Description

Here is a detailed explanation of the Dishta-Gina Festival:

1. Meaning and Origin

• Name: “Dishta” means “five” in the Ari language, and “Gina” means “game/dance”. When read together, it gives the meaning of “the game of the five (fingers)” or a dance of unity.
• Background: The festival is mainly related to the harvest (harvest festival). It is a time when farmers thank the Creator when they see the fruits of their labor.

2. Celebration and Ceremony

• Season: The festival is celebrated according to the harvest season in each region, but it is usually celebrated with great enthusiasm between October and December.
• Clothing: Young people and adults wear brightly colored traditional clothes. Women in particular wear colorful and embroidered dresses (koisha).
• Dance: The Dishta-Gina dance is unique. It is a dance in which people stand in a circle, holding hands or shoulder to shoulder, swaying back and forth. This dance shows the unity and strength of the nation.

3. Social and Cultural Benefits

• A platform for reconciliation and peace: People who have been in conflict during the Dishta-Gina festival forgive each other. Since the festival is considered a declaration of love and peace, it is considered shameful to hold grudges during the festival.
• Gratitude: The farmer gives thanks to the earth and the creator (Bare). It is a festival of thanksgiving for the land’s yield, the rain’s absence, and the cattle’s growth.
• Marriage: This festival is a great social occasion for young people to choose their spouses and get to know each other.

4. Food prepared during the festival

Dishta-Gina is a special occasion for the Ari people to host their guests.

• Traditional drink: Ari liquor and tela are prepared in abundance.
• Traditional food: Various dishes prepared from taro and taro, as well as feasts accompanied by meat, is served.

5. International recognition of Dishta-Gina

• After the Ari artist Tariku Gankisi presented the ethnic song and dance “Dishta-Gina” in a modern form, the festival gained great attention not only in Ethiopia but also internationally. This has contributed greatly to the revival of Ari culture and tourism.

6. Best Time to Visit

• Since the dates of the Dishta-Gina festival may vary from year to year and from district to district, it is advisable to check with the Culture and Tourism Office in Jinka for up-to-date information before you travel. It is usually celebrated between the end of October and December, when the harvest is finished.

Summary

Dishta-Gina is a symbol of victory, joy, gratitude, and unity for the Ari people. Celebrating this festival in person is a great opportunity to understand the hospitality and deep culture of the Ari people.

3-Day Dishta-Gina Itinerary

This itinerary is designed to start in Addis Ababa during the festival (usually between October and December).

Day 1: Travel to Jinka and Preparation

• Morning: Fly from Addis Ababa to Jinka (1 hour).
• Afternoon: Check into a hotel upon arrival in Jinka. Next, visit the South Omo Museum in the city to gain a general understanding of the Ari people’s culture.
• Afternoon: Visit traditional clothing shops in Jinka town. Buy traditional embroidered clothing or jewelry for the festival.
• Evening: Overnight in Jinka town.

Day 2: Festival Day (to rural villages)

• Morning (02:00): Depart from Jinka town and travel to a rural village (e.g. South Ari) where the festival is celebrated with great pomp.
• Early morning (04:00 – 06:00): Watch the opening ceremony of the festival. Watch the elders bless and open the festival.
• Afternoon (07:00 – 11:00): Participate in the great Dashta-Gina dance. Dance hand in hand with the villagers. In the meantime, taste traditional Ari foods (godere and kocho) and local drinks.
• Evening: Return to Jinka and spend the night happily.

Day 3: Market tour and return

• Morning: Visit Jinka’s large traditional market. Watch different ethnic groups come to market and buy souvenirs.
• Morning: Greet local elders and friends and travel to the airport.
• Afternoon: Return to Addis Ababa.