娱乐英语新闻:Mongolian rock band to receive highest state award

ULAN BATOR, Nov. 18 (Xinhua) -- Mongolian President Khaltmaa Battulga has decided to confer the Order of Genghis Khan, the country's highest state award, on Mongolian rock band The Hu, Office of the President of Mongolia announced Monday.

The order is presented to Mongolian citizens who have made great contributions to strengthening national unity, deeply studying the history and culture of Mongolia, and familiarizing other countries with Mongolian culture.

"On the National Pride Day, the president will award the highest state honor to The Hu band for promoting Mongolian culture in the world," Zandaakhuu Enkhbold, chief of staff of the President of Mongolia, told reporters.

The Hu is a Mongolian rock band formed in 2016 that blends heavy metal with traditional Mongolian throat singing. Its first two videos "Wolf Totem" and "Yuve Yuve Yu" have garnered over 45 million views on YouTube over the last year. Besides, its debut album, The Gereg, reached No. 1 on Billboard's Top New Artist chart in September.

Mongolia began marking the National Pride Day or the birthday of the legendary conqueror Genghis Khan as an official public holiday since 2012. Genghis Khan's birth anniversary falls on the first day of the first winter month of the year on the lunar calendar.