No security incident reported
Borkena
Toronto – The followers of Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church celebrated Meskel Demera Festival across the country.
In the religious tradition of the Ethiopian Church, holidays represent the finding of the true cross on which the Lord Jesus Christ was crucified.
A big part of the festival is Demera – which translates to bonfire. What precedes it is a procession of priests and Sunday school students to the place where Demera happens. Church songs and praises are also crucial components.
This is one of the most colorful Ethiopian Church Holidays – and used to be part of the reason why tens of thousands of tourists trickle to the country.
In Addis Ababa, it was celebrated at Meskel Square. His Holiness Abune Mathias, Patriarch of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, conveyed a message.
Addis Ababa City Mayor, Adanech Abiebie, was also at the Meskel Square.
In recent years, the government has been imposing a series of restrictions in how the holiday is celebrated. They were introduced on alleged grounds of security concerns in the city. From the number of people allowed to attend the event at Meskel square to how the followers of the church should dress including a restriction on plain green, yellow and red flags was restricted.
Elsewhere, particularly in Oromia and South Ethiopia, it reached a point where places of Bonfire celebration were entirely prohibited.
Government action has been drawing strong criticism especially in light of the role it plays in facilitating ethnic oromo traditional religion, Irreechaa.
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