EAGLE HUNTING FESTIVALS
The easiest way to see eagle hunting in action is on one of the 2 festivals in Bayan Olgii province: the smaller Altai Kazakh Eagle Festival(17-18 September 2024) and the big Golden Eagle Festival(5-6 October 2024). They are held late September-early October.
The Golden Eagle Festival has been the largest gathering of eagle hunters and their eagles in the world since it started in 1999 with 70 eagle hunters participating in this event. It is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Cultural Event. The festival starts with display of eagles and hunters, and then goes into the events of eagles displaying their talents. The first event is the eagle catching fox skin dragged behind a horse, returning to their owner from a distance on command, as well as a camel race and Kazakh games of Tiyn Teru (a race to pick up a coin on the ground while on horseback), Kyz Kuar (“girl chase,” a man and woman race on horseback while the woman whips the man), and Kokpar (tug of war over a goat carcass while on horseback). On the evening of the first night is a concert of traditional Kazakh music at the theatre included in the price of a ticket. Prizes are given to the winner of each event plus prizes for best dressed man, woman, and child. The finale is a live hunt of a fox or cub wolf by the winning eagle. The event is run by the Berkut Association, a local community organization for eagle hunters, and is sponsored by Nomadic Expeditions. Traditional Kazakh craft work and food is available at the event.
ENJOY THE WONDERFUL SKILL/MAKE MANY MEMORIES/ENJOY THE KAZAKH CONCERT/WATCH FUN HORSE GAMES
BUSHKASHI OR KOKBAR
Playing Kokbar, traditional nomads sport game played on horseback in Western Mongolia
Buzkashi began among the nomadic Turkic peoples who came from farther north and east spreading westward from China and Mongolia between the 10th and 15th centuries. Today games similar to buzkashi are played by several Central Asian ethnic groups. The goal of the game is to lift the carcass of a goat’s ram and deliver it to a certain point or throw it into a huge cauldron. Riders showcase great strength, a firm grip, and supreme balance in the saddle while leaning to the ground to grab the ram. Today, this game is considered the official equestrian sport in Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and other Central Asian countries.
KYZ KUU
In the depiction, the young woman is “winning” by whipping the young man.
This fun tradition game translates as “catch up with the girl”. Kyz Kuu is held during holidays and festivals, with young girls and boys participating in the game. The young people perform in bright national costumes and adorn their horses, providing a colorful show for elders and tourists alike. At the signal, the girl sets off on her horse. A few seconds later, the boy rushes after her, trying to get a kiss. If he is unable to get a kiss by the finishing point, she has license to chase him back to the start, trying to hit him with a whip. Usually, the chase distance in one direction is 400-500 meters.
TENGE ILU
During the competition, a horse rider bends to pick up a coin or handkerchief from the ground.
“Pick up the coin”, as this name is translated from Kazakh, is a game in which the rider must gather as many coins as possible. The coins are wrapped in small scarves and laid out in a line. The rider who collects the most coins is the winner. This game requires excellent dexterity, balance, and a strong grip whilst hanging down to scoop up the coins.
The festivals can get a bit touristy, and are perhaps unsustainable if they continue this way in the long run, but they are by far the easiest way to get a taste for the tradition. If you want to see the real deal, in winter, reserve plenty of time to get to know locals. Mongolia is destination offering endless travel experience. Immerse yourself in the heartland of uniquely captivating images. Untouched virgin landscape, snow-capped mountain ranges, glaciers, big lakes, rivers, wild life, multi ethnic diversity and famous Golden Eagle Festival! This festival is one of the traditional cultural heritage and all visitors can experience while travelling in Mongolia.
