Preparations for the 2016 Irrecha Festival that will be celebrated in Hora Finfinne (Addis Ababa) and Hora Harsade (Bishoftu) have been finalized, according to Oromia Communication Bureau.
The Oromo people celebrate Irrecha to thank Waaqa (God) for the blessings and mercies they have received in the past year.
The festival is celebrated in different localities across Oromia Region. But at the national level, it is an event that brings millions of Oromos and non-Oromos from all over the country and abroad.
In his statement in connection with the 2016 Irrecha Festival, Oromia Communication Bureau Head Hailu Adugna said the festival will be celebrated in both places under the motto “Irrecha: Symbol of Unity and Brotherhood.”
According to him, Irrecha is a festival of peace and reconciliation where the Oromo people pay gratitude to the creator.
It is also a symbol of unity, he stressed.
The head noted that the celebration of Irrecha festival is becoming more attractive as it is becoming a business and tourism attraction.
Hailu further urged participants to celebrate the event by protecting the value and culture of the festival and in a manner that strengthens unity among the people in the country.
Since the Gadaa System has been registered as one of the intangible world cultural heritages by UNESCO, the festival is embraced by the international community at large, encouraging the tourism industry of Ethiopia.
The festival introduces a vibrant array of colors that makes it one of the most beautiful street festivals among Oromos and other nations and nationalities of the country.
The fine attire of the participants is one of the many unique aspects of the festival, and people of all ages and cultural backgrounds come to the occasion dressed in show-stopping finery.
The bureau head stated that Irrecha is a festival of thanksgiving, forgiveness and optimism.
Source: Ethiopian News Agency