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Tens of thousands of brightly clothed Ethiopians converged in downtown Ethiopia's capital for the annual thanksgiving festival this weekend.

This thanksgiving celebration is honored by the Oromo, Ethiopia's largest population group, and occurs at the completion of the land's main wet season.

Every year, festival-goers come together around sacred natural water sources to give thanks to their higher powers for the lush vegetation that the precipitation have delivered.

"I've been celebrating this celebration for the last nine years," mentioned young adult a participant.

"To me, the celebration symbolizes my cultural background, it demonstrates the honor and significance of my people."

Males, females, the older generation and the youth all join in, ornamented in eye-catching garments and ornaments.

They sing, perform traditional dances, tell tales and deposit newly gathered green plants and blossoms in the water - representing existence, renewal and optimism.

Worldwide Attendance

The celebration brings in individuals from throughout the country, visitors fly in from globally.

"I visited a year ago - it was so good, so beautiful, I brought my children with me this year," expressed one visitor, from Northern Ireland.

"It is amazing. All people wants to say hello, all attendees offers affection and expresses hospitality."

Festival Timeline

The opening day of the festival was held on Saturday in Addis Ababa. On the following day, celebrants made their way to a provincial location, a settlement near the main city.

Although Irreecha has its origins in native spiritual practices, it is now observed by the bulk of Oromos, without consideration for their belief system.

Modern Trends

In the last ten years, the quantity of participants joining the event has grown significantly. This is in part thanks to the growth of digital platforms, where various younger generation document their clothing, dancing and singing during the gathering.

Historical Significance

In the previous years, Irreecha was used as a stage for political demonstrations - the Oromo people have consistently raised issues about social exclusion.

Nonetheless, this year's celebration took place calmly, with an emphasis on joy, togetherness and ethnic identity.