🔗 Share this article Selfies and Singing as People of Ethiopia Mark Annual Thanksgiving Countless individuals of colorfully attired participants assembled in central the city center for the annual Irreecha event during recent days. This thanksgiving celebration is celebrated by the Oromo people, Ethiopia's largest ethnic group, and occurs at the completion of the country's major rainy season. Each year, celebrants assemble around holy rivers and lakes to give thanks to their higher powers for the greenery that the rainy season have provided. "I've attended the festival for the past nine years," mentioned 25-year-old one attendee. "For me, the celebration symbolizes my cultural background, it reflects the pride and significance of my people." Males, ladies, the older generation and the younger generation all take part, decorated in attention-grabbing attire and accessories. They vocalize, dance, tell tales and deposit freshly cut green plants and blossoms in liquid - denoting vitality, regeneration and hope. International Presence Irreecha not only draws people from across Ethiopia, attendees come from internationally. "I came a year ago - the experience was amazing, so spectacular, I brought my children with me this year," mentioned Claire, hailing from Northern Ireland. "It is amazing. Everybody wants to say hello, everyone wants to give you a kiss and expresses hospitality." Celebration Timeline The opening day of the celebration occurred on Saturday in the capital. On the following day, celebrants travelled to a nearby town, a small town near the main city. Although Irreecha has its foundations in native spiritual practices, it is now celebrated by the majority of the Oromo people, regardless of their belief system. Contemporary Changes In the last ten years, the number of people attending the festival has increased dramatically. This is in part thanks to the rise of digital platforms, where numerous young people record their outfits, dancing and singing during the gathering. Past Significance In the earlier times, the festival was functioned as a venue for anti-government protests - the ethnic group have long complained about social exclusion. Nonetheless, the recent event took place calmly, with an emphasis on happiness, togetherness and cultural pride.