Abiy Extends Best Wishes to All Ethiopians On Irreechaa

ADDIS ABABA – Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has extended his best wishes to all Ethiopians on the occasion of the thanksgiving Irreechaa festival.

Irreechaa will be celebrated in the capital, Addis Ababa, on Saturday, and in Bishoftu town on Sunday.

“Irreechaa is a celebration of thanksgiving, forgiveness, hope, and unity,” Prime Minister said in his message issued on Friday.

“Taking a lesson from yesterday, let’s stand united to make tomorrow a better day,” he said. The Prime Minister finally wished all Ethiopians a happy Irreechaa festival.

This year’s festival will be celebrated with a limited number of people due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

About the Irrecha festival

The Oromo people celebrate Irrecha to thank God for the blessings bestowed upon them throughout the previous year.

The festival also welcomes the new season with hope for bounty harvests, following the rainy season.

Irrecha festivals bring together friends, family, relatives and tourists to a celebration of joy and happiness.

The festival, which is part of the UNESCO registered Gada system, will be celebrated at the Hora Finfinne, the Meskel Square and the United Nations African Economic Commission (ECA) Park.

Authorities are working on getting the Irreecha festival itself inscribed with UNESCO, according to Ethiopian News Agency.

“All criteria are fulfilled and the study has been finalized. Thus we are waiting for them to register Irreecha as UNESCO intangible cultural heritage,” Culture and Tourism Minister, Hirut Kassaw, said.

However, the minister noted that all the people should preserve the values and assets of the festival and pass it to the next generation.

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Featured Image: Throwing grass into the water as a symbol of prosperity. [AP/Mulugeta Ayene]