Ethiopia is a home to tangible and intangible heritages. As Ethiopia a country endowed with both tangible and intangible heritages including tantalizing landscapes with immense potentials for investment. This is a good opportunity since it will give the participants to visit cultural, historic and natural heritages of Ethiopia.
The commemoration of the finding of the True Cross, Meskel festival, Fiche Chamballala, New Year of the Sidama people, Timket (Ethiopian Epiphany) have so far inscribed on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
Inscribed in 2019 on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, Timket is a special event celebrated all over Ethiopia to commemorate the baptism of Jesus Christ by John the Baptist in the River Jordan.
One can enjoy with a touching religious ceremony like Timket. It is celebrated every 19 January (or 20 on leap years), corresponding to the 10th day of the month of Tir.
The Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahdo Church ceremonies are unique and impressive especially Timket (Epiphany) and Meskel (finding of true cross) festivals which provide colorful ceremonies and celebrations.
During the festival of Timket, people dressed in traditional clothes and costume and celebrate the day across the country with colorful and eye catching manner.
The commemoration starts on the eve of the main festival on 19 January. It is known as Ketera, which means blocking the flow of water for the blessing of the celebrants.
On the eve, people escort their parish church tabot (replicas of the Ark of the Covenant) to Timkete-Bahir (a pool, river or artificial reservoir), transported by a priest of the parish and accompanied by a great ceremony.
Gondar City Administration Culture, Tourism and Sport Department, Heritage Conservation and Tourism Development Team Leader, Ayichew Addisu said Timket uniquely celebrated in Gondar which the presence of the historic swimming pool made the event in Gondar spectacular and special.
So far, preparations are underway to celebrate it colorfully. It is also said that Gonder will host more than two million international and local tourists including Eritreans. Over the past eight years, the eve of Timket has been celebrated coupled with business forums, street shows and other events.
The people spend the eve attending night-long prayers and hymn services, including the Eucharistic Liturgy. Hundreds of thousands participate in the actual festival on the following day, 20 January.
The celebration starts early in the morning with pre-sunrise rituals. These are followed by the sprinkling of the blessed water on the congregation, as well as other ceremonies. At around 10 a.m each Tabot begins its procession back to its respective church, involving an even more colorful ceremony with various traditional and religious songs.
During the Ethiopian Epiphany, priests wear ecclesial vestment and holding prayer stick, rum and cestrum’s perform the rhythm. The viability of the element is ensured through its continued practice, with Orthodox clergies playing a pivotal role: they sing the praises dedicated to the rituals and hymns, carry the Ark, and preach relevant texts. Timket combines both the holy ritual and exuberant displays of chanting and dancing from the crowds, especially rowdy groups of young men.
The Ethiopian Herald Thursday 16 January 2020
BY TSEGAYE TILAHUN
