The colourful festival of Timkat took place, to mark the baptism of Jesus in the River Jordan and is considered one of the most important religious celebrations in Ethiopia.
In the African country’s capital city of Addis Ababa, various festivals are attracting numerous tourists during this month, with crowds, which included people from across the UK, met to mark the occasion. Attendees would take part in night-long prayers and hymn services leading up to the annual festival, which dates back to the 4th Century.
Registered as an intangible cultural heritage by UNESCO, Ethiopian Timket is said to be one of the most spectacular religious festivals in the world, which marks the baptism of Jesus Christ in River Jordan.
Seen as the most popular holiday throughout the country that is celebrated in January, during the celebration of this UNESCO-inscribed intangible world’s heritage, Ethiopian Christians embrace with a mass baptism at different waterfronts or sacred pools around the country. That makes tourists abroad who attend the celebration of Timket (or Epiphany) every year, to be enthralled by its unique religious and cultural dimensions.
Largely considered as one of the country’s highly rated public events, this uniquely colourful and full of action experience of Epiphany is also best experienced in Lalibela and Gondar. Celebrations started on the eve of Timket - known as Ketera – with the actual celebrations beginning with a procession to Jan Meda.
Referred to as the capital of Africa, a buzzing hub of notable offices, such as AU and UNECA, Addis Ababa was said to be the best place to celebrate Ethiopian Epiphany – with the likes of leading deacons, priests and diplomats very much part of the celebrations. As young and old stood side-by-side, with most of whom dressed in national costumes, they all sang, clapped hands and danced as they gave thanks to their God.
Full of activities every year, Jan Meda explodes with the excitement of the mass for two days of celebrations that is hard to miss!