Snapshots along with Singing as People of Ethiopia Celebrate Gratitude Festival
Tens of thousands of colorfully attired participants gathered in the heart of Addis Ababa for the annual thanksgiving festival this weekend.
This thanksgiving celebration is observed by the Oromo people, Ethiopia's largest population group, and occurs at the end of the country's main rainy season.
Annually, participants come together around sacred rivers and lakes to give thanks to their creators for the lush vegetation that the rainy season have delivered.
"I've attended the festival for the previous nine years," commented young adult one attendee.
"To me, the celebration represents my heritage, it showcases the honor and importance of my people."
Males, females, the older generation and the young all take part, ornamented in eye-catching garments and ornaments.
They vocalize, perform traditional dances, tell tales and deposit recently harvested green plants and floral arrangements in the water - denoting existence, regeneration and aspiration.
International Attendance
The celebration not only draws participants from all regions of Ethiopia, guests fly in from globally.
"I visited last year - the experience was amazing, so beautiful, I invited my children with me this year," said an international guest, from Belfast in Northern Ireland.
"It is amazing. Everybody greets you, everyone wants to give you a kiss and expresses hospitality."
Celebration Timeline
The opening day of the celebration occurred on the weekend in Addis Ababa. On Sunday, festival-goers journeyed to a provincial location, a community just outside the urban center.
Even though Irreecha has its foundations in indigenous faith systems, it is now practiced by the majority of Oromos, regardless of their belief system.
Recent Trends
In the recent years, the number of participants participating in the festival has expanded substantially. This is partly due to the expansion of digital platforms, where various young people capture their clothing, dance moves and musical expressions during the celebration.
Past Background
In the past, the festival was functioned as a stage for public dissent - the ethnic group have historically expressed concerns about political and economic marginalisation.
Nevertheless, this year's celebration unfolded peacefully, with an focus on happiness, unity and heritage appreciation.
