Addis Ababa welcome millions of Oromos on Saturday as they celebrate their annual Thanksgiving at the Irrecha Festival.
The Oromos are the largest ethnic group in the country. They gathered in the city dressed in black, red and white traditional regalia.
This is the first time the festival is being held in the capital, in over a century.
The Oromia region occupies the south of the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa and the inhabitants are called the Oromos.
The Oromos celebrate Irrecha as a mark of gratitude to God for the blessings granted them throughout the previous year.
The festival also ushers in the new season with the hope for bounty harvests in the rainy season.
The festivals bring together friends, family, relatives and tourists in a funfair.
The Irreccha festival is part of the UNESCO registered Gada system which will be celebrated at the Hora Finfinne, the Meskel Square and the United Nations African Economic Commission (ECA) Park.
Irrecha is also celebrated in Bishoftu Hora Harsedi the following Sunday.
Irrecha promotes Ethiopia’s positive image to the world, the economic, political, social significance and the tourist attraction.
Multitudes were seen singing, Irrecha for peace! Irrecha for democracy! Irrecha for prosperity! Irrecha for national consensus! Amazing! Irrecha festival at Hora Finfinnee 2019.
According to Prof. Asmarom Legesse, Areero Rahamata(Oromo Traditional Time Reckoner) and Laurance Doyle and the first day of Oromo calender (Bitaa Qaraa) is determined when the appearance of star/constellation (Urjii) called Lamii(Beta Triangulum) coincide with the appearance of new moon.
This happened in the month of March.
Therefore, Irreecha happened exactly 6 month after March when constellation “Sirius” (Urjii Baasaa) is concurrent with appearance of new moon.
Both new Year and Irreecha also happens in the months when Equinox occurred.
Anyone at any obersvatory can determine the exact date of Oromo first day of the year and Irreecha accurately by obeserving the correspondence of stars and new moon.
Currently, for the sake of convinience time adjusted to be on weekend in late September and early October.”
TellAfrica celebrate the beautiful people of Ethiopia and wishes them a prosperous new year.
See lovely pictures from Irrecha 2019…..
