Art Council of Mongolia, Culture Naadam Project

Assyk as art object: Festive events conducted on the occasion of the National Dombra Day in Almaty.

Artefacts on the upper room are for two different games. The four playing objects of the same nature but different in color and size are light. It is called Te ano-ni-boiri which is very light.The game for which Teano-no-boiri is played is called Te Boiri. Men plays Te boiri. Te Boiri involves movement of the ball by the leg kicking it with the inner part of the right leg so that the ball goes up to the air so that it falls on another player, who kicks it in the same way. There is no competition in the game. All players must be capable of keeping the ball up in the air for a long time. While the ball is moved in such a way every player whether he kicks the ball or not must claps his hands each time the ball is kicked. The clapping makes a very loud noise which adds to the excitement of the game. A large number of players is suitable for this game to acquire a very loud noise from clapping and keep the ball in the air for a long time. The other ball on the right is very heavy and it is called Te ano-n-oreano. With it the game of oreano is played. This game is genuine competition between two teams. The ball is thrown by one team to the other. A skillful player while running at high speed in a space of 6 meters away from his own team holding the ball in his right hand throws it up to the height of his shoulder to allow the ball to land immediately on his right arm when immediately he swings his arm with the ball on it throwing it to the direction of the opposing team. If the ball fails to land on the opposing team that throw does not acquire an score. But if it lands amid the oth-er team, that receiving team must catch it before if lands on the ground. Score is acquired when the ball is not caught by the other team. The weight of Te ano-n-oreano makes it im-portant for the thrower to be strong enough with skill to throw it successfully. The receiving player must reciprocally be strong enough with skill to catch it in the right way. The weight furthermore is the cause of failure th throw it successfully or inability to catch it. The game is always accompanied with singing and clapping by each team after throwing the ball in the manner explained above. The songs are always provocative, especially when failing to throw the ball successfully or failing to catch the ball. In the past it always led to physical fight be-tweeb the two teams.

Assyk Atu - preparing for the game. \nThe players put the assyks in line.

Preparation for the welcoming of a new year has been always a very important set of activities. People beforehand prepare and clean their households, clear the ditches, wear new elegant clothing, prepare rich variety of foods for Dastarkhan (holiday table with dishes). Rich abundance of food is prepared during the celebration of Nauryz. Festive Dastarkhan is served in every house symbolizing prosperity and abundance. Prior and after the meal mullah reads prayers in the honor of ancestors. then eldest man gives out his blessing "Bata"with wishes of a happy new year. The main festive dish on Dastarkhan is a traditional meal called Nauryz kozhe (Nauryz porridge) that includes seven sacral ingredients: water, meat, salt, mutton lard, flour, cereals and milk. Seven components of Nauryz kozhe symbolize seven elements of life. Big pot for cooking Nauryz kozhe symbolizez unity. Nauryz holiday is always accompanied by mass fun and outdoor activities. swinging on Altybakan swings, and engagement in sports competition: wrestling, horse riding games, Aitys (singers contest) and other music competitions.

Preparation for the welcoming of a new year has been always a very important set of activities. People beforehand prepare and clean their households, clear the ditches, wear new elegant clothing, prepare rich variety of foods for Dastarkhan (holiday table with dishes). Rich abundance of food is prepared during the celebration of Nauryz. Festive Dastarkhan is served in every house symbolizing prosperity and abundance. Prior and after the meal mullah reads prayers in the honor of ancestors. then eldest man gives out his blessing 'Bata' with wishes of a happy new year. The main festive dish on Dastarkhan is a traditional meal called Nauryz kozhe (Nauryz porridge) that includes seven sacral ingredients: water, meat, salt, mutton lard, flour, cereals and milk. Seven components of Nauryz kozhe symbolize seven elements of life. Big pot for cooking Nauryz kozhe symbolizez unity. Nauryz holiday is always accompanied by mass fun and outdoor activities. swinging on Altybakan swings, and engagement in sports competition: wrestling, horse riding games, Aitys (singers contest) and other music competitions.

Preparation for the welcoming of a new year has been always a very important set of activities. People beforehand prepare and clean their households, clear the ditches, wear new elegant clothing, prepare rich variety of foods for Dastarkhan (holiday table with dishes). Rich abundance of food is prepared during the celebration of Nauryz. Festive Dastarkhan is served in every house symbolizing prosperity and abundance. Prior and after the meal mullah reads prayers in the honor of ancestors. then eldest man gives out his blessing 'Bata' with wishes of a happy new year. The main festive dish on Dastarkhan is a traditional meal called Nauryz kozhe (Nauryz porridge) that includes seven sacral ingredients: water, meat, salt, mutton lard, flour, cereals and milk. Seven components of Nauryz kozhe symbolize seven elements of life. Big pot for cooking Nauryz kozhe symbolizez unity. Nauryz holiday is always accompanied by mass fun and outdoor activities. swinging on Altybakan swings, and engagement in sports competition: wrestling, horse riding games, Aitys (singers contest) and other music competitions.

'Sepak Raga' is a traditional game played in the Malay states and neighbouring coutries. 'Sepak' is Malay for "kick" and 'Raga' is the ‘rattan ball’ used in the game. Traditionally, sepak raga was played by forming circle to kick, shoulder or head a rattan ball to the opposing players much like the current Volleyball drills.\nThe Objective was for the players to keep the ball in the air for as long as possible. The game can played as a team, group, or even solo.\nLater in 1945, the net was introduced and the game it is played today came into being. The first official competition with the net and new rules was held at a Swim Club of Penang on May 16, 1945. It was the called Sepak Raga Jaring or Snwith reference to the addition of the net. Sepak raga jarring spread quickly throughout the rest of the Malay Peninsula and South East Asia. In 1965, The South East Asia Peninsular Games Committee eventually agreed that the sport would be known as "Sepak Takraw". Takraw is the ‘woven ball’ in Thai.\nFor Sepak Takraw, two opposing teams of three players each play the game, each team is permitted to hit the ball three times before it must cross the net, rather like in Volleyball. The difference is that it can be hit three times by some player.\nKicking is the most crucial factor in deciding the outcome of the game, a fluid overhead acrobatic kick to smash the ball.

'Sepak Raga' is a traditional game played in the Malay states and neighbouring coutries. 'Sepak' is Malay for "kick" and 'Raga' is the ‘rattan ball’ used in the game. Traditionally, sepak raga was played by forming circle to kick, shoulder or head a rattan ball to the opposing players much like the current Volleyball drills.\nThe Objective was for the players to keep the ball in the air for as long as possible. The game can played as a team, group, or even solo.\nLater in 1945, the net was introduced and the game it is played today came into being. The first official competition with the net and new rules was held at a Swim Club of Penang on May 16, 1945. It was the called Sepak Raga Jaring or Snwith reference to the addition of the net. Sepak raga jarring spread quickly throughout the rest of the Malay Peninsula and South East Asia. In 1965, The South East Asia Peninsular Games Committee eventually agreed that the sport would be known as "Sepak Takraw". Takraw is the ‘woven ball’ in Thai.\nFor Sepak Takraw, two opposing teams of three players each play the game, each team is permitted to hit the ball three times before it must cross the net, rather like in Volleyball. The difference is that it can be hit three times by some player.\nKicking is the most crucial factor in deciding the outcome of the game, a fluid overhead acrobatic kick to smash the ball.

Held from the 10th through the 15th days of the second lunar month, main foci of this festival are paying tribute to Guru Rinpoche and the performance of ritual prayers dedicated to Tshepamed (Buddha of Long Life) and local protective deities on the 10th and the 11th days. Events take place in community temples and are presided over by lamas and monks, and/or locally-based gomchens (Leymen). \n\nOn the 12th to 15th days, games and sports are organized, especially archery and Khuru (Traditional dart) are played. At night, the Blessing Round or Changkor (Wandering) takes place as a presiding lama or monk leads a group to visit every household in their respective villages and bless them with auspiciousness. The community members drink, sing and dance, and relish good foods during the period. The festival is not only meant to pay tribute to Guru Rinpoche and the protective deities but is also an occasion for community members to get together to relax away from the usual toils of agrarian life.

Held from the 10th through the 15th days of the second lunar month, main foci of this festival are paying tribute to Guru Rinpoche and the performance of ritual prayers dedicated to Tshepamed (Buddha of Long Life) and local protective deities on the 10th and the 11th days. Events take place in community temples and are presided over by lamas and monks, and/or locally-based gomchens (Leymen). \n\nOn the 12th to 15th days, games and sports are organized, especially archery and Khuru (Traditional dart) are played. At night, the Blessing Round or Changkor (Wandering) takes place as a presiding lama or monk leads a group to visit every household in their respective villages and bless them with auspiciousness. The community members drink, sing and dance, and relish good foods during the period. The festival is not only meant to pay tribute to Guru Rinpoche and the protective deities but is also an occasion for community members to get together to relax away from the usual toils of agrarian life.