Photos and Melodies as Ethiopians Celebrate Gratitude Festival
Countless individuals of vibrantly dressed attendees gathered in central the city center for the traditional gratitude celebration over the past days.
The festival is celebrated by the Oromo community, the biggest population group, and occurs at the conclusion of the country's main rainy season.
Each year, celebrants assemble around revered water bodies to show appreciation to their higher powers for the fertile landscape that the rains have delivered.
"I have participated in Irreecha for the past nine years," mentioned 25-year-old Moata Abdulmajid.
"For me, the celebration symbolizes my heritage, it reflects the honor and significance of my ethnic group."
Men, females, the senior citizens and the youth all participate, decorated in attention-grabbing garments and accessories.
They vocalize, perform traditional dances, tell tales and place freshly cut green plants and flowers in water - symbolizing life, renewal and optimism.
Global Attendance
The celebration does not only attract participants from throughout the country, visitors travel from around the world.
"I came the previous year - it was wonderful, so beautiful, I brought along my offspring with me now," expressed one visitor, originating from abroad.
"It's wonderful. Everyone wants to say hello, everyone shows warmth and says welcome."
Event Schedule
The initial day of the event took place on recently in the main city. On the next day, festival-goers journeyed to a nearby town, a small town near the urban center.
While this celebration has its roots in indigenous faith systems, it is now observed by the bulk of the community, without consideration for their belief system.
Contemporary Changes
In the past decade, the number of individuals attending the festival has grown significantly. This is partially because of the growth of digital platforms, where many young people record their attire, dancing and musical expressions during the celebration.
Previous Context
In the previous years, Irreecha was served as a venue for anti-government protests - the Oromo people have consistently raised issues about political and economic marginalisation.
Nonetheless, this year's celebration took place calmly, with an focus on joy, togetherness and heritage appreciation.
