BY LEULSEGED WORKU & MENGISTEAB TESHOME
As Timket (Ethiopian Epiphany) is approaching, Gondar-the historic town, famous to its castle and churches, and a place where the Ethiopian Epiphany is celebrated colorfully in a way keeping traditional and religious values- is preparing itself to welcome its guests that will arrive to the town from different parts of the world.
Zerfu Araya is the owner of Checheho Cultural Restaurant where several local and international tourists frequented his hotel in Gondar Town. Like most of residents of the Town. Zerfu gives special value for social cohesion and has an open heart in welcoming guests cordially, serving his visitors at his own cost and letting them feel at home.
As he stated, last year, Zerfu hosted not less than 40 visitors in the tent he purposely prepared it for the event. For this year, he has also finalized all the preparation to welcome those tourists who would come to Gondar for the Ethiopian Epiphany warmly; and to show them greater hospitality. “The people of Gondar will do whatever they can and show their deep-rooted culture of cordiality,” he added.
In similar manner, as indicated by Gondar Town Culture and Tourism Bureau, a project dubbed “One guest for one family” will be implemented so as to welcome guests and visitors with a sense of respect manner and to make them feel at home.
Speaking to local media, Chalachew Dagnachew, said that the project has a goal of further deepening the culture of hospitality among the society and will enable not less than 80,000 visitors to spend their time with their host families without going to hotels. He said the project is designed by local elders, religious leaders and the society.
According to Chalachew during their stay at Gondar, visitors will share and be served by whatever there is in the house; and will spend a memorable time. By doing so, they will have firsthand information about the cultural values and history of Gondar people. So far, several volunteer families and committees are working committedly for the success of the project.
A pilot project, which was implemented last year, has witnessed a positive result and those visitors who spent their time with host families have now developed a positive friendship.
Meanwhile, Gondar Town Peace and Security Department indicated that all preparations are finalized for the successful accomplishment of the Timket festival. The Department indicated that a task force which is organized for this particular purpose has already started its function.
Department Head, Fasil Sendeku, said that the Peace and Security Department is working aggressively to ensure a peaceful Timket festival. He said, the Department together with stakeholders is working hand and glove and the task force conducted discussion with concerned government institutions and high officials, religious fathers, elders and the youth regarding to the successful completion of the festival.
Fasil said, all hotels, recreation centers and historical places will seriously be protected for the sake of visitors’ safety; this includes the gates that lead to Gondar town and areas where religious programs are carried out.
Hand in hand with security and safety issues, another task force is organized to monitor the proper functioning of telecommunication, water, electric power services and emergency and fire safety preparedness task force is organized. As part of ensuring peace and security matters, it is illegal to carry weapons during the event.
Sources indicate that not less than one million visitors are expected to attend Timket festival in Gondar Town.
Likewise, in Addis Ababa the preparation to celebrate Timket festival is ongoing well. The Ethiopian Herald approached Addis Ababa City Administration Government Culture Art and Tourism Bureau tourism Sector Head Desta Lorenso (PhD candidate) to learn about the preparation.
“We have finalized preparations to welcome tourists in more comfortable fashion than ever before. As we are at the eve of Epiphany, the Bureau along with tour operators and hotel owners as well as logistic service providers have exchanged views on how to manage the influx of tourists.
There are plenty of places for accommodation and Addis Ababa also has over 170 star ranked hotels and restaurants, many museums and galleries among others.
The capital, with its vibrant vibe and historical significance, functions today as a gateway into the African continent. It is also the perfect place to begin exploration of the country’s landscape, archeology, and culture.
“I want to say to everyone that Addis Ababa is a safe and comfortable city to everyone. In my view, tourists who chose to be here will witness the lively celebrations of Ethiopians during their holidays and can have an extraordinary experience which they cannot have it in other places,” he underlined.
He further noted that Addis Ababa and other major urban areas are comparatively safe to tourists compared to many African cities. The holidays Genna (Christmas) and Timket (Epiphany) are also one of the great assets that tourists should visit.
The Bureau holds that the celebration could reinstate the tourism sector that was hit hard because of the conflict and the spread of Covid-19 pandemic.
The peace accord signed in South Africa is also a great opportunity because the booking of international tourists is increasing and the mobility of tourists is also improving throughout the nation.
The holiday gives additional opportunities to introduce the tourist destinations and various landmarks the city has such as Entoto, Friendship, Unity parks and Science Museum, among others.
He also called on all actors to provide standard services and promote tourist destinations in the city to ensure the sustainability of the flow of tourists.
In the first quarter of the year, over 240 thousand tourists visited the city and was able to generate 13.8 billion worth of birr, it was learnt.
Timket (The Amharic word for immersion or Epiphany) is one of the grand outdoor religious festivals celebrated among the Ethiopian Orthodox Christians on the 19 of January (or the 20 of January once in every four years). The festivity commemorates the Baptism of Christ in the River Jordan by John the Baptist. It is celebrated 12 days after the festivity of Genna or Ethiopian Christmas.
Members of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church highly revere the festival as a period of religious revival and rejuvenation and also as a thanksgiving occasion to God for his protection and support in nurturing their spirit.
Timket sets in after the end of the harvest season in Ethiopia and the farmers in restive parts of the country will have some time for pastime activities like paying visits to friends or performing various personal duties.
The festival is marked with great pomp and paraphernalia right from the eve of January 19 which is known among the Ethiopian Orthodox as Ketera. On this day the tabots of each church are carried out in procession to a place near a river in rural areas or on a special baptism spot prepared for the occasion.
The Ethiopian herald January 13/2023
