MONGOLIA
MONGOLIA 2015 ©Massimo Rumi
Mongolia, a country with just over three million people, is rich in history and culture. Landlocked between Russia and China, it is one of the few places on the planet where nomadic life still exists. For 3 000 years, the people of the steppes have adopted a pastoral way of life moving in the search of best pastures and campsites. They live by and for their livestock, in the forefront of which the horse undoubtedly was the first animal domesticated in these infinite meadows. Today, approximately half of Mongolia’s population is still roaming the vast plains living in the ger and moving their campings several times a year on the grounds with no fence. Nomadic life thrives in summer and survives in winter. Considering climatic conditions, especially during winter, such lifestyle may seem to the outside world to be a very hard way of living. However, Mongolians have developed for centuries such qualities as strength and resilience that are essential for survival in this harsh nature, which is their cherished homeland is a look at the lives and culture of the people living here.
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GOLDEN EAGLE FESTIVAL
Racing through the mountain range on horseback, the Kazakh people of the Altai Region in Western Mongolia practise their ancient tradition of hunting with golden eagles. Only around 70 Kazakh eagle hunters take part in the annual Golden Eagle festival and the following set of images display the 4,000-year-old art in all of its glory.
The Golden Eagle festival sees golden eagles soaring through the air at speeds of up to 200mph as well as horse racing, archery and Bushkashi, which is a goatskin tug of war on horseback.
It takes the hunters around five years to finish their training.During this period the eagle must be treated with respect and gentleness or it might fly away and never come back. The trainer constantly sings and speaks to his bird to imprint his voice in its memory.The hunter does not keep the eagle with him forever. After years of service, the eagle is released into the wild.
During my stay with eagle hunters, I felt great respect for the way they care and treat the eagle like a child. They have an extraordinary bond with the bird and it is very hard for them to let the eagle go back into the wild.
MONGOLIAN LANDSCAPES
In Mongolia every turn on the road reveals a different landscape. Traditional Mongolian gers dot the vast steppes while sand dunes rise from empty deserts and snowcapped mountains loom over lush green grasslands.
