Ketera festival, which is celebrated on the eve of Timket festival, (Epiphany), among the adherents of the Ethiopian Orthodox and Catholic churches, is one of the outdoor religious festivals marked across Ethiopia with various impressive religious processions and cultural rituals.
According to documents, the term ‘Ketera’ is taken from the Amharic word ‘Ketere’ to mean stopping the flow of water. In this regard, during Ketera festival, it is usual to block the flow of water in the rivers or pools, or create artificial reservoir to sprinkle the assembled congregation with the holy water on the actual day of Timket, in commemoration of the Baptism of Jesus Christ at the River Jordan in the hands of John the Baptist.
Days before the real day of the Ketera festival, followers of the religion, especially young people, make every preparation to celebrate the day in a more colorful and impressive way. They clean and set up public spaces where members of the church choirs chant hymn and celebrants gather, the roads that the tabots, (the replicas of the Ark of the Covenant) are heading, the places where the tabots will spend the whole night, (Timkete-Bahir), and build temporary tents where the tabots rest.
They also create a dam to restrict the flow of water or fill pools with water where there are not enough rivers in the surrounding areas for the ceremony of Timket, and undertake similar spiritual activities.
On the day of Ketera that is on the eve of Timket believers adorned with their cultural attire come out of their houses in the afternoon usually after 2:00 PM and get together at their nearby churches to escort the tabots. The tabots, taken out from all churches and carried by priests, will move to a communal place arranged for them to spend a night or two accompanied by the clergies, Sunday School students and the laities.
This process, according to documents, signifies Jesus Christ’s journey to the River Jordan to be baptized by John the Baptist.
And today, January 19, and tomorrow January 20, 2024, Ethiopian Orthodox and Catholic Christians are ready to celebrate the Ketera festival which will be marked colorfully this afternoon.
As part of this and to make the celebrations more enticing thereby show solidarity, yesterday religious leaders in the Orthodox and Catholic churches, religious leaders of various religions, officials from the Addis Ababa City Administration, including, General Manager of Addis Ababa City Administration in the rank of Deputy Mayor Hikma Hayredin, and residents of the capital engaged in cleaning sites at Kirkos Sub City where the tabots will pass through and spend the night.
Speaking on the occasion, Hikma said that Timket festival (Ethiopian Epiphany) is one of Ethiopia’s intangible world heritages inscribed by UNESCO.
While the festival predominantly resonates with Ethiopian Orthodox Christians, she eloquently expressed that the significance of this celebration extends to encompass all Ethiopians.
Furthermore, she implored the entire populace of the capital to actively contribute to the successful celebration of the Ketera and Timket festival by upholding its religious and cultural values, FBC reported
In the same way, the Addis Ababa City Administration and religious institutions announced that preparations are finalized to celebrate Ketera and Timket celebrations in a more peaceful way and in a manner preserving the religious value of the festivals.
This was revealed following the discussion held between Mayor Adanech Abeibe, senior officials of the Addis Ababa City Administration and the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahido Church and the Addis Ababa Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahido Church Addis Ababa Diocese Office in relation to the celebration of Timket festival.
At the discussion, religious fathers of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahido Church stated that they are making the necessary preparations to celebrate the festivals peacefully in a manner align with the values of the religion and in away refraining from speeches and actions that are contrary to the canon of the religion. They also make clear to followers that any speeches and actions that do not represent the church are acts that would be condemned.
The religious fathers also urged the city administration to provide the usual support for the celebration of the festivals.
Mayor Adanech Abeibe and senior officials of the city administration also called on the religious leaders to fulfill their responsibilities so that the celebration of the Timket festival, which is a national heritage and one among the most important intangible cultural heritages inscribed in the UNESCO, celebrated peacefully and in a way preserving its religious values.
Singing the same tune, security structures and leaders of the Addis Ababa and Sheger City expressed readiness to mark the two festivals peacefully, without any security problems.
This was revealed following the consultative forum held between the security structures and leaders of the two cities regarding the celebration of Ketera and Timket festivals.
Speaking at the forum, Peace and Security Management Office Head with Addis Ababa City Administration Lidya Girma highlighted the collaborative efforts of the two cities in various areas. Mentioning the various activities carried out targeting on peace and highlighting that several holidays and events have been held without any security challenges, she said that this year’s Timket festival would also be marked in more organized manner than before.
“The coordinated efforts of Addis Ababa and Sheger Cities in the past have resulted in successful and peaceful celebrations of religious, cultural, and street festivals. The valuable lessons drawn from the previous years and the considerable attention given to peace and security issues will enable to celebrate Ketera and Timket festivals without any security threats.”
The consultative forum of the two cities administrations, according to her, is part of the efforts exerted to enable the celebration of UNESCO inscribed open air festival more peacefully.
Peace and Security Deputy Head with the Addis Ababa City Administration Getahun Abera on his part said that the festival is a platform that showcases Ethiopians’ cultural and religious values, their peaceful coexistence, and togetherness to the world. Thus, he stressed the need for peaceful celebration. The Addis Ababa City Peace and Security Administration will work closely with religious leaders, elders, youth, and the general public to ensure the peaceful celebration of Ketera and Timket.
True, Timket is a festival that promotes peace, fraternity and humanity to the people of the world. It is a festival that preaches tolerance, understanding and to live in peace and harmony. Thus celebrating the festivity in line with its religious and cultural values is a must and a matter that needs the commitment of every one.
BY LEULSEGED WORKU
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD FRIDAY 19 JANUARY 2024
