Irrecha, a thanks giving festival among the oromo people, is celebrated annually between late September and early October. The festival is marked in Addis Ababa and in Bishoftu with the names of “Hora Finfinne” and “Hora Arsedi” respectively. The Hora Finfinne is marked on Saturday, while the Hora Arsedi is celebrated on the morrow, Sunday.
The 2023 Irrecha festival of the Addis Ababa version, Hora Finfinne was celebrated colorfully and peacefully yesterday. The people of Oromo gathered from all corners of Oromia region and attended the thanks giving colorful festival in Addis Ababa.
The picture shows Oromo Elders attending the Irrecha festival. Irreechaa which is part and parcel of Gadaa System (Oromo democratic and political administration), is a bi-annual (one in September and the other in April) religious and cultural festival that takes place throughout the land, Oromiya among the Oromo Society.
The picture shows Oromo youth wearing the traditional Oromo cultural cloth taking lush grass and a stick in their hands. They are traveling to attend the Irrecha celebration and everyone celebrant wears a traditional Oromo cultural cloth.
The Irreechaa festival marks the end of the rainy season and the beginning of bright season. The people of thanks their God for the smooth transition from the rainy season in to the bright and flowery season. Irrecha is a thanks giving festival where the people of Oromo thanked Waqa (God) for the blessings and mercies they have received throughout the previous season and a prayiong for the new year.
The festival is a street carnival and the main part of the celebration of the festival conducts near a water, be it river or lake. The Aba Geda, traditionaly ellected leaders, leads the celebration program early in the morning with thanks and prayers to the creator. They take lush grass in their hands and soak in the water to thank God for all the blessings, including the rain that makes Oromia green.
The holiday is an inclusive holiday where celebrated without any religious, political, gender differences.
Women, wearing a traditional Oromo dress, taking a lush grass and flower are walking to the Irrecha festival to thank the creator for the peaceful transition from the black rainy season to the new bright season.
BY DARGIE KAHSAY
The Ethiopian Herald October 8/2023
