A vibrant Oromo festival of gratitude illuminates Addis Ababa

A vibrant Oromo festival of gratitude illuminates Addis Ababa

with joy. The "Oromo Festival of Gratitude" refers to the Oromo harvest festival of Irreechaa. It is an important cultural and spiritual festival for the Oromo, especially in the Oromia region of Ethiopia. Irreechaa marks the end of the rainy season and the beginning of a new, fertile period and typically takes place in late September or early October. Irreechaa is a ritual of gratitude to Waaqa (God) for life, health, and the bounty of the land. The festival emphasizes giving thanks for the blessings and grace received throughout the year. It also serves to strengthen social bonds, renew moral commitments, and mark seasonal transitions. The celebrations take place in natural locations such as riverbanks, lakes, and mountains, which are considered sacred. People immerse green grass and flowers in water, symbolizing fertility and flourishing life. The festival has deep historical roots, closely linked to the traditional Oromo worldview and the Gadaa system, a democratic social and political institution. Irreechaa is celebrated not only in Ethiopia but also by Oromo communities around the world, including in North America and Europe. Overall, Irreechaa is a joyous occasion of gratitude, unity, and cultural pride, celebrating renewal, harvest, and the harmony between humanity and nature. Thousands gathered at the sacred Hora Finfinne lake and in the center of the Ethiopian capital to celebrate Irreecha. The ceremony opened with traditional blessings led by the respected Abbaa Gadaas, the leaders of the Gadaa system, the centuries-old Oromo democratic tradition that governs leadership, justice, and community life. The celebrations continue on Sunday at Hora Arsedi, another holy lake in the nearby town of Bishoftu, in honor of unity, heritage, and hope. @https://www.waaqeffannaa.com/2025/09/19/%F0%9D%95%80%F0%9D%95%A3%F0%9D%95%A3%F0%9D%95%96%F0%9D%95% 96%F0%9D%95%94%F0%9D%95%99%F0%9D%95%92%F0%9D%95%92-the-oromo-festival-of-Thanksgiving-and-Renewal/ @https://advocacy4oromia.org/what-is-irreechaa/ @https://advocacy4oromia.org/2024/09/04/the-annual-oromo-irreechaa-festival-is-approaching-this-month/ @https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irreechaa @https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-49945694