New Delhi: Mongolian High Commission in India celebrated its National Day in New Delhi. The function marked the celebration of 92 years of becoming a sovereign republic country, also called the Constitution Day. On November 26, 1924, the Mongolian People’s Republic became the world’s second Communist country.
MoS External Affairs VK Singh was the Chief Guest. The Ambassador of Mongolia HE Mr Gonching Ganbold in his message said that he was happy to celebrate the 92nd anniversary of Mongolia's National Day which also marked 61 years of friendly and growing relationship between India and Mongolia.
India established diplomatic relations in December 1955. On December 24, 1955, India became the first country to establish diplomatic relations apart from the Socialist Bloc and even supported Mongolia's memberships in the United Nations and Non-Aligned Movement.
After the address of the Chief Guest who congratulated Mongolians on their Constitution Day and the Ambassador HE Mr Ganbold, the hall solmnely reverberated with the national anthems of both countries.
The distinguished guests at the function included Ambassador of Belarus Vitaly Prima, Ambassador of Afganistan Dr Shaida M Abdali, Ambassador of Cuba H. E. Mr. Oscar Martínez Cordovés. Officials from the embassies of Russia, Sweden amoung others also attended the function.
The current Mongolian national flag, adopted in 1992, is of three equal vertical bands of red, blue, and red. On the red band near the hoist is the yellow Soyombo, the symbol of the Bogd Khan monarchy which was adopted as the country’s national symbol.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Mongolia in 2015 was of immense strategic importance. The last visit was made in 2011 by the then president of India, Pratibha Patil. Modi's visit to Mongolia was pointedly said to aim at countering China's dominance in Asia, strengthening of economic ties and to leverage cultural relations to establish supremacy.
Mongolia became a communist country in 1924, but in 1990 multiparty elections were held. Poverty is a major concern, but copper, cashmere, and gold exports help the economy.
With a total population of fewer than three million, Mongolia has one of the lowest average population densities of any country in the world.
From 1919, nationalist revolutionaries, with Soviet assistance, drove out Chinese troops attempting to reoccupy Mongolia, and in 1921 they expelled the invading White Russian cavalry. July 11, 1921, then became celebrated as the anniversary of the revolution. The Mongolian People’s Republic was proclaimed in November 1924, and the Mongolian capital, centred on the main monastery of the Bogd Gegeen, was renamed Ulaanbaatar (“Red Hero”).
Some interseting facts about Mongolia: 1. There is a theory that Mongolian horseman may have invented ice cream, when they took cream in containers made from animal intestines as provisions on long journeys across the Gobi desert in winter. As they galloped, the cream was vigorously shaken, while the sub-zero temperature caused it to freeze. The expansion of the Mongol Empire spread ice cream through China, from where Marco Polo reputedly brought the idea to Italy when he returned from his travels in 1295.
2. In Mongolia, there are 13 times more horses than humans, and sheep outnumber humans 35 to 1.
3. Mongolia still endorses a “One-China Policy” and officially considers Taiwan to be a part of China.
4. Many Mongolians still live in a traditional ger, which is a type of tent. Also known as “yurts,” these portable dwellings were traditionally used by nomads in the steppes of Central Asia as their homes.
5. The biggest sporting event of the year in Mongolia is the Naadam festival, held during the National Day celebrations each July. The most important events at the festival are called eriin gurvan naadam (the three games of men): archery, wrestling, and horse racing.
