Yak
Festival
is annually held in July in Uvurkhangai province. During the festival, local
people celebrate their heritage and compete each other. Nomadic culture in the Khangai Mountains are very
strong and the area has one of the highest concentration of yaks in the world.
The event is eagerly anticipated by the community and great fun is had by all
participants. This event is supported to attract more domestic and
foreign tourists and increase the products which are produced locally by
herders and locals. It also promotes yak improvement and numbers with
productivity of raw materials.
The
festival starts with the yak racing which are probably one of the world’s slowest
mounted racing. Aim of the event: Protection of yaks, increase their numbers and promote yak benefits, products
from yak. Ticket sales of the event will be
donated to the “Khaluun bolor” or “hot crystal” center fund for the further
activities and sanatorium construction work for the paralyzed children.
Activities
and competitions:
- Wrestling
- Twin
calves celebration
- Contest
of the Best Selected yak bull
- Contest
of Dembee game and competition of yak airag
- Yak
race
Highlights: local herders
participate with their marked herds for the "Yak Naadagai-2015" Festival and
during the celebration will be consecrated the Yak god and special ritual, worship
to the deity of the livestock, Banzragch, to make the deity become the local
deity for herders.