Selfies and singing as a organ in Ethiopia celebrate Thanksgiving -

Amensisa IfaBBC Africa, Addis Ababa and Bishoftu

Amensisa Ifa / BBC four young women wearing white dresses pose for photos.

Tens of thousands of vibrant ethiopians dressed in downtown Addis Ababa for an annual Thanksgiving Festival this weekend.

Irreecha is celebrated by Oromo, the largest ethnic group in Ethiopia, and takes place at the end of the main rainy season in the country.

Amensisa Ifa / BBC Two men carry fur on the head and their shoulders. We hold a shield.

Each year, festival -goers meet around rivers and sacred lakes to thank their creators for the greenery that the rains have brought.

“I have been celebrating Irreecha for nine years,” Moata Abdulmajid, 25-year-old (photo below) told the BBC.

“For me, Irresecha represents my identity, it reflects the pride and the greatness of my people.”

Amensisa Ifa / BBC A man with an open dress and a white banner still wears a wood.

Men, women, the elderly and young people all join, adorned in catchy clothes and jewelry.

They sing, dance, share stories and place freshly cut grass and flowers in water – a symbol of life, renewal and hope.

Amensisa Ifa / BBC A girl wearing a white dress and white shells in her smiling hair. Shhe carries a lot of yellow flowers.

Amensisa Ifa / BBC four women wearing striped dresses contain yellow flowers.

Irreecha does not only attract people from all Ethiopia, participants fly from all over the world.

“I came last year – it was so good, so beautiful, I brought my children with me this year,” said Claire (illustrated on the right), from Belfast to Northern Ireland.

“It’s incredible. Everyone means hello, everyone wants to give you a kiss and say welcome.”

The participants of the Amensisa IFA / BBC festival, decorated with jewelry, hold plants in their hands.

The first day of the festival took place on Saturday in Addis Ababa. On Sunday, festival -goers went to Bishoftu, a small town just outside the capital.

Although the irreecha has its roots in indigenous religious systems, it is now observed by the majority of Oromos, whatever their religion.

Amensisa Ifa / BBC A huge song of people, mainly bearing white, is represented from above

Amensisa Ifa / BBC A young girl, seated on someone's shoulders, peers above the crowd. It wears a striped outfit and a pearl helmet.

Over the past decade, the number of people participating in the festival has increased considerably. This is partly due to the rise of social media, where many young people document their outfits, dancing and singing during the festival.

Amensisa Ifa / BBC Three girls, wearing white dresses and wooden staff, smile for the camera.

Amensisa Ifa / BBC seven men pose for the camera, carrying scarves around their heads and white peaks. They transport wooden staff.

In the past, Irresecha has been used as a platform for antigenmental demonstrations – the Oromo people have long complained about political and economic marginalization.

However, this year’s celebration took place peacefully, emphasizing joy, unity and cultural pride.