Addis Ababa, October 5, 2024 (FBC) – The Mayor of Addis Ababa city administration, Ms. Adanech Abiebie, and the chief administrator of Oromia region, Mr. Shimels Abdisa, have expressed their gratitude to relevant stakeholders for the vibrant and successful celebration of the Oromo people’s thanksgiving festival, Irreechaa, which was held in Addis Ababa today.
The festival was marked by various rituals and festive events, and it was celebrated peacefully and with great enthusiasm.
The main ritual practices of Irreechaa include excuse, reconciliation, peace-making, loving supplication, thanksgiving, unity, and fraternity.
Today’s festival was attended by Abbaa Gadaas, Hadha Siinqees, guests, religious leaders, and thousands of people from various parts of the Oromia region and the country.
Following the successful conclusion of the festival, Mr. Shimels expressed his gratitude to all stakeholders who played a role in ensuring the peaceful and successful celebration of the event.
He also mentioned that the Irreechaa Hora Harsade festival will be celebrated tomorrow in Bishoftu town of Oromia region. Mr. Shimels called on relevant stakeholders and the society to fulfill their responsibilities so that tomorrow’s festival can be celebrated in a manner that upholds its values.
Meanwhile, Mayor Adanech Abiebie emphasized that Addis Ababa will continue to host various festivals and events with an Ethiopian ethos in mind, given their significant contribution to strengthening the unity of the people, enhancing the city’s image, revitalizing the economy, and developing the tourism industry.
Mayor Adanech Abiebie congratulated Abbaa Gadaas, Hadha Siinqees, members of various ethnicities from across Ethiopia, and residents of Addis Ababa who gathered to celebrate the festival on the successful celebration of Irreechaa Hora Finfinne festival, which she referred it in a post on her social media page as “the symbol of peace and love.”
The Mayor thanked the residents of the capital, security forces, media outlets, health professionals, youth, hotel owners and their employees, leadership of the Oromia region and Addis Ababa city administration, and all those who contributed to the peaceful celebration of the grand festival.
Mayor Adanech noted that the residents of Addis Ababa demonstrated their respect, joy, harmony, and fraternity by warmly welcoming guests during the festival.
The Irreechaa festival, which is part of the UNESCO-inscribed intangible world heritage of the Gada system, has become an important ritual festival that attracts visitors. This has led to an increase in the number of incoming tourists.
As various ritual practices are performed in celebrating Irreechaa, it has become a cultural nationalism not only for the people of Oromo but also for the nations and nationalities of the country and the Diasporas.