Ethiopia's Irreecha Festival: A Celebration of Culture and Gratitude

Fri Oct 10 2025 11:46:27 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

Tens of thousands of Ethiopians gather in Addis Ababa to celebrate Irreecha, a vibrant festival marking thanksgiving and cultural pride among the Oromo people.

The annual Irreecha festival, celebrated by Ethiopia's Oromo community, draws a large and diverse crowd to Addis Ababa. Participants express gratitude for the rains and show pride in their cultural heritage through traditional clothing, singing, and communal activities. This year's celebration highlights a peaceful atmosphere contrasting past political tensions.

Tens of thousands of vibrantly dressed Ethiopians descended on downtown Addis Ababa for an annual thanksgiving festival this weekend.

Irreecha is celebrated by the Oromo, Ethiopia's largest ethnic group, and takes place at the end of the country's main rainy season.

Each year, festival-goers gather around sacred rivers and lakes to thank their creators for the greenery that the rains have brought.

I've been celebrating Irreecha for the past nine years, 25-year-old Moata Abdulmajid told the BBC. To me, Irreecha represents my identity, it reflects the pride and greatness of my people.

Men, women, the elderly, and the young all join in, adorned in eye-catching clothes and jewellery. They sing, dance, share stories, and place freshly cut grass and flowers in water - a symbol of life, renewal, and hope.

This year, the festival also attracted many people from abroad. Claire, a visitor from Belfast, expressed her joy at returning: It is amazing. Everybody wants to say hello, everyone wants to give you a kiss and say welcome.

The first day of the festival took place on Saturday in Addis Ababa. On Sunday, participants traveled to Bishoftu, a small town just outside the capital. Although rooted in indigenous beliefs, Irreecha is now celebrated by many Oromos, regardless of their religion.

In recent years, the festival’s attendance has dramatically increased due to social media, where many young people document their outfits, dancing, and singing during the celebrations.

This year's celebration unfolded peacefully, emphasizing joy, unity, and cultural pride, despite the festival's historical context of political protests among the Oromo people.