Last Tuesday and Wednesday, January, 18 and 19, 2022 Ethiopian Orthodox Christians celebrated the festival of Ketera, eve of Epiphany and Timket (Epiphany), a festivity that are celebrated every year to commemorate the Baptism of Jesus Christ in the River Jordan.
These religious street festivals were celebrated colorfully and joyfully across the country with various religious and cultural events. However, in Addis Ababa at the Jan Meda and in Gondar, Amhara State the festival was celebrated uniquely and warmly in the presence of religious fathers, government officials, hundred thousands of worshippers.
In fact, Timket goes far beyond symbolic religious festival. It is also an event that many breathtaking cultural values and social ties are demonstrated; unity and solidarity among Ethiopians are reflected.
At this Ketera and Timket festivals, as usual, even those who are not followers of the religion took part in the preparation programs in cleaning and beautifying the surrounding areas where Tabots (replica of the arks of the covenant) pass through; and they [tabots] are kept for an overnight and marked the day along with their Orthodox Christians fellowmen.
This year’s festival, as many people uttered, was celebrated in more mesmerizing and unique manner than before and in a way that aborted divisive suppositions and plots. Despite the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic and the depression the war that broke in the northern part of the country has created, Timket was celebrated in a spirit of unity, victory and better hope.
Members of the Ethiopian Diaspora who came home as part of the GreatHomeComing Challenge initiative made by Prime Abiy Ahmed, as well as foreign visitors have added special color to this year’s Ketera and Timket festivals.
As celebrants, who took part in the Ketera festival told EPA reporters, we need to strengthen our unity, solidarity, social ties by avoiding divisive ideas.”
Elizabeth Woldeselassie stated that the faithful of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahdo Church should thank the Creator for bringing us together to celebrate this year’s Epiphany in peace. Mentioning that various divisive ideas have been instigated by some irresponsible individuals, she said, however, the festival is celebrated peacefully; contrary to their interests and plans. The faithful should be vigilant and stay away from such individuals.
Deacon Kidanemariam Eshete on his part stated that the Timket is a celebration of Christians coming together in love and caring. “Thanks God for such peaceful celebration,” he remarked.
Elvind Aacborg, Norwegian, is the other foreign celebrant who took part in the festival at Jan Meda. As he stated, he always thinks that Epiphany is a nice celebration and he has been living in Ethiopia for five years and celebrates the holiday annually.
“I am celebrating the festival at Jan Meda and it is very fantastic, impressive, and colorful and it is special celebrations for me. I really enjoyed participating.”
For Ethiopia Norwegian Church Aid Country Director Lisbeth Guren, the celebration is very colorful. It is very traditional and attractive festival. “I really enjoyed it.”
Noemi Mioara from Belgium said: “I am very happy to attend such a beautiful event and testify such a unifying event here, in Ethiopia. It is really wonderful and amazing. I stayed in Ethiopia for the last two months and I have also celebrated the Christmas in Ethiopia. I will stay long. I love the people they are very friendly and the culture is also very impressive.”
The unique festivity of Timket was also attended by Ethiopian Diasporas. Dawit Aynachew came from the U.S.
As to him, he had attended Timket festival four years ago in Gondar and he came again to Ethiopia following the Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed call to one million Ethiopian Diasporas and friends of Ethiopia to join the great Ethiopians homecoming challenge.
Gondar is calm and peaceful. The people are celebrating the day joyfully with various songs, dances, and Ethiopian Orthodox spiritual chants that make the festival in Gondar more blissful and outstanding than the other parts of the country, he added.
As to him, the eve of Timket was carried out with various colorful ceremonies and special rites in Gondar.
“The Ethiopian government should work hand in hand with pertinent stakeholders to harness the UNESCO registered world heritages potentials in the tourism sector.
The Diasporas and friends of Ethiopia have been successfully defending Ethiopia’s stance in the international arena to dismantle internal and external enemies’ conspiracies to celebrate the day peacefully.”
Historian Jeff Pearce from Canada for his part told The Ethiopian Herald that he is attending Ethiopian Timket for the first time and is amused by the celebration.
“Timket is special in Gondar. The celebration is breathtaking and it is hard to describe the feeling. I am not a Christian. However, I love everything here,” he added.
Ethiopians have celebrated the colorful Timket festival peacefully and warmly amid the attacks and killings of civilians; properties and facilities damages by the terrorist TPLF’s, he opined.
Ethiopians home and abroad have significant contributions to celebrate Timket peacefully and colorfully.
Accordingly, Gondar is among the leading destination where Timket festival is celebrated annually with a huge congregation of local and international tourists.
At the feast of Timket, Gondar is a town where human beings are respected and feel at home regardless of race or ethnicity, said Obang Metho, human rights defender and peace activist.
“I saw the face of genuine humanity among Ethiopians and was very emotionally moved by it. My hope for a better future for Ethiopia is greater than ever,” the activist twitted on his webpage.
“What I witnessed in Gondar as I watched and met thousands of people at this great gathering of Ethiopians was so extraordinary that I have been pondering it ever since. If we can do it here in Gondar city, why not in every village, town, city and region throughout Ethiopia especially in the places where institutionalized tribalism system is promoted and practiced?” he asked himself after he watched the Timket festival celebrated warmly, colorfully and fascinatingly in Gondar.
Timket (Epiphany) is one of the intangible heritages inscribed on the list of UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2019.
BY STAFF REPORTER
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD FRIDAY 21 JANUARY 2022
