Khuraldai Falconry Festival - A living Human Heritage

Mongolian ancient hunting sport- falconry is the traditional activity of keeping and training falcons to take quarry in its natural state, and has been practiced for more than 4000 years.

To re-awaken and promote this fascinating aspect of traditional Mongolian hunting culture, the first ever falcon related festival entitled- Khuraldai Naadam were successfully held  at Chinggis Khaan Khuree Camp, 25 km from the Ulaanbaatar, on 17 Aug 2019. Take a look Khuraldai festival photos by Munkhjargal Myagmardorj during our short tour around Ulaanbaatar and quick news about what went around there. 

During the festival, there were wide range of amazing activities held including parade of horse archers and bird trainers with taiga dogs, cultural performances, competitions among falcon trainers and horseback archery, race of taiga dogs, breaking an animal backbone with bare hands and as well as night events as  fireworks, circus performances and traditional Mongolian dancing-Toiron bujig.

Falcon training in Mongolia 

There is no doubt, falconry probably evolved in the steppes of Mongolia and Asia, and spread via cultural and trade links to other countries, first to Europe, North Africa and East Asia and later in the 16th century to the rest of the world.

Falconry is an important cultural symbol of Mongolia and Falcon is reclaimed as National Bird on Nov 2012 by the government, making Mongolia the 88^th country in the world that has national bird.

Nowadays falconry is practiced by people of all ages, men and women, amateurs and professionals in local communities in more than sixty countries including Mongolia.

Falconry in Mongolia- UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage

Falconry was added to the lists of the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage on 16th November 2010 and also inscribed on Intangible Cultural heritages of humanity on 1^st December 2016.

 Mongolia is the one of the those 18 countries where there has its own set of culturally-shaped traditions and ethics; while falconers come from different backgrounds, they share universal values, traditions and practices.

Falconry history in Mongolia 

Marco Polo stated- during the Khublai Khan period when falconry flourished in Asia, Kublai Khan left Cambaluc (Beijing) each March and travelled north east to go hunting accompanied by some 10,000 falconers and bird catchers as well as his soldiers, office bearer, bodyguards etc. numbering many thousands more.

Mongolian falconers have been developing a strong relationship and spiritual bond with their birds; commitment is required to breed, train, handle and fly falcons.

The gift of falcons has also been used in diplomacy throughout history and widely used in postage stamps, money, and coats of arms.

Horseback Archery Competition 

The most attractive and awe-inspiring event was legendary Mongolian horseback archery. More than 40 participants from Mongolia, Canada and Japan had competed in categories of single shot, five arrow hitting the target in row and bamboo arrow.

In competition, horseback archers divided into 5 member shooting groups and each archer shot two arrows in the categories. Archer with best scored out of all categories had won the grand prize. The honored 1^st place went to N.Altankhuyag, head of Namnaa club, 2^nd place S.Tushigbat and the 3^rd place E.Erdenebat.

Khuraldai Falconry festival had exceeded the expectations of both participants and festival goers making wonderful cultural and historcial experience of Mongolia within one day. The festival organizers as Mongolian Ethnosport Federation and Chingis Khaanii Khuree Tourist complex had done great job together in history of Mongolian tourism and amazing contribution to re- awaken wonderful aspects of ancient Mongols to next generations and planned to organize the festival as Annual Event. 

For all the riders out there who want a fun challenge and excitement for a lifetime or photographers who wants direct witness of this amazing Mongol Horseback archery come join the SPIRIT- Mongolian Horseback Archery Open Tournament and eyewitness our ANCIENT SPORT that changed the world.