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Men play billiards during the Azarga horse racing event during Nadaam Festival at Kui Doloon Khudag, 45 km's outside of Ullan Bator, Tuesday 11 July 2006. Nadaam runs for three days in all parts of the country and highlights the greatest athletes in horse racing, archery, and wrestling. This year is particularly significant because it marks 800 years of the Mongolian State. Nadaam festival has been held for centuries as a form of memorial celebration, as an annual sacrificial ritual honoring various mountain gods or to celebrate a community endeavor. The festivities kick off with a colorful parade of athletes, monks, soldiers marching in perfect uniformity, musicians performing powerful military tunes, and Mongolians dressed in Chinggis-style warrior uniforms EPA/ANDY RAIN