Genghis Khan Mausoleum embraces summertime ceremony

The annual Genghis Khan Summertime Nur Ceremony is held at the Genghis Khan Mausoleum in Ejin Horoo Banner, Ordos, Inner Mongolia autonomous region, June 28. [Photo/WeChat account of Ordos]

The annual Genghis Khan Summertime Nur Ceremony returned to his mausoleum in Ejin Horoo Banner, Ordos, Inner Mongolia autonomous region, June 28.

The ceremony is one of the four most important ceremonies that take place in each of the four seasons, and is scheduled to be held on May 15 in the lunar calendar. This year, it happens to fall on June 28.

The word “nur” means “lakes” in Mongolian. By using “lakes” to name the ceremony, Mongolian people express their wish to have milk that is as abundant as a lake in summertime, the most prime season of the year.

The ceremony can be dated back nearly 800 years to when Genghis Khan honored his generals and, as time passed, his successors honored the descendants of the great leader’s generals. 

At around 7:30 am, thousands of ethnic Mongolians gathered in front of the Genghis Khan Mausoleum. Following traditional sacrificial ceremonies, the Darhad People, crowned as the guardians of the spirit of Genghis Khan, who are the descendants of Genghis Khan’s generals, hosted the ceremony. 

The ceremony included a series of procedures, including presenting hada, a traditional gift representing tribute, to the statue of Genghis Khan and a recitation of a special eulogy, which is related to the historical facts of Genghis Khan presenting awards to his generals. It is said that the eulogy was never used in other similar events.

At around 9 am, attendees at the ceremony headed to the Bayinchanghuge Prairie for another memorial event called Nur Lahu Ceremony, which was traditionally inherited from an established practice, according to which all descendants of Genghis Khan’s generals who have made significant contributions should be given awards at the ceremony for generations after generations.

Visitors pray at the Genghis Khan Summertime Nur Ceremony. [Photo/WeChat account of Ordos]