A new poetry collection featuring the finest verses dedicated to “Mother Sea”—Lake Khuvsgul—is set to be published following this year’s Khuvsgul Winter Ice Festival, organizers announced.

The annual international ice festival, held to promote winter tourism, officially opened on March 2 in Khatgal soum under the slogan Amazing Khuvsgul. This year’s celebration is particularly significant as it coincides with Lake Khuvsgul being formally recognized as a site of state veneration, elevating its cultural and spiritual importance alongside its natural beauty.

One of the festival’s most anticipated cultural events is the “Blue Cup” poetry competition, now in its fifth year. As per tradition, the best poems praising the lake, will be compiled and published in a special anthology. The initiative aims not only to celebrate literary creativity but also to deepen public appreciation of the lake’s ecological, historical, and spiritual value.

Alongside the poetry contest, a wide range of traditional winter competitions and cultural activities are taking place throughout the festival. These include ice archery, horse-drawn sleigh races, and bone-breaking strength contests. Skating races for both youth and adults, as well as ice wrestling competitions, are also drawing enthusiastic participation from locals and visitors alike.

To ensure public safety during the festivities, a special working group was established under Directive A/10 issued by the provincial governor. The team conducted four separate measurements of the lake’s ice thickness at key access points used by vehicles, pedestrians, and traditional transportation. According to officials, the thinnest measured section of ice was 96 centimeters, while the thickest area, near the main festival grounds, reached 1.44 meters. Authorities confirmed that these conditions meet safety standards, allowing the Ice Festival to proceed securely on the frozen surface of the lake.