Naadam: Mongolia's summer holiday

We are in the middle of Naadam which runs from July 11-14 every year. This is Mongolia's major summer celebration and sort of a summer version of Tsagaan Sar. Instead of buuz Mongolians eat lots of huushuur.


I visited the special opening ceremony on the morning of July 11 when a troup of horsemen come and transport the nine yak tails symbolizing the authority of the Mongolian government from the Parliament Building to the stadium.


There was a military band playing while the horsemen rode out. The loudest complaint was that there were more foreigners there than Mongolians. It seems that more and more, official events and traditional holidays are planned more for foreigners than for the Mongolians to enjoy. I know quite a few Mongolians who worked yesterday.