Skip to main content

Osogbo set for Osun festival grand finale

Osun Osogbo Festival

Osun Osogbo Festival

Osogbo, the Osun capital is agog for the grand finale of the annual Osun Osogbo festival.

NAN correspondent monitoring events in Osogbo reports on Friday that various socio- economic and traditional activities are at their peak to usher in a hitch-free festival recognised by UNESCO.

Decorations adorn the length and breadth of the Osun-Osogbo grove with traditional worshipers offering prayers for a successful and hitch-free festival.

Several tourists, who had thronged the ancient town to witness the annual festival, were seen at the stream and within the grove taking pictures in front and beside the statues and structures, symbolic of the Osun goddess.

Others were seen filling plastic bottles and kegs with water from the Osun stream.

Security personnel, comprising of officers and men of the Police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, the Federal Road Safety Commission were also present to ensure security at the event.

They were complemented by members of the Product People’s Congress who were stationed at strategic locations to provide security during the festival.

Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs) were also stationed at the entrance and inside the Osun-Osogbo grove to provide additional and back up security to security officers on ground.

Traders and residents of Osogbo took advantage of the festival to display their wares while food vendors, souvenir sellers, photographers among others, made brisk business.

Officers of the FRSC were stationed at street junction in the town controlling traffic to ensure smooth vehicular movement.

According to history, the Osun festival, started over 700 years ago when a group of settlers, led by Olutimehin, a renowned hunter, settled at the bank of the river to escape famine in his former dwelling place.

Osun, the water goddess, was said to have appeared to Olutimehin and requested him and his group to move up to higher ground to the present location of Osogbo.

Osun revealed herself as the goddess of the grove and of the river and pledged to protect the group as well as make women fruitful on the ground that they would offer her annual sacrifice to her in return.

The group agreed and vowed to sacrifice annually to the goddess if she would honour her vows.

Historians believe that the annual sacrifice had gone beyond offering sacrifices to a river goddess; it has become an international celebration of cultural events attracting thousands of people from all over the world.

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Houthis Claim Attack on Central Israel in Response to Gaza ‘Massacres’

The ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas has taken a concerning regional turn as the Houthi rebels in Yemen claimed responsibility for an attack on central Israel. The group announced this as part of their escalating response to what they describe as "massacres" in Gaza amid the Israeli military’s operations in the strip. Details of the Attack The Houthis, a Shiite militant group with ties to Iran, declared that they launched missile and drone strikes targeting Israel. While the exact impact of these attacks remains unclear, reports suggest that Israel’s defense systems intercepted several threats over its airspace. This marks a significant escalation as the Houthis widen their involvement in the conflict beyond their typical operations within Yemen and neighboring Saudi Arabia. The Houthis’ Justification In their statement, the Houthis framed the attack as retaliation for Israel’s military actions in Gaza, which they characterized as indiscriminate bombings resultin...
Post a Comment
Read more

Fall of Assad is a Blow to Russia's Prestige

The potential fall of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, a long-standing ally of Russia, would mark a turning point in Moscow’s global influence, particularly in the Middle East. Steve Rosenberg’s analysis underscores the profound implications for Russia, which has invested heavily—both militarily and politically—in ensuring Assad’s survival over the past decade. This article delves into why Assad’s downfall would strike at the core of Russian prestige and what it could mean for the broader geopolitical landscape. Russia's Strategic Commitment to Syria Since the outbreak of the Syrian civil war in 2011, Russia has been a staunch supporter of Assad's regime. In 2015, Moscow launched a military intervention that proved decisive in stabilizing Assad’s hold on power. This intervention solidified Russia's role as a key power broker in the Middle East and demonstrated its willingness to project military power far beyond its borders. Syria is not just an ally for Russia; it is a...
Post a Comment
Read more

Fire: UniJos Senate convenes emergency meeting on Monday

Fire at the University of Jos Library University of Jos is to convene an emergency senate meeting on Monday to review the level of damage done to the institution by the Saturday night inferno. The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Sebastian Maimako, disclosed this on Sunday after inspecting areas affected by the incident. The fire, which lasted for more than six hours, destroyed the Library Complex that equally houses the faculties of management and social sciences. The fire also destroyed examination scripts, books and very crucial materials. Consequently, the vice-chancellor said “the Senate will meet tomorrow (Monday) to take a decision about the unmarked examination scripts that were burnt.” On the cause of the inferno, Maimako said investigation had commenced, adding that “nothing has been confirmed yet. We are still investigating.” The vice chancellor said the school was already working with federal authorities toward establishing a main fire station since the mini fire station in t...
Post a Comment
Read more