Buryats have celebrated Altargana, the International Buryat National festival for the past 20 years.  It was first held in the 1990’s, after the Democratic Revolution in Mongolia, where Buryat Mongols celebrated the Altargana festival with the ambition to keep and promote their history and culture.

This year`s edition of Altargana – 2014, the International Buryat-Mongol festival will be organized under the auspices of the Prime Minister of Mongolia, N.Altankhuyag. Altargana – 2014, the International Buryat-Mongol festival is scheduled to be held in Dadal sum in Khentii province between July 18th and 21st. The first Altargana festival was organized under the name of Buryat culture and custom festival in 1994 in Dadal sum in Khentii province.

The biennial festival represents the traditions of not only Buryat Mongols from Russia but also Buryats from every corner of the world including Inner Mongolia and Agin-Buryat Autonomous Area. The organizing committee for the festival held a meeting to discuss participation in the festival in Khentii province last week. So far representatives from five countries have announced that they will participate in the festival.

During the event, visitors will see Buryat wrestling, singing contests, Dangina or beauty contests, and horse racing as in previous years.

The number of participants is increased from year to year. Last time it was estimated that over 15 thousand people participated in Altargana in Agin-Buryat Autonomous Area. Organizers expect that the festival will attract up to 10 thousand visitors this year.