Irreecha festival celebrated in Bishoftu

@Waaqeffannaa — Sat, 25 Nov 2017 03:02:43 +0000

(Irreechaa2017; October 1, 2017)– Millions of people across the country have celebrated the Irreechaa festival peacefully and colorfully in Hora Harsadi, Bishoftu, Oromia.

In Oromia, this year’s Irreecha festival brought peaceful but powerful protest as the Oromo people marked the anniversary of last year’s massacre at Bishoftu.

More than 1.5 million people were expected to attend the annual thanksgiving celebration.

“May the almighty avenge those that are killing our people,” said the traditional Oromo Gadaa leader as he delivered a blessing. “May the almighty avenge those who killed our people here last year. May the almighty avenge the unavenged. May the almighty end our national ordeals.”

Irreecha is an Oromo Thanksgiving festival which is celebrated twice a year; Irreecha Malkaa and Irreecha Tulluu.

Millions of people, Oromo Abba Gada’s, and tourists from different countries have attended the event.

Peaceful memorial

This year Oromo hold peaceful memorial at Irreecha festival.

Despite the rainy skies, they came; once there, the crowds chanted anti-government slogans with the now-familiar crossed arms symbol of protest against Ethiopian authorities they say have long persecuted them – and who, in 2016, opened fire as the scene at Bishoftu deteriorated into chaos.

The Ethiopian Human Rights Commission denied the military used lethal force in an official report on unrest in Oromia released in April.

The EHRC said 669 people had died in ethnic clashes overall, including 465 Oromo civilians, while blaming the Oromo Media Network (OMN), other diaspora sources, and Oromo political opposition groups for escalating the crisis while defending all national security measures as appropriate.

The report results were questioned by international governments and human rights organizations who say they are consistently denied the access needed for an independent investigation. Many of the thousands who were arrested during a 10-month state of emergency remain detained, including key Oromo political opposition leaders.

Security remained tight for this year’s Irreecha celebration, as Ethiopian authorities banned weapons and set up security checkpoints while promising that armed forces would remain on the perimeter of the event but not venture inside.

The Oromo Community in Melbourne celebrated Irreechaa

@Waaqeffannaa — Sat, 02 Jul 2016 04:39:53 +0000

@Waaqeffannaa, Melbourne, Octboer 2015) The Oromo Community in Melbourne celebrated Irreechaa last Sunday on the 4th of Oct 2015.

Irreechaa is branched into two seasons, Irreechaa Arfaasaa and Irreechaa Birraa. The former celebrates the end of the dry season on the top of a hill or mountain while the latter celebrates the end of the wet season at a lake, river or sea.

Traditionally the day is celebrated by the Oromo people every year and it is a form of thanks giving to Waaqa (God) for helping them pass from the darkness of winter to the bright and blooming season of Spring.

During the ceremony, people of all ages carry a bundle of fresh grass and dip it in a lake, river or sea. The grass represents life, fertility and prosperity. The lake represents life and the calm beauty of nature.

Irreechaa has been observed by the Oromo people for more than 6400 years and here in Melbourne, it is not something that is religious-orientated or to diminish other religions, but an event to celebrate togetherness and joy with people from all walks of life.

Irreechaa – WAAQEFFANNAA

Irreecha festival celebrated in Bishoftu

Peaceful memorial

The Oromo Community in Melbourne celebrated Irreechaa