Irreechaa Festival to Be Celebrated on October 3–4 in Addis Ababa and Bishoftu

Addis Ababa, September 18, 2025 (FMC) – The Oromo Aba Geda Union has announced that this year’s Irreechaa Festival will be celebrated on October 3 at Hora Finfine in Addis Ababa and on October 4 at Hora Harsede in Bishoftu town.

Describing Irreechaa as a festival of thanksgiving, unity, love, and reconciliation, the Union urged communities to celebrate the event in a manner that respects the culture and values of the Oromo people.

Irreechaa is one of the most significant cultural and spiritual festivals in Ethiopia, marking the end of the rainy season and the beginning of a new year in the traditional Oromo calendar. Participants traditionally gather at rivers, lakes, and sacred sites to offer thanks to Waaqa (God) for blessings, fertility, and prosperity.

The festival also serves as a platform for promoting peace, social cohesion, and intergenerational solidarity within Oromo communities and beyond. Historically, Irreechaa has been a unifying occasion, drawing thousands of worshippers and visitors from across Ethiopia and the global Oromo diaspora.

This year, celebrations at Hora Finfine and Hora Harsede are expected to attract large crowds, continuing the long-standing tradition of expressing gratitude, cultural pride, and communal harmony.