Golden Eagle festival

Every year on the first weekend in October, the Eagle Festival is held in Sagsai and near Ulgii in western Mongolia, where the best eagle hunters (berkuchi) compete in a competition. Almost all eagle hunters of the west gather in Ulgii once a year and form a colorful parade through the city; then it goes to the fairground outside of Ulgii or in Sagsai, where the various disciplines are held. At the Eagle Festival, the appearance of the hunter, eagle, and horse as well as their interaction is judged. There are three tasks to be completed. First, the overall impression of the eagle, rider, and horse is assessed by a jury.

It is evaluated how magnificent and sublime the team looks. For this, it is important to show artfully decorated saddles, a well-groomed horse, and also the appearance of the Berkutschi and his eagle must satisfy the strict looks of the judges. After a ride past the jury, a score is given. You can get ten points as the highest mark, but more than nine are rarely awarded. In the second discipline, the interplay between Berkutschi and Eagle is judged. The eagle hunter rides to a flag, places his animal there, and rides away.

When he has reached the given distance while the eagle is waiting at the flag, he lures the eagle to himself. It is judged how quickly and safely the eagle has reached its owner again after the call. In the third discipline, the eagle is brought up a mountain, where it waits to be deployed, usually protected by its leather cap. The Berkutschi performs an exercise with the fox train. In the wild, golden eagles mostly hunt in open or semi-open landscapes in low-level flight, making optimal use of any available cover.

They glide close to slopes, over crests, and hills to surprise their prey at close range. The second hunting option is from a raised hide with a good view over the landscape so that Berkutschi and eagles can see possible prey from a great distance and initiate the hunt. This is to simulate the third discipline. For this exercise, the eagle hunter rides away with the fox train. When he has reached the specified distance, his assistant takes off the leather hood, the Berkutschi calls and his eagle has to catch the fox train. In this competition, it is judged how quickly the eagle reacts to its owner’s commands, kills the fox train, and how quickly the owner gets to the bird and the prey. The total points from all three disciplines decide who won. The winner enjoys the honor shown to him and his family can be proud of the result achieved.

At the festival primarily for the honor of the eagle hunters. The prize money donated by the sponsors is not very high and is therefore hardly an incentive to take part in the competition. Another competition that takes place at the Eagle Festival is archery, and there are also horse races for women and men