Photos along with Melodies as Ethiopians Observe Gratitude Festival
A multitude of colorfully attired participants gathered in downtown the city center for the traditional gratitude celebration this weekend.
This thanksgiving celebration is celebrated by the Oromo, Ethiopia's largest population group, and occurs at the completion of the nation's primary wet season.
Every year, celebrants assemble around sacred water bodies to give thanks to their divine beings for the fertile landscape that the precipitation have brought.
"I've been celebrating the festival for the previous nine years," mentioned young adult a participant.
"To me, the celebration represents my heritage, it reflects the dignity and importance of my ethnic group."
Men, women, the senior citizens and the young all join in, adorned in attention-grabbing garments and accessories.
They chant, perform traditional dances, exchange narratives and deposit recently harvested foliage and blossoms in liquid - symbolizing existence, regeneration and aspiration.
Global Presence
Irreecha not only draws people from throughout the country, visitors travel from internationally.
"I came last year - it was so good, so magnificent, I brought along my children with me this year," mentioned one visitor, hailing from Northern Ireland.
"It is amazing. All people greets you, everyone shows warmth and says welcome."
Festival Timeline
The first day of the celebration was held on Saturday in the main city. On Sunday, celebrants travelled to a provincial location, a settlement just outside the urban center.
While this celebration has its foundations in indigenous faith systems, it is now observed by the majority of Oromos, irrespective of their faith.
Recent Changes
In the past decade, the quantity of people attending the event has grown significantly. This is partially because of the rise of social media, where many younger generation document their attire, traditional dances and musical expressions during the celebration.
Historical Context
In the previous years, this event was used as a platform for political demonstrations - the Oromo community have long complained about political and economic marginalisation.
However, the recent event unfolded peacefully, with an priority on celebration, unity and ethnic identity.
