Selfie and singing as people of Oromo in Ethiopia celebrate Thanksgiving

Tens of thousands of lively dressed Ethiopians descended into the center of Addis Ababa for the annual Thanksgiving Festival this weekend.

Irreecha is celebrated by Oromo, the largest ethnic group in Ethiopia and is held at the end of the country’s main rainy season.

Each year, the festivals gather around sacred rivers and lakes to thank their creators for the greenery who have brought the rains.

“I have been celebrating Irreecha in the last nine years,” 25-year-old Moata Abdulmajid (pictured below) told the BBC.

“For me, Irreecha represents my identity, it reflects the pride and greatness of my people.”

Men, women, elderly and young people join, decorate attention in attention.

They sing, dance, share stories and place freshly cut grasses and flowers in water – a symbol of life, renewal and hope.

Irreecha not only attracts people from all over Ethiopia, but those present fly from all over the world.

“I came last year – it was so good, so beautiful, I brought my children with me this year,” says Claire (pictured second to the right), from Belfast in Northern Ireland.

“It’s amazing. Everyone wants to greet, everyone wants to kiss you and say welcome.”

The first day of the festival took place on Saturday in Addis Ababa. On Sunday, the festivals travel to Bishoff, a small town just outside the capital.

Although Irreecha has its roots in the systems of local faith, it is now observed by the majority of Oros, regardless of their religion.

The number of people visiting the festival has increased dramatically over the past decade. This is partly due to the rise of social media, where many young people document their outfits, dances and singing during the festival.

In the past, irreecha was used as a platform for anti -government protests – the people of Oromo have long complained of political and economic marginalization.

However, this year’s holiday unfolded calmly, with an emphasis on joy, unity and cultural pride.