Buryat Folk Sports Festival "Surkharbaan" - Day 1

Surkharbaan is a Buryat folk sports festival. The ancient name is "Eryn gurban naadan" ("Three games of men"). It is traditionally held on the first Sunday of July, after the completion of spring agricultural work. In addition to archery, competitions in Buryat national belt wrestling and horse racing are held. In 2023, they added the folk competition "Kheer Shaalgan" (breaking a cow's backbone with a palm)

Breaking bones with one blow has long been considered by the Buryats not only a folk pastime that demonstrates the power and strength of a man, but also had a sacred meaning. It was believed that the soul of an animal lived in the backbone (the "black" one, the twelfth in a row, was especially revered), which thus gained freedom and continued its existence in subsequent reincarnations.

In 2023, the Republic of Buryatia turned one hundred years old. In honor of this anniversary, it was decided to celebrate the main national sports festival over two days.

On the first day, on the territory of the Yangazhinsky Datsan, 60 kilometers from the capital of Buryatia, Ulan-Ude, qualifying games in wrestling, archery and spinal bone breaking were held. Also on the first day, horse racing took place, including the final race. According to the results, the best rider was Beligto Ukhinov. On this day, despite the sweltering heat of about 40 degrees Celsius, the participants of the competition performed in traditional outfits, such are the rules. Young dance groups and one of the most popular Buryat singers, Elena Borokhitova, also performed for the spectators.