1

Try looking for the website of Dan, known here on the TT as "tomongolia;" he usually posts the dates of festivals when they are known.

Ruth

2

Thanks, I will try to find him, or otherwise hope Dan will post a message on TT.

Ingrid

3

Hi Ingrid and Ruth

The monks at Amarbayasgalant Monastery will calculate the exact dates based various traditional factors. Once the dates are set, I will publish them here.

Good choice to participate at the fascinating Gongoriin Bombani Hural ceremony.

Dan

4

Thanks for your quick reply, Dan!

I will check the TT for your updates.

Ingrid

5

Hi Ingrid ............................................. (key words: Mongolia, Amarbayasgalant, Buddhism)

Short answer
The monks at the monastery announced the festival in 2013 will take place during August 8-9-10

August 9th, special lucky day
According to the Buddhist Astrological calendar, in 2013, August 9th is the day when the deity named Dashnyam, (the deity of cheerfulness and energy), discusses issues related to human beings.
That is why the monks at Amarbayasgalant monastery have chosen to celebrate the festival named Gongoriin Bombani Hural on the 9th, including the day before and the day after. The day of August 9th 2013, is a very special day in Mongolian Buddhism. Mongolians will choose this day to begin a long Journey, to sign important contracts, or move to a new home.

Other significant dates at the monastery in 2013
June 20, 21, 22 Bumba festival (similar to the August festival)
July 22 Maidar Irgeh festival
September 2,3,and 4th Tsam dance ceremonies

Trekking to the monastery
You can take a 3-4 day trek to the monastery this page has full details and maps for a do it yourself trek.

What to expect
Hundreds of Mongolians will attend the festival. The monastery is located in a remote area. There is no public transport you can depend on. There is limited accommodation, most people will pitch tents or family gers.
People are friendly and inviting. Arrange transport, tent, food, and drink for yourself. You can buy local style food at food stands set up during the festival.

The festival highlight - Tsam Dance
Skilled monk dancers will perform at the ceremony the ritual of Tsam Dance, performed with large masks. The masks resemble the ten wisdom's of mankind, portraying characters of different apostles, devils, animals and real people. The dancers will express during the dance the three moods; anger, calm and humorous.

About Amarbayasgalant Khiid
One of the most magnificent monasteries, once one of the three largest Buddhist centers in Mongolia. It is located in the Ivon Gol River Valley at the foot of the Burenkhan Mountains. It was built over a period of 10 years from 1726 to 1736. A few thousand resident monks served and studied at the monastery. The monastery was built to honor the memory of Zanabazar one of the great Buddhist leaders of Mongolia. After he died his remains where brought to be buried in this monastery.
During the Soviet purge the monks were persecuted, and some of the temples demolished. Restoration of the monastery began in 1990 after the fall of the Soviet Union. Today there are 50 resident monks, including ordained monks and those studying at Amarbayasgalant. They range in age from 11 to 104.
The Official website of the monastery - in Mongolian and some English.

The legend of the "Amarbayasgalant" name
Don Corner tells about the origins of the name of the monastery -
"In his will Kangxi (Chinese Emperor) had bequeathed 3,860 kilograms of silver with instructions to his successor that it be used to construct a monastery to house Zanabazar’s remains. In 1727 Yung Cheng finally ordered the construction of the monastery. According to legend, he sent a team of researchers to Mongolia to seek out an appropriate location. In the valley of the Even River, a tributary of the Orkhon, they found a little boy and girl playing together. When asked their names the boy said “Amar” (amar = happiness, peacefulness) and the girl “Bayasgalant” (bayasgalant = joy, pleasure, happiness). This was deemed auspicious, and it was decided to build the new monastery on this site and call it Amarbayasgalant. According to the legend, when Amar and Bayasgalant died they were buried in the front courtyard of monastery".

Enjoy a happy festival

Dan

6

Ho Ingrid, some years ago we had the opportunity to be for a festival in september and it worth it really.
we could lodge in a small guest house close the monastery, maybe still open?
maybe you need some more information to visit and discover Mongolia? maybe here information helpful to prepare your trip.

will be pleased to answer to others questions if necessary

enjoy Mongolia

7

Thank you all for the excellent information!

I think we will be in Mongolia from July 20 till August 18.

We are working on our schedule now. We will visit north, central and south (Gobi) Mongolia. We also would like to see some parts in western Mongolia, but I think it might be to far to drive there and a flight is too expensive (we are a family with four kids: 8 -10 - 11 -13). We plan to travel by minivan with driver and camp and cook ourselves.

We will try to fit some festivals in our schedule. The Amarbayasgalant festival sounds great, so we will definitely go there.
I also read something about the Yak festival Aug 1 and 2 in Bat Ulzii Soum. Pictures are great.

We definitely go trekking for 2 or 3 days.

We'll travel to Mongolia by train from Moscow and continue to Datong (China) and Beijing afterwards. The price for UB-Datong train we got from our travel agent is very high 180 euro pp. I think it will be cheaper to arrange transport to Datong in UB. Do you think it is easy to get a train ticket to Erlian from UB?

Ingrid