What to expect
Each aimag (province) will celebrate a 2 day local Naadam festival during July 2014.These local events are aimed for the local communities, and are free of charge.
Tourists are welcome to join, but there are limited facilities for tourists.
Almost no English is spoken, there are no road signs directing you to the exact location of the Naadam celebration fields, your driver will have to ask around.
The events take place in open fields within a short drive from the Aimag (province) capital city.
In contrast to the main spectacular and somewhat touristic events in Ulaanbaatar,
the countryside events give you a much closer point of view,
you get to mingle with the locals,
and experience an authentic and traditional way of celebrating Naadam.
Naadam showcases the 3 Sports of Mongolia - wrestling, horse racing, and archery.
After the opening ceremony on the first day,
you will enjoy 2 days of wrestling, multiple horse races, and an archery event.
The Naadam horse race is 10-30 km long with dozens of local contestants.
Local foods are sold or shared by locals.
You will notice people consume large amounts of airag (fermented mare’s milk),
huushur (fried bread stuffed with meat), and aaruul (dried milk curds),
these are as important to Naadam as watching the events.
The competitions take place about 2-4 km out of the aimag capital city.
Taxis (private vehicles) to the fields cost about 2,000-4,000 MNT. Walking and hitchhiking is an option.
Horse races in some cases are away from the main event fields, and might require another taxi ride.
updated on 27 June 2014 - Dates of province Naadam (Dates might change, check before going)
 |
| Mongolia Naadam 2014 aimag (province) celebration dates in the countryside. |
July 3-4 Khentii
July 5-6 Bayan-Olgii,
July 7-8 Govisumbar
July 9-10 Ovorkhangai, Arkhangai, Bulgan, Tov
July 10-11 Sukhbaatar, Darkhan-Uul, Selenge,
Govi-altai, Dornogovi, Orkhon, Zavkhan,
July 11-12 Uvs, Omnogovi,
July 25-26 Bayankhongor, Khovsgol, Khovd, Dornod, Dundgovi
For better communication, and useful when asking directions -
copy from the table below the Mongolian names of the Aimag and capital city you are heading to.
| Seal | Provinces | Naadam Dates | Population* | Capital | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Arkhangai (Архангай) | July 9-10 |
Large
| Tsetserleg (Цэцэрлэг) | ||
 | Bayan-Ölgii (Баян-Өлгий) | July 5-6 |
Large
| Ölgii (Өлгий) | ||
 | Bayankhongor (Баянхонгор) | July 25-26 |
Large
| Bayankhongor (Баянхонгор) | ||
 | Bulgan (Булган) | July 9-10 |
Medium
| Bulgan (Булган) | ||
 | Darkhan-Uul (Дархан-Уул) | July 9-10-11 |
Large
| Darkhan (Дархан) | ||
 | Dornod (Дорнод) | July 25-26 |
Large
| Choibalsan (Чойбалсан) | ||
 | Dornogovi (Дорноговь) | July 10-11 |
Large
| Sainshand (Сайншанд) | ||
 | Dundgovi (Дундговь) | July 25-26 |
Medium
| Mandalgovi (Мандалговь) | ||
 | Govi-Altai (Говь-Алтай) | July 9-11 |
Medium
| Altai (Алтай) | ||
 | Govisümber (Говьсүмбэр) | July 7-8 |
Small
| Choir (Чойр) | ||
 | Khentii (Хэнтий) | July 2-3-4 |
Large
| Öndörkhaan (Өндөрхаан) | ||
 | Khovd (Ховд) | July 25-26 |
Large
| Khovd (Ховд) | ||
 | Khövsgöl (Хөвсгөл) | July 25-26 |
Large
| Mörön (Мөрөн) | ||
 | Ömnögovi (Өмнөговь) | July 11-12 |
Large
| Dalanzadgad (Даланзадгад) | ||
 | Orkhon (Орхон) | July 9-10-11 |
Large
| Erdenet (Эрдэнэт) | ||
 | Övörkhangai (Өвөрхангай) | July 9-10 |
Large
| Arvaikheer (Арвайхээр) | ||
 | Selenge (Сэлэнгэ) | July 10-11 |
Large
| Sükhbaatar (Сүхбаатар) | ||
 | Sükhbaatar (Сүхбаатар) | July 10-11 |
Medium
| Baruun-Urt (Баруун-Урт) | ||
 | Töv (Төв) | July 9-10-11 |
Large
| Zuunmod (Зуунмод) | ||
 | Uvs (Увс) | July 11-12 |
Large
| Ulaangom (Улаангом) | ||
 | Zavkhan (Завхан) | July 10-11 |
Large
| Uliastai (Улиастай) | ||
 | Ulaanbaatar (Улаанбаатар) | July 11-13 | 1,400,000 | National Capital |
Small: up to 10,000 inhabitants
Medium: 10,000 - 50,000 inhabitants
Large: 50,000 - 100,000 inhabitants
Celebrations in sums (districts)
Each aimag (province) is divided into several sums (districts).
Participating in a sum Naadam is a rewarding experience.
It is a small community event.
Following is a list of a few sum Naadam celebrations
Sums Naadam in Selenge aimag
July 4-5 Shaamar (Шаамар) sum
July 14-16 Tsagaannuur (Цагааннуур) sum
July 17-18 Tüshig (Түшиг) sum
July 18-19 Yeröö (Ерөө) sum
July 18-20 Züünbüren (Зүүнбүрэн) sum
July 23-25 Baruunbüren (Баруунбүрэн) sum
August 1-2 Mandal (Мандал) sum
Additional countryside events:
Altargana - Buryat people festival Jul 18 – 21, 2014 Dadal (Khentii aimag)
A bi-annual festival of the Buryat (Buriad) ethnic people.
This year the festival will take place in Dadal sum (district) of the Khenti aimag (province),
the birth place of Chinggis Khan.
The festival celebrates the culture traditions and history of the Buryat people.
The festival events will include folk and contemporary songs, traditional costumes, fairy tales, poetry,
wrestling, archery, beauty contests and more.
The name of the festival Altargana is derived from an extremely durable yellow color plant
symbolizing a flower of eternity and thus the Buryat people.
Other names of the plant are: Altan-Khargana, Solidago, Goldenrods.
The festival moves each time from city to city within the Buryat ethnic people region, in north Mongolia, southern Siberia, and north China.
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