Ashenda

Ashenda is an annual festival celebrating women and girls. The festival takes place in the month of August. Tigrayan women living throughout the world try to make it to Mekelle or in their respective village where the Ashenda festival takes place. In Amhara, Ashenda/Ashendeye is celebrated by virgin girls in the church and in a neighborhood not far away from home singing Ashenda songs. In Tigray, Ashenda has evolved into a large public celebration often held in stadiums and major city squares, where concerts, live music, and organized cultural performances draw thousands of participants. Regional institutions and local authorities frequently sponsor these events, providing stages, sound systems, and security, which has helped shape Ashenda into a modern, state-sponsored cultural festival. Its contemporary expression in Tigray is primarily civic and cultural, centered on public gatherings, music, and community celebration. Only women participate in the celebration. The festival lasts for days.