The 2nd annual "NOMADS
DAY" Festival is held
on 17-18 Sep, 2006 in amazing Gun-Galuut.
News
about Nomads' Day 2007
The annual "Nomads Day Festival"
was organized in the amazing Gun-Galuut Nature Reserve
on 17-18 September 2006. 3 teams of local nomads and 2
teams of tourists took part in the festival as well as
many other guests. The Governer Office of Bayandelger
Soum, Tuv province, Gun-Galuut community Association,
Selena
Travel LLC and Steppe Nomads Tourist Camp organized
this festival jointly.
Mr. Purevdorj J, Governor of Bayandelger
soum, emphasized in his speech that this festival is unique
and important as it is a big contribution for preserving
and inheriting Mongolian nomadic customs and traditions
to the younger generation by showing the culture as it
was in the olden days.
As the festival was included in the 800th
anniversary of Great Mongol Empire official event calendar,
there were many participants and tourists from the previous
years. Also media delegates from National Mongolian Television,
the biggest daily newspapers and foreign media groups,
independent journalists, photographers and travel writers.
On 17 September, 4 different competitions
were held among the teams of local nomads and tourists.
In the morning, local 3 teams competed with each other
in 5 different customs and traditions with their children.
In the afternoon 2 teams of tourists competed with each
other in Mongolian traditions, they assembled the Ger
walls etc. In the evening the guests enjoyed a brilliant
performance by the local school children. Then under the
starry night skies, everyone took part in the Fire Worshipping
Ritual of Mongolian Shamans. (see full
program)
The competitions, Mini Naadam
and concerts
Nomads moving
The first challenge for the nomadic men was loading their
camel carts, yak carts and camel back with their traditional
dwelling ger in the shortest time and moving for 1 km.
They had to show their many traditions of moving on yak
cart, camel cart and camel back. The men were really professional
to load the ger and lead the transports.
Nomadic women meeting the nomads
The second task was for the ladies. They had to show the
beautiful nomadic traditions of meeting the moving nomads
on the way and treating them with tea and food. They ladies
did all so well and got all the scores.
Competition of Men
A man from each team had to catch an untamed horse by
horse catching poles called Uurga and tame the horse without
any bridles, saddles and whips within the shortest period
of time.
Assembling a Ger
The next challenge for the nomads was "Who's the
fastest to assemble a ger?". The three teams were
really competitive. The first team got the most scores
by completing their ger assembling in 30 minutes as well
as starting fire in their stove and made delicious tea
immediately.
Children's competition
Children of each team competed with a traditional Mongolian
game called "Who's the brightest?" showing their
mental capacity. The kids were given some ankle bones
and had to guess the sum of total ankle bones in their
hands.
Competition among the tourists
The tourists taking part in the festival competed in teams
and their task was to detach the walls of Mongolian traditional
dwelling Ger in the shortest period of time. The Broncos
from Australia won in the competition and was rewarded
with beautiful portraits of Mongolian princess and a warrior
painted on animal skins.
Children's concert
In the evening of Day 1, children from Bayandelger village
performed an excellent concert for the visitors. The visitors
were entertained thoroughly by the talented little performers
traditional Mongolian dances, songs, musical compositions
as well as traditional Mongolian contortionism.
Horse racing
25 beautiful adult horses of 3 provinces competed in the
"Shuvuun Saaral" horse racing. The race distance
was 16km and the jockeys were aged between 5-11 years
of age.
The winners are listed by their success:
1. Black horse of Mr. Samdandobjid - state honoured horse
racer, Ulaanbaatar city
2. Chestnut horse of Mr. Sanduijav - state honoured horse
racer, Ulaanbaatar city
3. Red horse of Mr. Shatar, Dundgobi province
4. Bay horse of Mr. Zagdaa, Bayandelger village, Tuv province,
5. Bay horse of Mr. Byambadorj, Bayandelger village, Tuv
province
Archery
The archery competition of the mini Naadam was held in
the fields of Steppe Nomads camp on the 2nd day of the
festival. Total of 10 archers competed with their marksmanship
and Mr. Erdenebayar of Baganuur village won in the male
archers competition with 40 points without missing a target,
while Ms. Tuya won in the female archers competition with
38 points.
Wrestling
16 mighty wrestlers competed in the wrestling competition
of the festival on 18 Sep in the fields of Steppe Nomads
camp. Mr. Batchuluun, the highest title holder of Tuv
province won in the wrestling competition. Mr. Bayarkhuu,
the 2nd highest title holder of Tuv province came 2nd.
Competition of Beautiful Horse Rider Couples
This interesting competition was held on the 2nd day of
the festival. The competition was held among the young
couples to show the Mongols' beauty, intelligence, knowledge
on Mongolian history and culture, wonderful traditional
Mongolian costumes and gorgeous horses. The first task
was that each couple had to wear traditional clothes of
the same colour, use the same beautiful silver saddles
and ride horses of the same colour. The guys competed
with their skills to show their strength and the girls
competed with their skills of embroidery making. The couple
of Ugalz team Mr. Ganhulug and Ms. Zolzaya, Bayandelger
village won the competition.
