Irreechaa Festival Celebrated Colorfully in Addis Ababa

Addis Ababa, October 3, 2026 (ENA)—The celebration of Hora Finfinnee, part of the annual Irreechaa thanksgiving festival, is underway in Addis Ababa, bringing together tens of thousands of people in a vibrant display of Oromo culture, tradition and unity.

Dressed in colorful traditional attire, people from different parts of Ethiopia gathered at Hora Finfinnee on Saturday morning to mark Irreechaa, a traditional Oromo thanksgiving ceremony celebrated at the end of the rainy season and the beginning of the harvest season.

This year’s celebration is being attended by various segments of society, including Aba Gadas and Hadha Sinqes, as well as cultural and community representatives.

The festival provides a distinctive platform for the Oromo people to showcase their rich cultural and spiritual heritage, with traditional songs, dances, colorful attire and ceremonies reflecting values of beauty, unity, solidarity and communal harmony.

Irreechaa is rooted in the traditional thanksgiving to Waqa (God), who is believed to have created the heavens and the earth.

During the celebration, the Oromo people express gratitude for peace, good harvests, family well-being, human and soil fertility, and the health of their livestock.

Irreechaa is celebrated in different localities across Oromia and in communities around the world where Oromos live.

Among the major celebrations are Hora Finfinnee in Addis Ababa and Hora Arsadi in Bishoftu, which draw people from across Oromia and other parts of the country.

The Hora Arsadi Irreechaa celebration in Bishoftu town is scheduled to take place tomorrow.

In a message marking the occasion, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said Irreechaa represents justice, equality, love and unity, and embodies fraternity and solidarity among the people.

He urged Ethiopians to work together to overcome challenges and build a brighter future.

Prime Minister Abiy also extended his warm congratulations to the Oromo people and all Ethiopians on the occasion of the Irreechaa thanksgiving festival.

He wished Ethiopians a peaceful and prosperous celebration as the country transitions from the rainy season into the bright spring.