Materials
summer
ICH Materials 234
Videos
(9)-
Tsaatan (Reindeer herders)
Deep in the remote taiga forests of northern Mongolia, the Tsaatan people—known as the reindeer herders—live a nomadic life deeply intertwined with nature and tradition. Residing in Tsagaan Nuur Sum of Khuvsgul Province, over 1,000 kilometers from Ulaanbaatar, the Tsaatans are among the last remaining communities in the world who herd and ride reindeer as part of their daily life.\n\nNumbering around 40 families and herding over 2,000 reindeer, the Tsaatans live in urts—portable teepees made for life on the move. Constantly in search of favorable weather and rich moss pastures for their reindeer, they migrate frequently, far more than other Mongolian herders. Their connection to the reindeer is both spiritual and practical: the animals are used for transport, milk, meat, and even as hunting companions.\n\nThis video explores the fascinating world of the Tsaatan people—their traditions, reindeer-herding practices, and harmonious relationship with the environment. From milking reindeer in the summer to celebrating milestones like the “1000” and “2000 Reindeer Festivals,” the Tsaatans continue to preserve their way of life while attracting visitors interested in their unique culture.\n\nWith reindeer numbers soon reaching 3,000, the Tsaatans plan to hold another major celebration, honoring their heritage and the growing recognition of their role in preserving one of Mongolia’s most remarkable nomadic traditions.
Mongolia 2023 -
Traditional art of whistling
"The traditional art of whistling calls for human teeth and lips to function as the music instrument and the mouth cavity to function as a sound box. Whistling is classified into the following three types: tooth whistle, lip whistle and palate whistle. The reasons Mongolians whistle is greatly dependant on the season, time, location, and context due to that from ancient times Mongols have considered whistling as a call for wind. Mongols whistle the short and long songs, and melodies in hot days of summer and autumn season while herding livestock and during the labor for relaxing. Before mentioned, Mongols believe that the whistle can bring the deity of wind, therefore they do whistle while harvesting the grain for blowing the skin of grain. Additionally, Mongols do whistling during watering their horse and animal for preventing the flies."\n
Mongolia -
Traditional art of whistling
The traditional art of whistling calls for human teeth and lips to function as the music instrument and the mouth cavity to function as a sound box. Whistling is classified into the following three types: tooth whistle, lip whistle and palate whistle. The reasons Mongolians whistle is greatly dependant on the season, time, location, and context due to that from ancient times Mongols have considered whistling as a call for wind. Mongols whistle the short and long songs, and melodies in hot days of summer and autumn season while herding livestock and during the labor for relaxing. Before mentioned, Mongols believe that the whistle can bring the deity of wind, therefore they do whistle while harvesting the grain for blowing the skin of grain.
Mongolia -
Gardening in Uzbekistan
The current film is devoted to the knowledge and experience about gardening in different regions of Uzbekistan and its transmission to younger generations. In the first part of the film, fields and gardens of Fergana Valley and the house of Abdulvokhid Khoji living in the Oltiariq district is described. The film was made during spring, summer, and autumn. Abdulvokhid Khoji is a ninety-two-year-old father who has been teaching his knowledge and skills to future generations, in particular to his sons and grandchildren, based on master-apprentice traditions.
Uzbekistan 2017 -
Ví and Giặm folk songs of Nghệ Tĩnh
Nghệ An and Hà Tĩnh are two coastal provinces in the north - central part of Viet Nam. This region is known for its mixed terrain including moutain terrain, flat terrain, delta terrain and coast terrain. Its climate is hasrsh especially in summer, thusbarren land. However, the two riversnamely Lam and La contribute to the creation of ancient alluvial soil shelves that are favorable for wet rice cultivation. The region, therefore, has become a residential area for a long time.\nNghệ An and Hà Tĩnh were formerly known as Nghệ Tĩnh that is attached to the land forming a cultural subregion sharing a same local dialect (Nghệ accent), similar customs, beliefs, folklore, etc. Up to now, Nghệ Tĩnh people in villages and communes have created and preserved an abundant source of folk cultural heritage that is diverse and imbued with the identity of the land named “the Lam River - Red Mountain” where Ví and Giặm folk songs are popularly known.\n
Viet Nam -
Traditional technique of preparing the dairy products
"\nMongolian traditional food is adjusted to the condition of the nomadic way of life. It is divided into milk or white products, meat or red products, and vegetable or green products. During summer and autumns, Mongols prefer to consume various different dairy products from milk of five livestock animals. Dairy products are generally produced by boiling, fermenting, distilling, brewing, extracting, separating or drying. Traditional food is dairy products, meat and green food or grain. Mongols do “Airag” from the mare’s milk, and do milk skim, youghurt, aaruul (oblong), with and orange eezgii, tsagaan tos (derived from the skim), tsorom by milk from sheep, goat and khoormog and aaruul from camel milk. Additionally, smoking, drying and preserving the meat from goat, cow and camel for making borts and shuuz. In addition, khorkhog, boodog, buuz and khuushuur and various different meals are made from sheep, goat and meat from hunting. \n"\n
Mongolia -
Traditional Mongolian Practices of Worshipping Sacred Sites
Mongolian worship ceremonies are performed at sacred sites to invoke assistance from deities of nature: in the summer for timely rain and abundant pastures and in the autumn for protecting humans and livestock from a harsh winter. The tradition maintains a variety of forms of intangible cultural heritage and builds a sense of community and solidarity among the people while strengthening awareness of the importance of protecting the environment. On a specified day, all the participants gather early in the morning at the worship site. Everyone wears their ceremonial clothes and brings offerings to the deities.
Mongolia 2017 -
Mongolian traditional practices of the worshipping of sacred sites
Mongolian worship ceremonies are performed at sacred sites to invoke assistance from nature deities: in the summer for timely rain and abundant pastures, and in the autumn for the protection of humans and livestock from a harsh winter. The tradition maintains a variety of forms of intangible cultural heritage, and builds a sense of community and solidarity among the people, while strengthening awareness of the importance of protecting the environment. On a set out day, all the participants gather early in the morning at the site of the worshipping. Everyone comes in their ceremonial clothes along with the offerings to the deities.
Mongolia -
Nadam Festival
Naadam', which means game or contest, is a traditional Mongolian festival held every summer. Before and after the state Naadam is held in Ulaanbaatar, every village holds its own Naadam in their local community. The main events of Naadam contain horseracing, wrestling, and archery, which are related to the nomadic culture of Mongolians. Naadam was transmitted from generation to generation and is considered an essential expression of Mongolian cultural identity. Naadam was inscribed on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2010.
Mongolia 2013