The Mongolian Naadam is a “National Festival” that symbolizes the independence and sovereignty of Mongolia. The Mongolian Naadam dates back to the 1st – 2nd centuries BC, when the unified state of the Hunnic Empire was established. At that time, horses, wrestling, and martial arts were considered the beginning of a united state.
The Hunnics held Naadam to unite the scattered tribes and improve the fighting skills of their soldiers.
This festival is written in the “Mongolian Secret History” that it was celebrated in the “Khuran month” or July. Since the “Great Mongol” was declared in 1206 and Temujin was elevated to “Genghis Khan”, the tradition of holding the “Three Festivals of Men” or “State Grand Ceremony” festival has been established.
Until 1634, when Ligden Khutugt Khan, 37 khans celebrated the “Three Festivals of Men” as a state holiday. “Three Festivals of Men” were also organized within the tumt and minajat.
In 1639, “Undur Gegen Zanabazar” was honored as the head of the Khalkha sect and the “Danshig” festival was first organized. It is noted that Bukh Lama won the competition at the Shireet Tsagaan Nuur and Bonkhor Donir’s horse was crowned. After that, in 1772, a great festival was held in honor of Khentii Mountain, and the festival was called “Arvan Gob Naadam”.
In the 16th and 17th centuries, when the Yellow Religion spread and mountain worship began, the Khan of the Manchu Qing Dynasty issued a decree in September 1778 on the rules for holding festivals, and determined that the festival should be celebrated as a “civil and religious festival of mountain worship.”
Thus, Tusheethan and Setsenkhan aimags worshipped “Bogdkhan” mountain, and Zasagthan and Sain Noyonkhan aimags worshipped “Otgontenger” mountain and held festivals.
Since 1912, it has been celebrated annually as the “State Naadam”. However, this Naadam continued until the death of Bogd Khan, i.e. until 1925.
After the formation of the Mongolian People’s Republic, the Naadams, which were previously known as the “Fifteen-State Naadam” and the “People’s State Naadam”, were decided to be combined, and at the Cabinet meeting on May 15, 1925, the date of the Naadam was decided to be July 11. However, since 1946, it has been designated as the “Anniversary of the Victory of the People’s Revolution”. Thus, with the approval of the Law on the “National Great Naadam” in 2003, national wrestling, horse racing, and national archery are currently celebrated simultaneously at the national, aimag, and soum levels. The registration of the national festival Naadam in 2010 by UNESCO on the “Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity” officially proclaimed the “Mongolian Naadam”, which has been passed down for centuries, to the world.
Also, during the “Mongolian Naadam”, a unique and beautiful festival called “Deeltei Mongol” is held to promote and introduce the unique art of Mongolian national costumes, the characteristics of multi-ethnic costumes, traditions, and clothing culture. Starting from 2026, the “Mongolian Horse Festival”, the eternal idol of the Mongolian people, will be celebrated annually. This festival will introduce humanity to the origin and development of the “Great Idol of Horses”, the unique and unique character, endurance, amazing talent of the Mongolian horse, the spiritual union between Mongolian people and horses, and many other beautiful things.
Prepared by Prof. G. Gerelchimeg
