who are taking part each of the Naadam’s competition.