Ethiopians gather to celebrate the Ashenda Festival - in pictures

The traditional women's cultural festival, also known as Girls' Day, is being celebrated despite two year's of war in the region

Young women sing during Ashenda festival, at Saint George Church, in Lalibela, Ethiopia, on August 22, 2022. - Ashenda Festival is celebrated in Tigray and Amhara regions, group of girls make preparations for the holiday by buying new clothes, visiting hairdressers and the holiday also marks the end of a two-week-long fasting period known as Filseta where the faithful in the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church gather to honor the Virgin Mary. After 2 years of war between Ethiopia's Government and Tigray Peoples Liberation Front (TPLF) that took place both in Tigray and Amhara regions it will be celebrated on August 22, 2022 in Lalibela, and girls from neighbouring cities will gather around and celebrate at Church of St. George and Bete Maryam. (Photo by Amanuel Sileshi / AFP) (Photo by AMANUEL SILESHI / AFP via Getty Images)

The Ashenda Festival is celebrated in the Tigray and Amhara regions. It is being observed after two years of war between the federal government and the Tigray People's Liberation Front.

Women and girls make preparations for the holiday, also known as the Girls' Day, by buying new clothes and visiting hairdressers.

The holiday, celebrated during the summer season in the last week of the month of August, also marks the end of a two-week fasting period known as Filseta.

Filseta is where the faithful in the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church gather to honour the Virgin Mary.

Women make their way through the Cave of St George.

Girls with the traditional 'Ashenda Grass' tied around their waists, celebrate at the Church of St George and Bete Maryam.

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