Naadam

About Naadam

Naadam, "games", is held every July across Mongolia and takes place in its largest form at the National Stadium in Ulaanbaatar from 11 July. It is based on three sports: bökh, wrestling, in which a competitor wins by making his opponent's body touch the ground, with no weight classes and a winner, the "titan", reached after nine rounds; archery, in which both men and women shoot at arranged targets; and horse racing across the steppe, in which child jockeys ride over distances of up to 30 kilometres. Wrestlers wear a short jacket, zodog, and boots, and perform an eagle dance before and after each bout. The opening ceremony features parades of warriors and singers. Families eat boortsog, fried dough, and drink airag, fermented mare's milk. UNESCO lists it.

Naadam dates: 2026, 2027, 2028

What is eaten

• boortsog
• khuushuur
• airag

Traditions of Naadam

Mongolian wrestlingThe bokh tradition.

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