Naadam is a Mongolian national festival that celebrates three traditional games: horse racing, wrestling, and archery, from 11 to 13 July each year.
It is believed that Naadam festival originated in the 12th century as a way for Mongolians to demonstrate their prowess in military combat. Starting in the 17th century, contests were held during religious holidays, but since 1922, they have been held on Revolution Day.
This festival is celebrated in Mongolia, Inner Mongolia, and Tuva Republic. It is also known locally as "eriiin gurvan naadam" which means the "three games of men". The games include Mongolian wrestling, horse races, and archery. Throughout the country, it is held during midsummer. Women can participate in archery and girls can participate in horse races, but not in Mongolian wrestling.
Danshig Naadam and National Naadam are the two largest Naadams in Mongolia today. This event was only instituted as an annual event in 2015 after being held irregularly until then, commemorating both Mongolia's independence from the Qing dynasty and its state flag day. This commemorates the 1921 Revolution, when a decade later, communists invaded and depose Bogd Khan, a spillover from the Russian Civil War. It also honors the achievements of the new nation.
Mongolian Naadam is intimately connected to the nomadic Mongol civilization that has long lived on Central Asia's vast steppe. Naadam simultaneously features oral traditions, performing arts, national cuisine, craftsmanship, as well as cultural forms such as the long song, the Khöömei overtone singing, Bie biyelgee dance, and the Morin khuur fiddle.
During the festival, Mongolians follow special rituals and practices, such as wearing unique clothing, using specific tools, and participating in sports events. Participating sportsmen, sportswomen, and children are revered and rewarded for their achievements with titles during the festival. Contestants in the events are honored with praise songs and poems. Naadam cultivates community involvement and togetherness by allowing everyone to participate.
Nadaam traditionally transmitted these three types of sports through home-schooling by family members, but formalized training regimens have recently been developed for wrestling and archery. These types of sports are directly linked with the lifestyles of the Mongols. However, Naadam's rituals and customs also emphasize respect for nature and the environment
Mongolians continue to be very fond of the festival, which is rooted in ancient times yet continues to attract many visitors. As of today, a growing number of foreign tourists are coming to Mongolia in July to witness the games, with around 20% of all tourists coming to see the spectacle.
References
(https://ich.unesco.org/en/RL/naadam-mongolian-traditional-festival-00395) (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naadam) (https://www.officeholidays.com/holidays/mongolia/naadam)