Date of the festival:

Between July and August every year

Ethnic minorities and places to celebrate:

Mongolian ethnic minority in Inner Mongolia

Festival origin:

Nadam means 'entertainment or game' in Mongolian. Nadam Fair is the annual traditional pageant for Mongolians held in summer during which period the grass is at its greenest. In history, Nadam Fair was held for large-scale sacrificial activities and to pray for blessings from Manito.

It derived from Mongol ancestors' custom of riding and shooting and wrestling, which was formed in the nomadic life. The word "Nadam" in Mongolian is a joint term of Mongolian-type wrestling, riding and shooting. The Nadam Fair falls on the fourth day of the sixth lunar month (between July and August in the solar calendar), and people of any ethnic groups and religions are allowed to participate.

The Nadam Fair can be traced back to the initial stage of the Mongol Empire. In order to pray for and celebrate a good harvest as well as inspect the army, Genghis Khan convened annual gathering of clan leaders and conducted shooting, horse racing and wrestling contests. By the late Qing Dynasty, Nadam had evolved into a recreational activity which was regularly held by the government. This festival has been handed down till now, with that held on Xilinguole Grassland being the most famous.

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