Snapshots along with Singing as Ethiopian Citizens Celebrate Annual Thanksgiving
Tens of thousands of brightly clothed Ethiopians assembled in central the city center for the traditional Irreecha event over the past days.
Irreecha is celebrated by the Oromo community, the biggest population group, and is held at the conclusion of the nation's major wet season.
Each year, festival-goers assemble around sacred rivers and lakes to express gratitude to their divine beings for the fertile landscape that the rains have provided.
"I have participated in Irreecha for the past nine years," mentioned twenty-five-year-old one attendee.
"To me, Irreecha symbolizes my heritage, it demonstrates the pride and greatness of my ethnic group."
Males, women, the elderly and the youth all join in, decorated in striking garments and ornaments.
They sing, perform traditional dances, share stories and arrange freshly cut grass and blossoms in liquid - denoting vitality, renewal and aspiration.
Global Presence
This festival does not only attract people from across Ethiopia, attendees fly in from around the world.
"I came a year ago - the experience was amazing, so spectacular, I invited my kids with me now," mentioned an international guest, from Belfast in Northern Ireland.
"It's wonderful. Everybody welcomes you, each person wants to give you a kiss and expresses hospitality."
Event Schedule
The opening day of the celebration was held on the weekend in Addis Ababa. On the following day, festival-goers travelled to a nearby town, a settlement near the urban center.
Although this celebration has its roots in indigenous faith systems, it is now observed by the majority of the Oromo people, without consideration for their belief system.
Recent Trends
In the last ten years, the quantity of individuals joining the festival has grown significantly. This is in part thanks to the growth of online networks, where various youth record their attire, dancing and singing during the celebration.
Previous Context
In the previous years, this event was used as a venue for public dissent - the ethnic group have consistently raised issues about social exclusion.
Nevertheless, the latest gathering took place calmly, with an priority on joy, solidarity and heritage appreciation.
