Selfies as well as Singing as People of Ethiopia Celebrate Gratitude Festival
A multitude of colorfully attired Ethiopians converged in central Ethiopia's capital for the yearly gratitude celebration this weekend.
The festival is observed by the Oromo people, the predominant community, and is held at the end of the nation's main monsoon period.
Annually, celebrants come together around holy natural water sources to express gratitude to their creators for the fertile landscape that the rains have provided.
"I've been celebrating the festival for the past nine years," mentioned twenty-five-year-old one attendee.
"For me, the celebration represents my cultural background, it reflects the honor and significance of my ethnic group."
Males, females, the elderly and the young all join in, decorated in attention-grabbing clothes and jewellery.
They sing, dance, exchange narratives and deposit recently harvested grass and floral arrangements in water - denoting existence, renewal and hope.
Worldwide Attendance
Irreecha brings in people from all regions of Ethiopia, guests come from globally.
"I attended last year - the experience was amazing, so beautiful, I brought my offspring with me currently," said one visitor, originating from Northern Ireland.
"It's wonderful. All people wants to say hello, everyone wants to give you a kiss and says welcome."
Celebration Timeline
The initial day of the celebration occurred on Saturday in the main city. On Sunday, celebrants journeyed to Bishoftu, a small town close to the main city.
While this celebration has its roots in indigenous faith systems, it is now celebrated by the majority of the Oromo people, regardless of their religion.
Modern Developments
In the past decade, the number of individuals joining the festival has increased dramatically. This is in part thanks to the growth of online networks, where various young people capture their attire, dance moves and musical expressions during the gathering.
Previous Background
In the earlier times, Irreecha was functioned as a venue for public dissent - the Oromo community have consistently raised issues about social exclusion.
Nevertheless, the latest gathering took place calmly, with an priority on celebration, togetherness and ethnic identity.
