Timket, a festivity with multifaceted gains

 

 Photo Credit: Internet

By Abdurezak Mohammed

 

Timket is an Orthodox Christian celebration of the Ethiopian Epiphany. It marks the baptism of Jesus Christ in the Jordan River. Pilgrims and tourists flock into the country to take part in the festival every year. The festival is most colorful in the country and everyone gets involved in the celebrations

The festivity takes place every year on January 19th (Tir 11), starting with Ketera (preparations) the day before, and it lasts for three days. The second day of Timkat marks the main celebrations, with Orthodox Ethiopians from every segment of society walk through the streets in a riot of color, singing and dancing In Addis Ababa, the festival is particularly spectacular.

The streets are adorned with green, red and yellow to represent the Ethiopian flag and priests walk through the streets holding colorful and richly decorated umbrellas. The unique festivity is also attended by tourists including Dr. Petra Bauer a German tourist who is in Addis now to experience this year’s festival. 

In fact many more tourists can be spotted in the city ahead of this year’s festivity. Her team which comprises 30 members is specialized in doing trips with church groups. It is a second time to come to Ethiopia, she told The Ethiopian Herald.

“I am very impressed about the people. The people are very friendly and very welcoming. And also I am impressed about the culture and the history. I am really looking forward to take part in the festival. I have heard about Timket festival that is a big festival in Ethiopia”, she reiterated. She is very excited to go to Gondar and witness first hand to the historical and religious festivals.

She said he expectations are met. She explained that there are no better and unique way to experience Ethiopia . 

Another tourist, Frank Hendriks, Priest of Roman Catholic Church in Germany said that he had first come to Ethiopia 15 years ago. The reason why he came back is to celebrate Timket festival, he said . I remember before 15 years ago that the festivity was special and beautiful in Gondar. And Gondar is a historical city in Ethiopia, he added.

He previously visited Bahir Dar, Lake Tana, Aksum, Lalibela, Nech Sar Park, Abijjata-Shala National Park. “This year, we will celebrate the Timket festival in Gondar. I hope that the group will like it very much as much as I do”, he indicated. Timket (Ethiopian Epiphany) festival has many importances for the development of tourism sector. The most noticeable significances of Timket include image building, economic value, and others.

Festivals and special events provide the country with the best opportunities of image building. In the process of image building, special events and festivals are important not only for the short-term rise in tourism volume but also for improving a destination’s image and building a destination’s brand for sustainable development. In fact it is common to hear tourists being surprised by the clear difference between the negative image that they had and their actual experience.

Timket is free to everyone who wants to attend the festivity and as a result Timket does not have anything to do with direct income in the form of entrance fee. However, economically, tourism related services, which include travel, lodge, accommodations, restaurants, shopping are the major beneficiaries of such celebrations. Moreover, Timket is also important to other tourism sites of the country that collect money in the form of entrance fee.

Festivals, such as Timket, would also provide market opportunities including businessmen engaged in private activities.

Kiya Mekonnen is producer and seller of Ethiopian souvenir at Shiro Meda area, Addis Ababa. Tourists and Ethiopian citizens buy souvenir from him. Tourists show up individually and collectively with their tour agents to buy his products. “During the festivals like Timket, the number of buyers increases.

The price is fixed for both local buyers and for tourists. All our products are genuine and representative of Ethiopia’s culture and values”, he indicated.

He and his business partner make their living by selling these souvenirs. Hailemelekot Agzew is Tourism Scholar. He told this writer that fulfilling facilities would help attract more tourists and extend the tourists’ stay. Cultural scenes, dressing and dance styles have important role for the attraction of tourists. Displaying handicrafts is also another way of showing our culture, he added.

Tourism Marketing Team Leader of Ethiopian Tourism Organization, Weldegebriel Berhe, A festival can develop the arts and cultural life of local communities and in turn the tourism sector would grown more. Festivals like Timket increases community spirit and pride, foster social cohesion, exchange of ideas, and increased knowledge about the culture of the area.

“The number of tourists is very high from September to February compared to other months.” However, experts argue that the country has failed to unleash its immense tourism potential and make use of the festivities.

Tourism scholar, Kaleab Belachew, told The Ethiopian Herald that there are only two tourism information centers in Addis Ababa. One is not functional. But, Kenya has more than forty tourism information centers. Having more tourism information centers is helping the tourists to get all necessary information easily.