|
WINTER FESTIVALS
Come join us in February for a time of festivals! The Lunar New Year holiday,
Tsagaan Tsar, the Camel Festival and the Ice Festival will all take place in
February. This is a fantastic opportunity to get involved in the festivities
of local communities in Mongolia. Not organized for 'tourists', these local
events are put on by communities for their own amusement, but visitors are always
welcome. Experience Tsagaan Sar with a Mongolian family, camel polo, and try
your hand at Ice Sumo or tug-of-war!
1. CAMEL FESTIVAL IN SOUTHGOBI PROVINCE
Mongolia's two-humped Bactrian camel is nicknamed by local people "the Gobi
Ship". It inhabits the Gobi desert in the southern part of Mongolia. Because
the camel is an indispensable part of life for nomadic herdsmen, a local association
of camel herders organizes this gathering of camels and their breeders each
year to promote continued breeding of the Bactrian camel and to educate both
Mongolians and foreigners on the importance of the camel in the Mongolian way
of life. Camels and riders compete in a race, in camel polo tournaments, and
even in a camel "beauty contest" where owners display the finest saddles and
rigging for their camels. This festival is held in Bulgan soum in Omnogobi (South
Gobi) province.
2. ICE FESTIVAL AT KHOVSGOL LAKE
Organized yearly on frozen Khovsgol Lake by National park rangers, local residents
and businesses, the Ice Festival has been held five years running. A respite
from the confinement of the winter months, the Ice Festival is a time to get
outdoors and play games. The festival features a gathering of local residents
and nomadic reindeer herders, and performances by shamans, musicians, and sportsmen.
Competitions include ice sumo, a horse-drawn sleigh race, ice skating races,
tug-of-war between local teams, and a Russian Jeep race on the ice. Many traditional
games are played on the sidelines, and this is an ideal venue for visitors to
join in the fun and games with local people. The festival is held at Khar-Us
on Khovsgol Lake, a short drive north of Khatgal across the frozen lake ice.
3. THE MONGOLIAN LUNAR CALENDAR NEW YEAR OR TSAGAAN SAR
Mongolians have celebrated the Lunar New Year for centuries. Tsagaan Sar, or
the White Month, in Mongolia is celebrated by Mongolians by wearing their finest
traditional clothes, preparing a tremendous amount of Mongolian food, paying
tribute to religious and social customs, and lots of singing and playing games.
Please,
look up Winter Festivals Tour 2010»
|
Ice Festival at the khuvsgul lake
Camel Racing in Gobi Desert
Nomadic reindeer herders
Lunar new year
|
www.toursmongolia.com
