Ethiopians gather to celebrate the Ashenda Festival – in pictures  – The National 05:28

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 the Ashenda festival, at the Saint George Church, in Lalibela, Ethiopia. All photos: AFP
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.

Young women sing during the Ashenda festival, at the Saint George Church, in Lalibela, Ethiopia. All photos: AFP

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Updated: August 23, 2022, 5:14 AM