ADDIS ABABA-Religious leaders and tourism experts enjoined the public to preserve and promote religious and societal values of Meskel festivity.
On the second Meskel Symposium that held yesterday, organized by Addis Ababa Culture, Arts and Tourism Bureau, religious fathers and tourism experts discussed historical and religious background of the UNESCO-registered Meskel festival that Ethiopians celebrate each year to commemorate the finding of the True Cross.
On the occasion, Melake Selam Komos Aba Kale Tsadiq (PhD) said that the Meskel Festival is the only outdoor holiday that celebrates the discovery of the True Cross in the presence of many thousands of people. So, celebrants should preserve its unique values during the festivity, he adjured.
The festival is an asset of the world heritage community. So, it is beyond religious celebration, and all Ethiopians are the owner of the festival, he indicated.
He also invited all Ethiopians from all religions to celebrate the festival with their Orthodox Christian brothers and sisters.
Addis Ababa Interreligious Council Chairman, Megabi Tamrat Abegaz also stated that Meskel festival is one of the four Ethiopian intangible heritages recognized by the UNESCO which needs the preservation of all Ethiopians as well as the international community.
Ethiopians from all cultural backgrounds celebrate the festival every year. Despite of their linguistic and cultural differences, they have shared-knowledge and values. “Hence, we have been integrated each other through this festival,” he noted.
Senior Tourism Expert, Maru Emagnu, also remarked that Meskel Festival is one of cultural heritages that demonstrate the socio-cultural integration among Ethiopians.
Celebrants of the festival have religious songs in several languages thereby the cultural diversity in the celebration should be preserved, he said.
He also urged actors of the hospitality sector to guide tourists coming from abroad. Tourists always need something new and worthy to them so that tour guides should work to promote the festival while doing their businesses, he added.
Meskel Festival that takes place on 28 September, is inscribed by UNESCO as intangible cultural heritage of humanity in 2013.
BY YESUF ENDRIS
The Ethiopian Herald September 27/2023
