Tsagaan Sar, one of the most popular holidays in Mongolia, will take place next Wednesday, February 18. How are you preparing for this event? Have you checked the prices of necessary goods? The publication MiddleAsianNews conducted an analysis of prices for several popular products for this important holiday.
👆Prices continue to rise
Tsagaan Sar is considered the most expensive holiday in the lives of Mongolians. Ten years ago, the expenses for its celebration for one family were about ₮742,000 (at the 2017 exchange rate of $1 = ₮2455 or approximately $302), and today this amount has increased to ₮2.2 million (about $620). During the pandemic from 2020 to 2022, the celebration was less grand, and expenses ranged from ₮1 to ₮1.5 million (at the exchange rate of $1 = ₮2850, which is from $320 to $520). With the recovery of the economy in 2024, there is an increase in household spending on celebrations.
🧮Price analysis
Compared to 2017, the prices for traditional dishes for the Tsagaan Sar holiday, such as uuts (lamb back), heviiin boov (Mongolian cookies for table decoration), and aaruul, khuruud (dried curds), have significantly increased. The average price of uuts has risen by 150% over the past 10 years, now ranging from ₮300 to ₮850 thousand (from $85 to $240). For 2 kg of aaruul, the price has increased by 179%, ranging from ₮34 to ₮100 thousand (from $10 to $28), while for heviiin boov, it has increased by 299%, with a range from ₮100 to ₮252 (from $28 to $71). This means that the price of heviiin boov has nearly tripled, the price of uuts has increased by 2.5 times, and aaruul has increased by 1.8 times.
🥴 Don’t forget to account for the costs of preparing buuz, salads, sweets, and fruits. Over the past five years, the rise in food and goods prices has significantly increased the financial burden.
🥹 Empty pockets, but full souls...
The increase in prices has sparked serious discussions about the feasibility of celebrating the traditional holiday Tsagaan Sar. Nevertheless, according to the latest economic report "Tsagaan Sar" for 2020, prepared by the National Statistical Committee, 64% of households celebrated this holiday. At that time, expenses amounted to ₮1.2 trillion (approximately $565 thousand). Given the current rise in prices, it will be interesting to see how much money will be in circulation during the Tsagaan Sar celebration.
Even among the poorest Mongolians, there is a tradition of celebrating this holiday with grandeur. Perhaps this tradition will endure for many millennia.
