Ulaanbaatar /MONTSAME/ A tour for watching the first sunrise of the Lunar New Year – the Year of Fire Monkey is kicking off on February 9, the first day of spring according to Mongolian-Tibetan calendar. Guests will be welcomed by four mounted and traditionally-dressed heroes and queens, and will enjoy an opportunity to pose for photos with them and to experience unique traditional Tsagaan Sar (White Month – Lunar New Year) rituals.

At the beginning of the 13th century, many nomadic tribes had been living separately and were unified by Temuujin to ultimately make up The Great Mongol Empire. It is then on the last month of winter in the Third Jaran (60 year cycle also known as the Buddhist Century), on the year of the triumphant Ox, and in the first month of the red Tiger year (1206) he who sat on his throne and was named “Chingis Khaan” also known as the Great Khaan.It is since then, the Mongols have been celebrating the beginning of the lunar year welcoming every spring (for Mongolians it is known as Tsagaan Sar, in English White Month).

Therefore, since the determination of this month of Tigers as the premier and beginning of the Mongolian Lunar year, the Mongols have been celebrating this great celebration over the past 800 hundred years.

And as part of the celebration, the Mongols would watch the very first sunrise of the Lunar year to entrust their destiny and the general wellness in the coming year, whisper their wishes to the eternal blue sky, to the golden beam of the sun and customarily pay homage by offering some milk to the sky.

It is believed that after witnessing the first sunrise of the year the prosperity, success, and the optimistic life opportunities come about in the lives of the ones who participated.

Thus, since 2008 Genco Tour Bureau JSC has been organizing and promoting these unique traditions in order to share with the world, through attracting many domestic tourists as well as international tourists from all around the world.

The venue of this astounding event will be held at the biggest Equestrian statue in the world, standing at 40 meters tall Chinggis Khan Monument based in Tsonjin Boldog, Tov (Central) aimag, just outside the capital. The local legend says that this is the place where the Great Khaan had found a golden horse whip. The fact that this location has a connection with Chinggis Khaan makes it the most appropriate location for this particular event.

By being part of this tour you will experience, the Genco Tour Bureau offers you to watch the stillness and the beauty of the rising sun over the vast steppe; carry out the rituals of directions and footsteps; the special greeting (zolgolt) ceremony; and a traditional Mongolian music concert.

The tour team will leave at 6 am in the morning from outside of Bayangol Hotel Building A. Tour fee is 30 thousand MNT, including transport, celebration breakfast, guides and above mentioned events. The tour will return to UB at noon.

For more information, visit www.genco-tour.mn.