TIMKET FESTIVAL, ETHIOPIA

TIMKET FESTIVAL, ETHIOPIA

Life is celebration. Ethiopia is cradle of human evolution, cultural diversity, dance, music, and cultural celebration. It is full of attractions. 

It is the land of oldest Christianity in the world popularly known as Ethiopia orthodox Christians in the world. Ethiopia also claims for presence of the holy ‘Ark of Covenant’. If, you want to see the pure form of Christianity, then, come to the land of thousands years old living culture which is Ethiopia.  The land which has unique cultural diversity and eight years; eight month; eight days; behind from the modern world and still follow the age old tradition in most of the region. The land, where Jesus Christ birthday celebrated twice in a year that is, in the month of January and December too.

The festival of Timket celebrates the baptism of Christ, and is considered to be Ethiopia’s most spectacular event. The night before the festivities begin, priests take the Tabots (symbols of the Ark of the Covenant, containing the Ten Commandments) from the church, to a tent beside a consecrated pool or river. The ritual takes place amidst a cacophony of bells and trumpets and clouds of incense. At 2 am crowds carry flaming oil lamps to a special Mass. 

As dawn breaks, a priest uses a ceremonial cross to extinguish a candle that is burning high on a pole, set beside the consecrated river or pool. This is the sign for members of the congregation to leap into the water. The Tabots are then transported back to the churches in colourful processions, accompanied by horsemen, and the three days of festivities and celebration begin. 

Ethiopian Christians celebrate it with full devotion and passion. It is one of the sacred festival in Ethiopia which passes message of purification of mind, body and soul. Colourful embroided umbrella can be seen of street during this procession with monks enchanting devotional hymns.

Other Festival : Genna (Ethiopian Christmas) which is celebrated in the month of January. And just after two weeks of Genna, the holy festival of TIMKET is celebrated.

Places to Visit: Auxum, Gondar, Gambella, Bahirdhar, Majang zone(Gambella) and ofcourse Addis Ababa.. other tourist places are also there in Ethiopia like Awash National Park, Gambella National Park, Denakil, etc.

Accessibility: Ethiopian Airlines is the best way to travel. However other major airlines are also arrives from different countries.

Accommodations: starting from economy to Luxury segment of accommodations are available in ETHIOPIA.

Best Time to Visit: 1st September to 31st January.

Food: don't forget to eat 'injera'(staple food) of Ethiopia. One should try 'Bayanat'(a vegetarian dish), and for non-vegetarian 'Dorowat'(Ethiopia chicken curry) would best apart from other cultural food items.

So what are you waiting for? Plan, come and celebrate...