The annual Irreechaa festival, the thanksgiving holiday of the Oromo community, celebrated at the end of the rainy season, at the first month of the Ethiopian New Year (Meskerem), was marked warmly and colorfully, last weekend, on Saturday and Sunday.
This year’s festival was celebrated under the title “Irreechaa: A symbol of fraternity and unity.”
The festival, especially in the capital, Addis Ababa at the Hora Finfine and Bishoftu at the Hora- Harsadi was marked in the presence of Aba Gedaas and Hadha Siinqes, government officials, guests and tourists and a large number of people, Oromo and non-Oromos, residing in the cities and the surrounding areas as well as from various parts of the country and abroad to partake in this colorful festivities.
This year’s Irreechaa festival was celebrated in a peaceful manner; without any security challenges.
Following the two successive days Irreechaa celebrations, Aba Gedaas and Hada Siinqes who were in presence at Hora- Harsadi festival carried out in Bishoftu, told ENA that the rite has been a platform that our peace and unity in diversity is demonstrated evidently.
According to Aba Gedaa Dechassa Wedajo who was in the celebration of Irreechaa festival at Hora- Harsadi, Bishoftu, this year’s Irreechaa festival has shown the unity and peace of the people in diversity.
Hada Siinqe Shemsiya Gutama on her part said that Irreechaa is a symbol of peace, love and togetherness. “Thus, we all have a responsibility to pass the Irreechaa festival to the next generation. Especially, the young people are duty bound to preserve the value of the festival and make it a national treasure.” she added.
Aba Gedaa Soboka Leta also said that the Irreechaa festival is a manifestation of the country›s identity and peoples’ unity. So, its value should be preserved and passed on to the next generation. To this effect, concerted efforts should be exerted to handover the heritage with its prestige and value to the next generation.
Furthermore, by introducing Irreechaa, which has a great tourism potential to the world and enhancing the benefit of the sector is central, he remarked.
Likewise, some of the participants who attended the festival also reflected their impression about the festival. According to Birhanu Sorsa, the celebration of Irreechaa, which is a sign of unity and peace, is allowing the generation to understand its value properly. Further works should be done in a more concerted manner than before to pass on the value of the festival to the next generation.
Meanwhile Kenyans who participated in the festival at the Hora-Finfine, in the capital Addis Ababa also indicated that Irreechaa festival is a cultural value that strengthens people-to-people ties.
Expressing their amazement by the ceremony they have witnessed, Yosef Tuse, Kenyan, who came to attend the celebration, said that Ethiopia, which is the ambassador of Africa, should focus on result-oriented activities and undertake effective marketing works to promote its diverse culture, food culture, and untapped potential tourism destinations to the world.
He also mentioned that Ethiopia and Kenya have long established historic and people-to-people relationships that transcends generation to generation.
This age-old friendship should be developed in a way that ensures the mutual benefit of the people of the two sisterly countries; and celebrating Irreechaa together is an important platform to further strengthen the bond.
Tuqa Jirmo, the other Kenyan, on his part said that celebrating the festival with Ethiopians brothers and sisters is appealing.
Irreechaa does not only show the unity of the Oromo people, but it is also a festival that embraces reconciliation and peace and a good value that the people of the world can learn from and exercise it to themselves. Festival’s cultural festivals have crucial importance to unite the people. It is necessary to promote and expand Irreechaa to make more people come and celebrate the festival, he said.
BY STAFF REPORTER
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD TUESDAY 10 OCTOBER 2023
