- 12/08/2024
- Tags: Travel guide to Mongolia
- Himalayan Wander Walkers
Major Festivals and Events of Mongolia
Mongolia is an incredible country where you can experience many festivals and events. Festivals take place throughout the year in Mongolia. Some of them are celebrated within the villages and small towns but some of them are celebrated nationwide. There is nothing better than visiting Mongolia during popular celebrations where you can explore their culture, tradition and get a chance of social interaction.
If you want to visit Mongolia during the popular events then please let us know, we will keep you update with the coming events of Mongolia. So, you can make your dream trip to Mongolia without any stress and problems. Major festivals and events of Mongolia are briefly explained below.
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NAADAM FESTIVAL
Naadam festival is the biggest event in Mongolia which is celebrating throughout the nation since 1921 AD. This event is organized by a group of nomadic camps. The festival begins with assembly to distinguish government bodies, popular artists, and the local spectators. Then the opening ceremony held featuring dancers, singers, and athletics. Naadam is also called “Erin Gurvan Naadam” in the local language of Mongolia and meaning three games of men where the competition of horseracing, wrestling, and archery. This festival commemorates the 1921 revolution when Outer Mongolia became independent and preserve the nomadic tradition by encouraging youth to participate in the games by creating harmony within the people.
When and where does the Naadam festival happen?
Naadam festival falls on July 11,2025 - July 15,2025. Even though it is celebrated throughout Mongolia but the main celebration is held in the National Sports Stadium of Ulaanbaatar.
TSAGAAN SAR (MONGOLIAN NEW YEAR)
Tsagaan Sar means a “White Moon” in the Mongolian language. This is one of the significant festivals of Mongolia. Before the 12th century, this festival celebrates during the autumn season as a harvest celebration. Later in 1206 AD the Mongolian emperor, Genghis khan shifted the celebration to spring. So, these days Tsagaan Sar is widely celebrated in Mongolia to welcome the warm spring and goodbye to severe winter. During the Bituun, the eve of Tsagaan all the family members clean themselves and their home. In the evening they prepared a large amount of dinner including hundreds of small dumplings (buuz). It is not allowed to talk about the bad or speak with mean words during the Tsagaan Sar. It is more about making new friends, inviting their relatives for a meal, and respecting the elders.
When and where does Tsagaan Sar (Lunar New Year of Mongolia) happen?
Mongolian New year, Tsagaan Sar falls on March 1, 2025 - March 3,2025. This festival is celebrated in every corner of Mongolia which is similar to the Losar festival of Tibet.
MONGOLIAN EAGLE FESTIVAL
The Eagle hunting festival is a unique event that is annually celebrated in western Mongolia near the Altai Mountain range. This hunting tradition was come from very long years ago and now every year it is celebrated to preserve their culture. This festival is performed by the people of the Kazakh minority where they use the golden eagle to hunt major wild animals like marmots, rabbits, rats, and sometimes foxes. During the competition, there will be around 40 men with their horses and eagles. The men ride on their horses back and carry the eagles in their arms. Once they spot the animal then they put out the eyes cover and let eagles fly toward the prey. Hunters of Kazakh mostly use female eagles which are more aggressive and larger in size (about 7 kg) as compare with the male. Men bring the young eagles from their nest when they are young and unable to fly. If you are planning to visit Mongolia during this festival then you can also participate in eagle training.
When and where does the Mongolian eagle festival happen?
Mongolian eagle festival will fall on the first week of September 2025. This festival is held in western Mongolia at Ulgii town, Bayan-Ulgii province.
MONGOLIAN ICE FESTIVAL
The ice festival of Mongolia is a popular winter event in the northern part where the 100-mile pristine alpine lake, Khuvsgul is located. During the winter the temperature drops down to -35 degrees and the lake freezes with 4 to 5 meters of the thick ice layer. When the wind blows over it and cleans up all the snows by creating a perfect ice playground for sports. Even vehicles can drive on it. This festival is performed by the nomadic people of Tsaatan. Many locals and foreigners travel there to attend an exciting event. It lasts for two days with the competition of modern and traditional activities such as ice skating, tug of war, horse sledding, dog sledding, and ice wrestling. Horses are put on with spike shores for comfort to run on the ice. Visiting during this festival will provide you an opportunity to explore the nomadic culture, traditions, and lifestyle of the Tsaatan people.
When and where does the Mongolian ice festival happen?
Mongolian ice festival will fall on February 2025. This festival is held in northern Mongolia at Khovsgul Lake, close to the Siberian border.
MONGOLIA YAK FESTIVAL
Yak festival is different from the rest of the major events in Mongolia. Mongolia stands for the second-largest domesticated yak than China. Generally, Yak rearing is more popular in Tibet but it was introduced in Mongolia in the 16 Century. Yak plays a significant role in nomadic people’s lives with maximum benefits of thick clothes to daily food ingredients such as milk, cheese, meat, butter, and even the tents made from the yak wool. The sole purpose of this festival is to promote and preserve the culture of mountain nomads. This event is both exciting and surprising where the activities like Yak rodeo, beauty contest, polo on yak back, yak milking, and cheese tasting. Probably Yak racing is one of the slowest races in the world but it is beyond entertainment. On this occasion, locals come in their traditional attire to attend the event.
When and where does the Mongolian yak festival happen?
Mongolian yak festival will fall on July 23rd Every year. This festival held in the In Orkhon valley, Uvurkhangai province.
THOUSAND CAMEL FESTIVAL
Camel festival is one of the greatest winter events in Mongolia. The Thousand Camel Festival is organized by local public and non-governmental organizations in the Gobi Desert in Bulgan village to preserve endangers Bactrian camels by introducing the tradition of camel breeding and herding through the festival. A Bactrian camel plays an important role in the high altitudes for nomadic people. These incredible species can bear the cold up to -40 degrees, can travel extremely long distances without having water, and carry up to 250 kilograms of luggage. The festival is all about the activities done through camel, directly and indirectly, such as camel race, camel- polo, and other contest like rope making from camel’s wool. Visitors can also attend the folk concert run by school students.
When and where does the Thousand Camel festival happen?
Mongolian yak festival will fall on fiest week of February 2025. This festival takes place in Bulgan village, South Gobi province.