Timket, also known as Epiphany, is one of the most significant and colorful religious celebrations of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, commemorating the baptism of Jesus Christ in the River Jordan by John the Baptist.
The festival, inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2019, is celebrated annually on January 19, or January 20 during leap years according to the Ethiopian calendar.
In Batu, a town situated on the western shore of Lake Dambal (Hora-Dambal) in Ethiopia’s Oromia Region, Timket is celebrated in a striking natural setting that sets it apart from ceremonies in larger cities such as Gondar or Addis Ababa.
The sacred Tabots are escorted from churches to the lakeshore with liturgical chants, hymns, crosses, and colorful ceremonial umbrellas. Faithful residents and pilgrims gather along the shores and sometimes on boats or nearby islands, transforming the lake into a living stage of devotion.
At dawn on Timket day, priests bless the lake water and sprinkle holy water upon the congregation. Many religious followers touch or enter the water, symbolically reenacting baptism and reflecting the festival’s central themes of purification, renewal, and faith.
Traditional singing, rhythmic dances, vibrant religious garments, and communal celebrations enrich the spiritual atmosphere, blending sacred ritual with local cultural expression. Observers describe the Timket celebration at Batu as especially picturesque, joyous, and spiritually immersive, offering a profound connection between faith, community, and nature.
By Birhanu Workneh
