Fichee Chambalalla, the New Year festival of Sidama people was colorfully celebrated in Hawassa, the capital of Sidama today.

Speaking at the festival in Hawassa, Minister of Culture and Sports, Kejella Merdassa said all necessary protection will be exerted to maintain the status of Fichee Chambalalla as one of the world prestigious heritages.

The minister applauded the role of the Sidama people in maintaining the values and beauties of the festival of Fichee Chambalalla and to be inscribed it as the intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO.

Kejella affirmed that the government will take all necessary mechanisms to ensure that Fichee Chambalalla festival will be transfered from generation to generation.

Similarly Minister of Tourism Nasissie Challi said Ethiopia’s heritages are the history of our past, beauties of today and the bridges of the coming years.

Citing that Ethiopia has diverse cultural and natural attractions, she said Fichee Chambalalla festival of Sidama people becomes one of the attraction assets in which a number of tourists are attending it.

Sidama Region Chief Adminstrator, Desta Ledamo said Fichee Chambalalla festival is pivotal to strengthen our unity and it is an aspiration for new hope.

Fichee-Chambalaalla marks the New Year in Ethiopia’s Sidama people’s distinctive calendar.

The celebration is imbued with festive and colorful cultural rituals of welcoming the New Year.

Fichee-Chambalalla was inscribed in 2015 on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency