🔗 Share this article Photos along with Chanting as People of Ethiopia Celebrate Gratitude Festival A multitude of colorfully attired Ethiopians gathered in the heart of Ethiopia's capital for the annual Irreecha event over the past days. The festival is celebrated by the Oromo community, the predominant population group, and takes place at the end of the country's main wet season. Every year, celebrants come together around holy rivers and lakes to express gratitude to their higher powers for the fertile landscape that the rains have delivered. "I've been celebrating the festival for the last nine years," mentioned twenty-five-year-old Moata Abdulmajid. "To me, the celebration symbolizes my identity, it demonstrates the dignity and greatness of my ethnic group." Males, females, the older generation and the young all participate, decorated in eye-catching clothes and ornaments. They sing, dance, share stories and place newly gathered green plants and flowers in water - denoting vitality, regeneration and optimism. International Presence This festival brings in individuals from throughout the country, visitors travel from globally. "I visited last year - the experience was amazing, so magnificent, I invited my children with me currently," said Claire, from Northern Ireland. "It is amazing. Everybody wants to say hello, all attendees wants to give you a kiss and says welcome." Event Program The opening day of the celebration took place on Saturday in Addis Ababa. On Sunday, celebrants travelled to Bishoftu, a settlement close to the urban center. While the festival has its roots in indigenous faith systems, it is now celebrated by the larger part of the Oromo people, without consideration for their religion. Recent Changes In the last ten years, the quantity of people attending the event has grown significantly. This is partly due to the expansion of social media, where various younger generation record their outfits, dancing and vocal performances during the festival. Previous Context In the earlier times, the festival was used as a venue for political demonstrations - the Oromo people have long complained about political and economic marginalisation. Nevertheless, the latest gathering proceeded harmoniously, with an priority on celebration, togetherness and ethnic identity.