Bayan-Ulgii /MONTSAME/. We’re highlighting the most well-known activities and festivals in westernmost Bayan-Ulgii aimag, where Mongolian ethnic minorities such as Kazakh, Tuva, Dörbet, Oirat, and Uriankhai reside.

1.    Golden Eagle Festival

Golden eagle festival is one of the most visited tourism events in Mongolia. Hunting with eagles is a traditional form of falconry found around 6000 years ago, Kazakh people practice this tradition until today. The first golden eagle festival was held in 2000 to recover the old traditions, pass them on to the next generation, and attract more tourists to our country. 

The festival is held 2 times a year. According to the annual calendar issued by the National Committee on Tourism, the first “Eagle festival” will be held on March 4-5 in the “Chinggis Khaan Khuree ” tourist camp, Ulaanbaatar. The second “Golden eagle festival” will be held on September 30-October 1 in Onchin Tolgoi(5 km far from the center of the soum) of Bugat soum, Bayan-Ulgii aimag. 

The traditional costumes of the eagle trainers, the eagle’s association with humans, hunting skills of the eagles are the judging criteria of the contest.

2.    Ice Festival

The ice festival is organized on February 20-25 every year. Ice hockey, speed skating, knuckle-bone shooting contests, archery contests,  tug of war, and fishing contests are held on the ice.

3.    Nowruz

Nowruz marks the first day of spring and is celebrated on the day of the astronomical vernal equinox, which usually occurs on March 21. It is celebrated as the beginning of the new year by more than 400 million people all around the world and has been celebrated for over 3,000 years in the Balkans, the Black Sea Basin, the Caucasus, Central Asia, the Middle East, and other regions. In the 64th plenary meeting in 2010, the UN General Assembly welcomed the inclusion of Nowruz in the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization.

Mongolian Kazakhs didn’t celebrate Nowruz from 1940-1990, due to the political issue that any religious festivals were forbidden. 

Every March 3 is celebrated by every other person in Ulgii soum, Bayn-Ulgii aimag. The festival opens with a dance parade with cultural unique features. People play traditional games with each other and finally eat “Nowruz-koje”, the main traditional dish on the table. 

4.    Uriankhai archery on ice

High-ranked archers in Uriankhai archery are mainly from Bayn-Ulgii aimag.  Therefore, this festival is held every year in the aimag. There are two types of Uriankhai archery: Naadam’s archery competition in summer, Winter archery competition which will be held on February 14 on ice lake Tolbo this year.

5.    “Altai Eagle” and “Nowruz Eagle”  festival

Every year,  “Sher-Orog-Saral '' LLC organizes the “Altai Eagle” festival on September 19-20 and “Nowruz Eagle” festival on March 21-22 in Tolbo soum, Bayan-Ulgii aimag.

6.    “Hansonar Eagle” festival

On every September 29, “Altai Expedition” LLC organizes the “Hansonar '' festival. Tracking down the animal trace after the first snowfall is called “Hansonar” Eagle hunting in Kazakh culture. 

On the first day of the festival,  eagle trainers introduce their eagles through their manning, association with humans, and hunting skills.  The second day is the training day. The best part of this festival is the “Eagle Hunting Performance”. Tourists may have so many great chances to shoot wonderful photos and videos.