Ulaanbaatar, July 11, 2024 /MONTSAME/.  The National Naadam Festival, marking the 2233rd anniversary of the establishment of Mongolian Statehood, the 818th anniversary of the Great Mongol Empire, the 113th anniversary of the Restoration of National Freedom and Independence, the 103rd anniversary of the People’s Revolution of Mongolia, commenced with the Grand Opening Ceremony at the Central Stadium of Mongolia on July 11, 2024.

President of Mongolia Khurelsukh Ukhnaa made opening remarks at the National Naadam Festival. 

“Fellow citizens of Mongolia united in freedom and sovereignty of the nation,

Fellow countrymen living all across the globe,

Distinguished guests visiting our beautiful country – once the center of a Great Empire,

Dear Naadam participants,

On this joyous day of summer, blessed with rain from the heavenly sky and graced with delightful blossom, the grand festival of the Mongolian people – the Naadam – is ready to commence.

The one and only Mongol Naadam Festivity, which has no equals in the world, is a celebration of Father Sky, Mother Earth, and precious people, a memory of Mongolian Statehood, a symbol of unity and independence of the Mongolian nation, a spiritual immunity and a guarantee of our continuance.

I extend my heartfelt greetings to my fellow Mongolians, who are proud of our heritage, our ancestors, and our history, to all the participants and honored guests visiting our beautiful Mongolia, who are gathered here to celebrate the Naadam Festival, the invaluable cultural heritage of humankind, on the occasion of the 2233rd anniversary of the establishment of Mongolian Statehood, the 818th anniversary of the Great Mongol Empire, the 113th anniversary of the Restoration of National Freedom and Independence, the 103rd anniversary of the People’s Revolution of Mongolia.

Mongolia, with its admirable history and rich traditions, is the ancient birthplace of mankind, the sacred hearth of nomadic empires, and a symbol of spiritual freedom and peace.

Therefore, to preserve and promote the great history, culture, heritage, and customs of our ancestors and pass them on to our descendants, President of Mongolia has issued Decrees on Revering the Portrait of the Great Chinggis Khaan, on Rebuilding the Ancient City of Kharkhorin, the sacred hearth of ancient kingdoms, and on Honoring and Promoting the Morin Khuur, the national pride of the Mongols.

Also, to further study and learn our history and make it available to the people of Mongolia, the Comprehensive Edition of the “Secret History of the Mongols" was created for the first time, and the monumental work of creating a new comprehensive 20-volume book on chronicling the world-changing history of the Mongols, has begun.

We, Mongolians, are a people with a glorious history, as a century ago, we adopted our first Constitution, establishing a republican government and guaranteeing the right to vote and be elected.

This year, on this historic 100th anniversary, our people elected 126 members to the State Great Khural of Mongolia, the highest legislative body of Mongolia, strengthening our democratic government and parliamentary system for the first time. 

On behalf of the people of Mongolia, I extend my congratulations and best wishes for success to the newly elected members of the State Great Khural and Government of Mongolia, who have taken a solemn oath to serve the people and lead our nation, the Mongolian state with millennia-old history.

Dear Naadam participants!

The one and only Mongol Naadam, a supreme celebration of the Mongolians, who guard the hearth of the great nomads, raise our nation’s Nine White Banners up in the Eternal Blue Sky, admire the sun over the placid world with its long song, gratify Mother Earth with the sound of Morin Khuur, and delight the people, the mountains and the waters, is thus open with pride and vigor.

May the eagle dancing of mighty wrestlers fill the earth, the galloping of fast horses shake the vast plains, and the swift arrows of archer’s whistle in the sky. I wish my fellow Mongolians, wise and fateful, a happy Naadam.

May Mongolia prosper under the might of the Eternal Blue Sky!”

On the occasion of the 2233rd anniversary of the establishment of Mongolian Statehood, the 818th anniversary of the Great Mongol Empire, the 113th anniversary of the Restoration of National Freedom and Independence, and the 103rd anniversary of the People’s Revolution of Mongolia, the National Naadam Festival commences with the Grand Opening Ceremony at the Central Stadium of Mongolia, themed “Mother Earth - Principles of Harmonious Existence.”

Directed by Ts. Batnairamdal, Director of the Mongol Tuurgatan Theatre of Mongolia, this year’s Opening and Closing Performances of the National Naadam Festival utilize the latest equipment and technology to depict Mongolian history. The first chapter of the Opening Ceremony portrays the origin of the world, featuring ancient animals and plants to emphasize that humans are not the sole creations on Mother Earth with the legendary Mongolian song "Sun over the Placid World," performed by Morin Khuur players.

The Opening Performance will be reprised tonight at 10 pm on July 11, 2024, offering a modern stage and screen experience for nighttime viewing.