Photos along with Chanting as People of Ethiopia Mark Thanksgiving

Countless individuals of vibrantly dressed attendees assembled in central Addis Ababa for the yearly gratitude celebration during recent days.

The festival is celebrated by the Oromo community, the predominant community, and occurs at the end of the nation's primary rainy season.

Annually, celebrants gather around sacred water bodies to give thanks to their divine beings for the fertile landscape that the rains have brought.

"I've been celebrating this celebration for the last nine years," mentioned young adult a participant.

"For me, this event represents my cultural background, it reflects the honor and significance of my ethnic group."

Gentlemen, females, the elderly and the young all join in, decorated in eye-catching attire and accessories.

They vocalize, perform traditional dances, exchange narratives and deposit newly gathered green plants and flowers in liquid - representing vitality, regeneration and hope.

Global Attendance

This festival does not only attract people from all regions of Ethiopia, guests fly in from globally.

"I attended a year ago - the experience was amazing, so spectacular, I brought along my children with me now," mentioned an international guest, from Northern Ireland.

"It's incredible. Everybody welcomes you, everyone shows warmth and expresses hospitality."

Festival Schedule

The opening day of the festival was held on Saturday in Addis Ababa. On Sunday, celebrants travelled to a provincial location, a settlement near the main city.

While Irreecha has its origins in native spiritual practices, it is now practiced by the larger part of Oromos, irrespective of their belief system.

Recent Developments

In the past decade, the figure of individuals joining the festival has increased dramatically. This is in part thanks to the expansion of social media, where many young people capture their attire, dance moves and vocal performances during the festival.

Past Background

In the earlier times, the festival was served as a stage for political demonstrations - the ethnic group have long complained about social exclusion.

However, the recent event proceeded harmoniously, with an focus on celebration, togetherness and cultural pride.