In collaboration with the World Morin Khuur Association, the Ministry of Culture, Sport and Tourism of Mongolia are organizing the 4th International Festival of the Morin Khuur. The festival will be held from April 26th to May 1st 2014 in Ulaanbaatar city.

The Morin Khuur, or horse head fiddle, is a traditional Mongolian bowed sting instrument. The 4th International Festival aims to promote the Morin Khuur, which has been registered as an Intangible Cultural Heritage by UNESCO, and is considered as a national symbol of Mongolia.

The festival is being held following the Presidential Decree on the “Preservation and Promotion of the Morin Khuur”. The events are designed to encourage and delight those with a casual interest in the traditional Mongolian instrument as well as expert crafts-persons and musicians.

According to the organizers there will be over 100 musicians taking part from a number of countries including Germany, France, China, Japan, Russian, South Korea, the US and Mongolia.

The opening ceremony will take place on Chinggis Square (formerly Sukhbaatar Square) on 26th April. From April 27th to 30th competitions between musicians will be held. The closing ceremony will take place at the Central Cultural Palace.

Organizers believe this event will help to promote the traditional instrument on an international level.