Monday, August 25, 2025

Ashenda, 2025

These pictures of women celebrating Ashenda (ኣሸንዳ) were made by Kidist Ebenezer, a great friend of the Columbia Pike Documentary Project team. The pictures were made in and outside Bethel Cafe, on the Pike.

From Kidist: "Ashenda is a vibrant annual cultural and religious festival celebrated in the Tigray region of Ethiopia, and neighboring areas like Eritrea, marking the end of the Filseta fasting period. Originally a Christian holiday honoring the Virgin Mary, it has evolved into a significant cultural event where young women and girls participate in singing, dancing, and dressing in traditional attire, sometimes adorned with skirts made from tall grass. The festival is a cherished time of freedom, community, and joy for young women, often including door-to-door celebrations and musical performances."

Thank you Kidist.












No comments: