Every year an event is celebrated by the Ethiopian Orthodox Church on the 10th of Tir, or 19th or 20th of January during a leap year of Georgian calendar called the Timket. Timket or Epiphany is an event which celebrated with great zeal, enthusiasm, and respect to commemorate the actual baptism of Jesus Christ in River Jordan. The festivities last for a total of three days during which processions and prayers are a common sight.
Thousands of people - dressed as a sea of white, priests and deacons, bearing golden-rimmed silk robes and umbrellas, performing religious dances and songs accompanied by a slowly building tempo of traditional church drums, leading the crowd in an immensely moving procession: All of which happen on Epiphany Day (Timkat) in Ethiopia.
The event attracts thousands of pilgrims from all around the world to the ancient land of churches at Lalibela and city of Gondar during winters. Contrary to what many believe, Timket is rather a festival of color, music, and religiosity all happening at once. Priests are all dressed up in festive Ethiopian clothing and robes that are heavily embellished, while some wear crowns that are so old that almost seem like a play reenactment from the bible. They carry the holy cross and chant melancholic tunes throughout the day-time processions; however, all priests are men and while the procession continues women are only allowed to witness the event from sidelines.
