Nomads' day festival

A cultural revival on Mongolian steppes

Every year on 17-18 of September, symbolising the most auspicious days of the lunar calendar, nomads on Mongolian steppes celebrate Nomads’ Day festival enjoying their world renowned Naadam Three Manly Games – archery, wrestling and horse racing, lots of music and dances, ancient traditions and various competitions in beautiful Gun-Galuut nature reserve, just 2 hour drive from Ulaanbaatar. For two days the steppes come alive with sounds, colourful costumes and joy of nomads just before the long and harsh winter starts. 

The Nomads’ Day festival has become a local cultural festival which is waited for all year by locals and visitors alike from a small tourist event, organised to revive Mongolian traditional nomadic culture, within a few years. The festival attracts approximately 300 locals and 50-60 foreign visitors each year. Selena Travel, a Mongolia based inbound travel company, started the festival within their community-based, responsible tourism initiatives on Mongolian steppes in 2005 in cooperation with the local community. In 2009, Selena Travel received international recognition for initiating and supporting the Nomads’ Day festival when it was awarded the Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Awards in the category of Best for Cultural Conservation.

The blissful festival follows a program that gives foreign visitors a wonderful opportunity to discover traditional Mongolian nomadic culture, lifestyle and traditions and meet true nomads and experience their unparalleled hospitality without any hassles and hustles. On the first day of the festival two major events held – competition among local nomad groups consisting of 2 men, 2 women and a child aged 6 to 12. Their competitions include thrilling activities from moving traditions: assembling and disassembling a ger, loading camel and yak carts; horse culture: catching and taming horses, horsemen picking lassos up on horseback at full speed gallop; women’s daily routine: milking cattle, making ropes from sheep wool; and children’s mental challenges of traditional games. A fun and competitive contest among tourists takes place too. Late in the afternoon nomads compete with their artistic talents singing, dancing and performing national arts. Sometimes, even a local girl or two might perform contortion. On second day, nomads compete with traditional Mongolian sports: archery, horse racing and wrestling, and young couples challenge their beauty and intelligence at Beauties of the Steppes contest. All winners of competitions and visitors are invited to Delicacies for Genghis gala dinner presenting the best of steppe delicacies at the end of the festival.           

Organisers’ team is made of Selena Travel staff and local community members and they bend backwards to ensure the festival organization runs smoothly. According to a survey conducted, the Nomads’ Day organisers cater two types of tourists during the 2 day event. Generally, those from the USA and Europe want to taste the adventures that mark nomadic life, while Asian tourists tend to want to relax and seek comfort. Laurent and Lisa, saddle makers from USA had planned to spend a month in Mongolia. Lisa said, "We loved Mongolian clothes, they are so comfortable, beautiful and we can put things in the Ovor, which is similar to a pocket. We are enjoying our time at the Nomads’ Day festival and Mongolia greatly, and already planning to return next year!” Ann, Phillip, Sarah and Steve from Australia said, “We had a wonderful time during the Nomads Day Festival. Most importantly, everything was real not touristic! We were made to feel very welcome. We had the most wonderful holiday that we will never forget”.  

The Nomads’ Day festival was beyond our expectation. We had no idea what to expect, and seeing the gers erected, the kids horse race, the various ceremonies and especially the children’s music and dance performance was worth the trip alone to Mongolia – and we thank you for the experience. David Friedman, USA

The Nomads’ Day festival is an event definitely not to be missed!