ULAN BATOR, July 11 (Xinhua) -- Mongolia's national holiday, Naadam, began on Thursday with a grand and splendid opening ceremony showcasing the country's history, traditions, art and culture.
Inscribed on UNESCO's List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, this traditional festival is celebrated annually from July 11 to July 15.
Mongolian President Ukhnaa Khurelsukh, Parliament Speaker Dashzegve Amarbayasgalan, Prime Minister Luvsannamsrai Oyun-Erdene, cabinet and parliament members, honored foreign guests, as well as thousands of citizens attended the grand opening ceremony of the Naadam at the National Sports Stadium in the country's capital Ulan Bator.
"Naadam is a trinity celebration of Father Heaven, Mother Earth, and the precious people. It embodies the memory of the Mongolian state, symbolizes the unity and independence of the Mongolian people, and reflects the strength of our spirit and existence as Mongolians with an ancient history," Khurelsukh said at the opening ceremony.
The festival, also known as the "Three Manly Games," features wrestling, archery and horse racing.
Only men are allowed to participate in the traditional wrestling tournament of Naadam. Unlike international freestyle wrestling, Mongolian traditional wrestling does not consider the weight of the wrestlers. A total of 512 wrestlers are competing in this year's Naadam.
Unlike wrestling, Mongolian archery is also open to women. Hundreds of archers from across the country are competing in the tournament.
Horse racing during Naadam is the most coveted, most watched, and most competitive sport. Horses in six age categories race from 11 to 25 kilometers. There are no special courses, which makes Mongolian horse racing unique.
The fourth element of Naadam is shagain kharvaa or "ankle bone shooting," a game played with preserved sheep ankle bones used like dice.
It is impossible to imagine the festival without the main food and drink of this holiday, khuushuur and airag. The khuushuur is a crispy, deep-fried flat dumpling, while the airag is a fermented dairy product traditionally made from mare's milk.
Naadam, which means "games" in the Mongolian language, is also the most widely watched festival for overseas tourists in the Asian country. ■