International festival of Buryat Mongols held in Mongolia to promote culture

ULAN BATOR, July 29 (Xinhua) — The 15th International Buryat Mongol Festival was held in Mongolia on Sunday, with the aim of promoting its culture and traditions, local media reported on Monday, citing the governor’s office of the northern Bulgan province.
More than 50,000 people wearing the traditional attire of Buryats, from Mongolia, north China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, and Russia’s eastern Siberian Republic of Buryatia as well as Irkutsk Oblast, participated in the Altargana-2024 festivities in Bulgan, according to the report.
This year the Altargana festival was co-organized by the Office of the President of Mongolia, the Ministry of Culture, Sports, Tourism, and Youth, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Governor’s Office of Bulgan province.
During the event, qualifying competitions in Buryat national wrestling known as Buryat Buhe-Barildaan, Buryat archery tournament and horse racing were held.
Buryats are a Mongolian ethnic group native to southeastern Siberia who speak the Buryat language. Buryats share many customs with other Mongols, including nomadic herding, and erecting gers for shelter.
The festival is held once every two years. ■