Thousands gather at sacred highlands to give thanks to Waaqayyo as the annual Irreecha Arfaasaa festival brings together Oromo communities in a vibrant display of culture, faith, and resilience.

TULLUU CUQQAALAA, OROMIA — The annual Irreecha Arfaasaa celebration at Tulluu Cuqqaalaa has been marked by joyous gatherings, colorful traditional attire, and heartfelt prayers as the Oromo community came together to give thanks to the Creator.

The festival, observed with beauty and reverence in locations where large numbers of people congregated, stands as a testament to the enduring strength of Oromo culture and the unbreakable spirit of a people who continue to celebrate their identity despite challenges.

A Festival of Thanksgiving

Irreecha, the Oromo thanksgiving festival, marks the end of the rainy season and the beginning of the new year. It is a time when the Oromo people gather at bodies of water—lakes, rivers, and springs—to offer gratitude to Waaqayyo (God) for the blessings of creation and to pray for peace, prosperity, and unity in the year ahead.

This year’s celebration at Tulluu Cuqqaalaa carried particular significance. Despite various challenges, the community gathered in large numbers, dressed in traditional attire, carrying green grasses and flowers as symbols of peace and abundance. The atmosphere was one of joy, reverence, and collective affirmation of Oromo identity.

The Beauty of Cultural Observance

The celebration was marked by:

• Traditional Attire: Participants adorned themselves in the vibrant colors and intricate patterns of Oromo cultural clothing, transforming the gathering into a living canvas of heritage.
• Songs and Poetry: The air filled with traditional songs, geerarsa (poetic chants), and prayers that have been passed down through generations.
• Unity Across Differences: Oromos from various regions, backgrounds, and walks of life stood together as equals before their Creator, demonstrating the unifying power of shared culture.
• Blessings and Prayers: Elders offered blessings to the gathered community, praying for peace, fertility, and prosperity in the coming year.

A Prayer for the Future

The celebration concluded with a collective prayer that echoes in the hearts of all who attended: “Galanni kan uumaati, kan bara dhufuutiin nu ha gahe!” — “Thanksgiving belongs to the Creator; may we reach it again in the coming year!”

This prayer reflects the deep Oromo understanding that life itself is a gift, that each year we are granted to celebrate is a blessing, and that hope for the future is inseparable from gratitude for the past.

Significance of Tulluu Cuqqaalaa

Tulluu Cuqqaalaa holds special significance in the Oromo spiritual landscape. The highland setting, closer to the heavens, provides a fitting backdrop for prayers that rise toward Waaqayyo. The cool breeze carries the voices of the faithful, mingling with the rustle of grass and the songs of birds—all of creation joining in the thanksgiving.

For the Oromo people, Tulluu Cuqqaalaa is more than a location—it is a living presence, a witness to generations of prayer, a container of collective memory, and a symbol of the enduring bond between the people and the land that Waaqayyo gave them.

Community Response

The successful celebration has been met with widespread joy and satisfaction across Oromo communities, both in the homeland and throughout the diaspora. Social media has been filled with images and videos from the gathering, with participants expressing their gratitude for the opportunity to celebrate freely and peacefully.

One attendee shared: “Irreecha Tulluu Cuqqaalaa Arfaasaa milkoofnera. Galanni kan uumaati, kan bara dhufuutiin nu ha gahe!” — “We have successfully celebrated the Arfaasaa Irreecha at Tulluu Cuqqaalaa. Thanksgiving belongs to the Creator; may we reach it again in the coming year!”

This sentiment echoes across the community, reflecting the deep joy and spiritual fulfillment that comes from collective celebration of shared identity.

Looking Forward

As the celebration concludes and participants return to their homes and communities, they carry with them the blessings of the sacred site, the strength of the community, and the assurance that Waaqayyo hears their prayers. They carry, too, the knowledge that they are part of something larger than themselves—a people with a history stretching back centuries and a future reaching toward horizons they may not live to see.

The Irreecha Tulluu Cuqqaalaa celebration marks not an end but a continuation. The prayers offered this week will sustain the community through the seasons ahead. The bonds renewed at the sacred site will hold through challenges yet unknown. The identity affirmed in the gathering will be carried back to homes and communities across Oromia and the diaspora.

A Blessing for All

As the Oromo people celebrate Irreecha, they extend their blessings to all humanity. The festival’s core message—gratitude, peace, and unity—transcends cultural boundaries and speaks to universal human aspirations.

May the spirit of Irreecha—of thanksgiving, of hope, of unity—touch all hearts. May the coming year bring peace to Oromia and to the world. And may the Oromo people continue to gather, to celebrate, and to give thanks until the day when all can celebrate freely in a homeland at peace.

Galanni kan uumaati, kan bara dhufuutiin nu ha gahu 🙏✨

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