GRASS & GAMES

Ethnic Mongolian festivities draw revelers to the lush grasslands

Meeting ethnic Mongolian wrestler Urtnasan can be a daunting experience.

Urtnasan, 33, weighs 130 kilograms and towers over 1.8 meters, with thick, powerful limbs and a stout body frame to match. He started wrestling as a child, taking part in many competitions in his community in Ar Horqin of North China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region.

Urtnasan may seem all muscle to many people, but when asked about the most important factor behind besting his opponents, he said it is the mind that conquers all.

"Mental strength is what matters for us," he said. "The pressure of facing another wrestler who's out to get you can be immense, so staying cool and focused is always crucial."

Mongolians count wrestling as one of their traditional "three manly sports", with the other two being horse-racing and archery.

The sports form one of the biggest draws at the annual Naadam festival, a major summer ethnic celebration for young and old to revel in fun and games on the lush, green grasslands across the region.

In Ar Horqin alone, residents and visitors from its more than 200 villages and beyond packed the outdoor festival in July as they enjoyed music performances featuring the traditional horse-head fiddle and other ethnic treats, while contestants such as Urtnasan readied to go for gold in their respective events.

Herder Bagana, 48, was one of the archers dressed in their finest ethnic attire for a shot at the top honors in the 30-meter-range competition.

"Archery isn't just a simple hobby for me, it's also an important part of our history and heritage," Bagana said.

"Events and activities like these help keep us connected to our roots, to nature and the environment," he said.

"It's also good fun for the family."