Selfies as well as Melodies as Ethiopian Citizens Celebrate Gratitude Festival
A multitude of vibrantly dressed Ethiopians gathered in downtown Ethiopia's capital for the traditional thanksgiving festival during recent days.
The festival is honored by the Oromo community, Ethiopia's largest population group, and is held at the end of the land's major wet season.
Every year, participants come together around revered water bodies to give thanks to their creators for the lush vegetation that the rains have brought.
"I've attended this celebration for the last nine years," mentioned young adult Moata Abdulmajid.
"For me, Irreecha symbolizes my identity, it demonstrates the honor and importance of my ethnic group."
Gentlemen, females, the senior citizens and the youth all participate, decorated in eye-catching clothes and jewellery.
They sing, dance, share stories and deposit recently harvested foliage and floral arrangements in the water - denoting existence, rebirth and optimism.
Worldwide Participation
This festival does not only attract participants from all regions of Ethiopia, attendees fly in from globally.
"I came last year - it was so good, so beautiful, I invited my children with me currently," mentioned an international guest, originating from Northern Ireland.
"It's wonderful. All people greets you, all attendees offers affection and offers greetings."
Festival Program
The opening day of the festival took place on Saturday in the capital. On the following day, festival-goers travelled to a nearby town, a settlement near the urban center.
Although the festival has its origins in indigenous faith systems, it is now observed by the bulk of the Oromo people, without consideration for their belief system.
Recent Trends
In the recent years, the quantity of individuals joining the event has expanded substantially. This is partly due to the rise of digital platforms, where many youth record their attire, dancing and musical expressions during the festival.
Past Background
In the past, the festival was served as a platform for public dissent - the Oromo community have long complained about systemic disadvantages.
However, the recent event proceeded harmoniously, with an emphasis on celebration, togetherness and ethnic identity.
