Snapshots and Singing as People of Ethiopia Celebrate Annual Thanksgiving
Countless individuals of colorfully attired Ethiopians gathered in downtown the city center for the traditional gratitude celebration over the past days.
The festival is observed by the Oromo community, Ethiopia's largest community, and takes place at the end of the country's primary rainy season.
Every year, festival-goers assemble around holy rivers and lakes to express gratitude to their creators for the lush vegetation that the precipitation have brought.
"I've attended this celebration for the previous nine years," stated 25-year-old one attendee.
"In my view, this event represents my heritage, it demonstrates the pride and significance of my community."
Males, ladies, the older generation and the youth all take part, decorated in attention-grabbing garments and ornaments.
They chant, perform traditional dances, tell tales and arrange recently harvested green plants and floral arrangements in liquid - denoting existence, rebirth and optimism.
International Attendance
This festival does not only attract people from across Ethiopia, attendees travel from globally.
"I visited a year ago - it was so good, so beautiful, I invited my children with me currently," mentioned one visitor, hailing from Belfast in Northern Ireland.
"It's wonderful. Everybody welcomes you, each person wants to give you a kiss and offers greetings."
Celebration Program
The initial day of the celebration took place on recently in the main city. On Sunday, festival-goers journeyed to a nearby town, a small town close to the urban center.
While the festival has its origins in native spiritual practices, it is now practiced by the bulk of the Oromo people, regardless of their belief system.
Recent Changes
In the last ten years, the number of individuals joining the festival has grown significantly. This is partially because of the rise of social media, where various younger generation document their outfits, traditional dances and singing during the festival.
Previous Significance
In the previous years, Irreecha was functioned as a venue for anti-government protests - the Oromo people have long complained about systemic disadvantages.
However, the latest gathering unfolded peacefully, with an emphasis on joy, togetherness and ethnic identity.
