Addis Ababa, January 9, 2023 (FBC) – The Culture and Tourism Department of Gondar City stated that the city expects to earn up to 2 billion Birr from tourism during the Epiphany (Timket) holiday.
Ethiopian epiphany is a colourful festival celebrated all over Ethiopia to commemorate the baptism of Jesus Christ by John the Baptist in the River Jordan. The commemoration starts on the eve of the main festival on 18 January.
In particular, it is a very colourful annual event in the city of Gondar (the capital city of Ethiopia from the early 17th to mid-19th century), a city known as the Camelot of Africa.
The head of the city’s Culture and Tourism department, Chalachew Dagnew, told Fana Broadcasting Corporate that 750,000 to 1 million visitors are expected to enter Gondar during the upcoming Epiphany festival.
Accordingly, Chalachew confirmed that more than 400 hotels, camping ground, and tents pitching areas have been readied.
Considering the diverse expenditure limit of the visitors, tourist collective accommodations, food, and drinks access have been prepared, he announced.
The official indicated that the city administration expects to earn up to 2 billion birr from tourism during the Timket (Epiphany) festival.
The Fasilades Bath, where Timket celebrations occur in Gondar, represents the Jordan River. At the ‘Ketera’, marking the eve of the Timket celebration, eight of the 44 Tabots (arks) of the Orthodox Tewahedo Church within the city flock towards the Bath from all directions. At the centre of each parish church is the Tabot, the wooden slab believed to be a replica of the Ark of the Covenant.
Hence, Chalachew stated that the presence of a 400-year old baptismal font and tabernacle makes Epiphany a special holiday in Gondar.
Gondar city is also hosting cultural week (Azmari festival) from January 12 to 17 to promote the region’s culture, tradition, and history through a multitude of events, said the Culture and Tourism head.
He added that the birthday of Emperor Theodros II of Ethiopia will also be celebrated on January 14, 2023 with events that manifest national solidarity.
It is known that Tmket is among the most important Intangible Cultural Heritages of the people of Ethiopia inscribed on the Representative List of Humanity by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in December 2019.