If you hate horses Mongolia is the wrong place to be – especially in July during the Nadaam Festival. Mongolians love horses, especially horse racing. Plenty of that will be on display during the Nadaam 2012, which runs through July 16 this year. Mongolians have relied on equine transport, equine sustenance and even horsy companionship for centuries now. They make the American cowboy pale in comparison when it comes to their love for, and reliance upon, the animal.
Nadaam itself is the word for competition in Mongolian. And there’s a lot to be had. Horse racing is out on the wide-open grassland. There’s no Churchill Downs out there, just a vast expanse of land and sky. Kids are the jockeys (they’re lighter) – and the winning child jockey is praised unto high heaven.
Aside from horse racing, archery and wrestling are a couple of other passions in this arid, nomadic country. When contestants bring out their bows and arrows they dress commensurately, in traditional costume. Wrestling is full-tilt: no weight divisions, and no time limits. Life in these precincts of the planet is, ah, different. Win five rounds of wrestling and they call you a Falcon. Walk away with seven rounds and you’re an Elephant. Win the whole tourney and you’ve really made the big time. Nadaam crowns you as a Lion.
Nadaam kicks off with a parade of the county’s best athletes. Monks, musicians and the military all join in.
Virtually everybody joins in the eating. Like festivals virtually everywhere, attendees love to chow down. Tea is the traditional drink of choice. So’s arak. That’s fermented mares’ milk (see what we mean about horses providing sustenance). Cold meats, ice cream, bread and fruit are other foods Nadaam devotees love.
(Image: Moyan_Brenn)
