Seven pillars of Irreecha: the core values and principles of the Irreecha festival

Irreecha is a gift of wisdom from the Oromo people to the world, promoting a model of sustainability, community, and gratitude.

It eloquently frames Irreecha not just as an Oromo cultural event, but as a universal celebration of universal human and ecological values. The breakdown into these seven pillars—Thanksgiving, Forgiveness, Reconciliation, Peace, Sharing, Morality, and Harmony—provides a powerful framework for understanding its profound significance.

1. Thanksgiving

Irreecha is a day of thanksgiving. God is making an invaluable contribution to all creation with His power and ability. It is the day of Irreechaa when they give thanks together for what God has given them.

2. Forgiveness

Irreechaa is a day of sincere forgiveness. A person who has a conflict thanks God by forgiving each other.

3. Reconciliation

Irreechaa is reconciliation. When conflict is resolved, or forgiveness is made, reconciliation takes place.

4. Peace

It is about peace. It’s about unity, it’s about love. It is about being respectful and being brother with other people. These values are applicable to all people. Irreechaa is useful not only to Oromo but to all nations, and nationalities of the country.

5. Sharing

Irreechaa is about sharing time with those who have and those who do not; it is a time of mutual assistance. It is a time to share what they have with family and neighbours with joy and love. On the day of Irreecha, it is to share what one has with the one who does not have it or to give what one has to one’s heart; this is considered as a blessed act because it is loved by God.

6. Morality

Morality is the highest law and ethics to be maintained amongst creation. If there is morality, then the relationship between nature is just. Irreechaa plays an important role in maintaining the relationship between nature.

7. Harmoney

Any person participates in Irreechaa. Irreechaa includes not only human being but also nature. It is a symbol of the combination of nature and the human beings. It is a festival where human beings express a unity to nature and give thanks to God. That’s why we say Irreecha is an inclusive national festival.

This description highlights why Irreecha is so central to Oromo identity and philosophy (Oromummaa) and why its messages are indeed applicable to all people. The emphasis on nature not just as a backdrop, but as an active participant in the celebration, is a crucial and distinguishing feature of the festival.

These values are applicable to all people. Irreechaa is useful not only to Oromo but to all nations, and nationalities of the country. This aligns perfectly with the view of many who see Irreecha as a gift of wisdom from the Oromo people to the world, promoting a model of sustainability, community, and gratitude.

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About advocacy4oromia

The aim of Advocacy for Oromia-A4O is to advocate for the people’s causes to bring about beneficial outcomes in which the people able to resolve to their issues and concerns to control over their lives. Advocacy for Oromia may provide information and advice in order to assist people to take action to resolve their own concerns. It is engaged in promoting and advancing causes of disadvantaged people to ensure that their voice is heard and responded to. The organisation also committed to assist the integration of people with refugee background in the Australian society through the provision of culturally-sensitive services.

Posted on September 21, 2025, in Uncategorized. Bookmark the permalink. Leave a comment.

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