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UB NAADAM

the most prestigious in Mongolia

By Kim Lau

Naadam is the most exciting festival in Mongolia. It is locally termed “Ervin Gurvan Naadam” means “the three games of men”; Mongolian wrestling, horse racing and archery. Naadam are usually held at both Soum (town) and Aimag (province) levels, before culminating at the state Naadam at UlaanBataar (UB), the most prestigious of all. It is a good time to be in the capital city, where festive mood is clearly evident. The Naadam 2014 opening ceremony was grand, and that alone justify coming to UB for the festival. At the games level, it was confusing and crowded; Soum Naadam has greater intimacy and it is a greater experience overall.

UB NAADAM

NINE WHITE BANNERS TO STADIUM

A ceremony on the day before opening ceremony, dispatching the sacred nine white banners from the palace to the stadium

UB NAADAM

NAADAM CULTURAL CONCERT

A cultural concert was held at UB, patriotic, colourful and professionally done. At Naadam cultural concert, rare performance of Mongolian long song singing (top).

UB NAADAM

UB NAADAM

UB NAADAM

NAADAM OPENING CEREMONY

Opening ceremony of Naadam 2014, to hoist the sacred nine white banners.

UB NAADAM

SINGING NATIONAL ANTHEM : Naadam 2014, singing national anthem for the opening ceremony.

UB NAADAM

SPECTATORS : Audience for the opening ceremony were largely locals, dressed in their best. A group of Haixi (west of Qinhai lake) Mongols attended the Naadam, in their traditional clothing.

UB NAADAM

UB NAADAM

MODERN PERFORMANCES : Modern dance performances for UB Naadam 2014 opening ceremony.

UB NAADAM

UB NAADAM

GATHER OF THE WRESTLERS : At UB Naadam 2014 opening ceremony, gathering of all wrestlers on the field.

UB NAADAM

ARCHERY : Naadam games is not solely a man‘s affair, ladies take part in archery too. Archery targets are camel hides woven into can form, and the singing and chanting by helpers at the target end help determine if the target was hit.

UB NAADAM

UB NAADAM

CARNIVAL : Not just games, its a big carnival for all.

UB NAADAM

UB NAADAM

KHUI DOLOON HUDAG

UB Naadam horse racing 60km from UB.

UB NAADAM

NO 844 CONTESTANT : A 10-year old boy riding for the most watched race of the 5 year-old horse (soloyon).

UB NAADAM

UB NAADAM

SOLOYON - 30 KM RACE : Soloyon is the race of the 5-year old horses, and takes place for 30 km.

UB NAADAM

5-YEAR OLD HORSE RACING : One of the most important races of the state Naadam in Khui Doloon Khudag near Ulaanbattar. Children on 5-year old horse doign a 20km race, without saddles!

UB NAADAM

TOUCHING A WINNING 5-YEAR OLD HORSE : Public rushes to touch a good winning 5-year old horse for good omen. This can be a nuisance to the jockey and some horses reacted with a back-kick

UB NAADAM

naadam finale

FIRE OVER SUKHBATAAR : Fireworks and shows celebrates the closing of Naadam 2014 at UB Chinggis Khan square. In the background is the statue of Sukhbataar, a “axe-hero“ for Mongolia‘s revolution.

UB NAADAM

PROJECTION ON CHINGGIS KHAN : A visiual projection for the closing of UB Naadam 2014, it was visually stunning.

UB NAADAM

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Footnotes

Captured with OLYMPUS digital systems camera, E-systems from 2004, mirrorless PEN from 2009 and the OM-D from 2013

FootNotes

Captured with OLYMPUS digital systems camera, E-systems from 2004, mirrorless PEN from 2009 and the OM-D from 2013

© 2026 Kim Lau

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