ADDIS ABABA – Ministry of Culture and Tourism (MCT) announced that celebrating traditional festivals like Shadey, Ashendiye and Solel in the metropolis for the first time would play a great role in attracting a large number of festival-goers and strengthening the long standing cultural coexistence among Ethiopians.
MCT Minster Dr. Hirut Kasaw told The Ethiopian Herald that the celebration of these festivals in the capital of both Ethiopia and Africa would create boundless opportunities for promotion of cultural exchange and mutual understanding among various ethnic groups and people from all walks of life.
“During these festivals, young girls rejoice themselves, express their hope and love freely and also pray to God for the better fortune of their people and the nation as well.”
For her part, co-organizer of the festival and Amhara Women Association Office Head Tsedale Mekonnen said Ethiopians have enormous rich and unique cultures and heritages hence, the festivals of Shadey, Ashendiye and Solel are some of them.
Adding she said, celebrating the festival in Addis Ababa for the first time would bring together people from two states of Ethiopia to observe the festival as they used to celebrate the festival in their respective states in the past.
Many believe that featuring such cultural exchange event here in Addis Ababa would speed up the ongoing efforts to inscribe the festival as world heritage by UNESCO aside from passing down the culture to posterity in an organized manner.
Various preparations are underway to colorfully celebrate the festival and among these are panel discussions which are being conducted from August 6 – 21, 2019 in all sub cities aiming at creating public awareness regarding the meaning, impact and the celebration of the festival.
The festivals would be celebrated at national level on 25 August, 2019 at the Millennium hall. Over 33,000 people are expected to attend the closing festival, it was learnt.
The Ethiopian Herald, August 13/2019
BY BACHA ZEWDIE
