Hohhot hosts ceremony to honor Genghis Khan

A worshiping ritual to honor Genghis Khan (1162-1227) was held in Hohhot, North China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region, on June 26.

Genghis Khan, founder of the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368), is admired and treated like a God by the Mongolian ethnic group.

Guided by a prestigious cultural expert, worshippers offered roasted lamb, compressed tea leaves and khata as sacrifices at the event, in commemoration of Khan. Other activities like dancing and Buddhist chanting were also included to pray for blessings.

Before the worshipping ritual, an Aobao worshipping activity was held with devout pilgrims walking around the Aobao clockwise three times and sharing sacrifices.

Such activities are important in keeping alive traditional Mongolian customs and culture, and the rituals are an expression of the Mongolian philosophy of living in harmony with nature and their confidence in living better lives in the future.