Celebrating Dhangalaasii: The Oromo Thanksgiving Festival Arrives

A time of gratitude, community, and renewal as the Oromo people observe their ancient tradition of giving thanks

As the rains grace the land and the promise of abundance fills the air, the Oromo community prepares to celebrate one of its most cherished cultural observances: the Dhangalaasii festival.

We have reached this blessed occasion together. We give thanks for having been brought to this day.

A Festival of Gratitude

As is well known, the Waaqeffannaa faith—the traditional Oromo religion centered on the worship of Waaqa (God)—is fundamentally a religion of gratitude. Like our ancestors before us, we honor the divine by observing sacred times with reverence and celebration.

It is from this deep well of tradition that the DhangaaSii festival emerges—a time when the Oromo people collectively express thanks for the rains, for the fertility of the land, for the health of their cattle, and for the blessings of community and continuity.

An Invitation to Celebration

This year’s Dhangalaasii festival will be observed at our community hall on March 12, 2018 (March 21, 2026). We extend a warm invitation to all to join us in celebrating this sacred occasion together.

The festival represents more than a mere gathering. It is a reaffirmation of Oromo identity, a connection to the spiritual practices of our ancestors, and a moment of collective gratitude that transcends individual concerns.

Blessings for the Season

As we gather to observe Dhangalaasii, we share the traditional blessings that have echoed across Oromo lands for generations:

“Barri roobaa nagaadha” — May the rainy season bring peace.
“Gadaan quufaa gabbina” — May the generation be satisfied and prosper.

These words carry the hopes of a people whose relationship with the land has always been central to their identity. The rains bring not only physical nourishment but spiritual renewal. The prosperity of the generation ensures that traditions will be passed to those who come after.

Gratitude as Resistance

For a people who have endured displacement, cultural suppression, and the many violences of colonialism and state oppression, the act of gathering to observe traditional festivals is itself a form of cultural resistance. To give thanks in the language of one’s ancestors, according to the customs of one’s people, is to assert that Oromo identity survives and thrives.

Dhangalaasii reminds the Oromo people—whether in the homeland or scattered across the diaspora—that gratitude is not dependent on circumstances. It is an orientation of the heart, a recognition that life itself is a gift, and that community is the vessel through which that gift is shared.

Joining Together

As the date approaches, organizers prepare the space, the food, the rituals that will mark the occasion. But the most important preparation is the gathering itself—the coming together of community, the sharing of blessings, the collective turning toward Waaqa with hearts full of thanks.

We look forward to celebrating with you all. May this Dhangalaasii bring peace, prosperity, and renewed connection to all who observe it.

Event Details:
What: Dhangalaasii Thanksgiving Festival
When: July 12, 2018 (March 21, 2026)
Where: Our Community Hall

All are welcome. Join us in giving thanks.