The Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa was filled with celebration on Saturday (October 5) as people gathered for the annual Irreecha festival, marking the end of the rainy season.
Oromo men and women performed traditional dances and chants, continuing an age-old tradition.
“Irreecha means ‘unity,'” said Gololcha Baali Gobana, an Oromo man from Guji. “When this nation comes from all different corners to celebrate Irreecha, it shows its unity.”
A highlight of the annual culture and heritage festival was the Irreecha ritual, where pilgrims immersed freshly cut grass and flowers in water as a symbol of gratitude. Participants were sprinkled with water, symbolizing purification and renewal.