Ulaanbaatar /MONTSAME/. ‘Nomadic Mongolia – 2022’ grand festival of intangible cultural heritage was held on August 12-14, 2022 at the Gorkhi-Terelj National Park with aim to promote 362 elements of intangible cultural heritage, attracting more than 16,000 foreign and Mongolian tourists. The festival was participated by 1227 inheritors of intangible cultural heritage from nine districts of the capital city and 21 aimags.

In his remarks delivered at the closing ceremony of the festival, Deputy Prime Minister of Mongolia S.Amarsaikhan said, "The main basis for the survival and national identity of any country or ethnic group is its heritage and culture. We, Mongolians, have many ethnic groups, such as Barga, Bayad, Buryad, Darkhad, Dariganga, Durvud, Zakhchin, Myangad, Naiman, Oirad, Uuld, Torguud, Sartuul, Uriankhai, Uzemchin, Khalkh, Khalimag, Kharchin, Khorchin, Hotgoid, Tsaatan, Tsakhar. At a time when the world is looking for ways to integrate Sustainable Development in all areas and efforts are being made to protect biological and cultural diversity, protecting the indigenous culture of the nomads, recognizing and passing on the heritage of the ethnic groups is the first priority not only for us Mongolians, but also for mankind. This year's ‘Nomadic Mongolia’ festival has expanded in terms of its scope from the previous festivals, and ended up being more unique and innovative in terms of content, form, and organization. In the future, we will implement programs and projects aimed at preserving, promoting, and passing on our nomadic heritage, supporting and encouraging cultural heritage inheritors, improving universal cultural heritage education, and increasing the contribution of creative production based on cultural heritage to society and the economy”.

During the festival, folk art performances and exhibitions of crafts were organized by the inheritors from 21 aimags and the capital city. In addition, the festivalgoers were given the opportunity to dive deeper into the traditional Mongolian household techniques such as felt making, fermenting mare’s milk, processing leather, etc. Also, the festival aimed to promote the methods of conserving nature which is used by the nomads.

As of 2022, a total of eight heritages of Mongolia have been registered in the UNESCO Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity and seven elements have been inscribed on the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding. Therefore, in the future, the organizers are working on expanding it into an international festival in order to establish an intellectual immunity for children, youth, and people to respect their homeland, culture, and traditions by creating a traditional cultural environment.

During the festival, the inheritors of intangible cultural heritage who make a valuable contribution to preserving the intangible cultural heritage, developing talents, and promoting and disseminating it to the public were awarded. The oldest participant in this year’s festival was 90-year-old inheritor B.Dashzeveg from Nariinteel soum of Uvurkhangai aimag, while the youngest was 2-year-old B.Gunjmurun from Khuvsgul aimag.

With the purpose of preserving the intangible cultural heritage, promoting its inheritors, developing talents, promoting and disseminating it to the public, the Law on the Protection of Cultural Heritage states that the National Festival of Intangible Cultural Heritage ‘Nomadic Mongolia’ shall be organized every three years.