Osogbo went agog as it Celebrate 2016 Osun Osogbo Festival Grand Finale
Osogbo, the capital of the State of Osun, was agog today, Friday 19th August for the grand finale of the annual Osun Osogbo festival.
Decorations adorned the length and breadth of the Osun-Osogbo grove, surrounded by traditionalists offering prayers.
Tourists were seen at the stream and within the grove, taking pictures in front and beside statues and structures, symbolising the Osun goddess.
The shrine declared as UNESCO heritage, is also filled with people filling their plastic bottles and kegs with water from the Osun stream.
Traders and residents of Osogbo equally took advantage of the festival to display their wares while food vendors, souvenir sellers, photographers among others made brisk business.
History has it that Osun festival started over 700 years ago when a group of settlers, led by a great hunter, Olutimehin, settled at the bank of the river to escape the 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 some a bit to higher ground to the present Osogbo town.
Osun revealed herself as the goddess of the groove and of the river and pledged to protect the group as well as make women fruitful.
However, the women would have to offer the 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 has gone beyond offering sacrifices to a river goddess as it has become an international celebration of cultural events attracting thousands of people from all over the world.
Photos below….
Photos ctedit;: Wagzie
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