Ethiopia's Virgin Mary festival in Tigray cancelled over drone strike fears

A major cultural and religious festival celebrating women and the Virgin Mary in northern Ethiopia has been cancelled in Mekelle, the main city in the Tigray region, over fears it may be targeted in drone attacks.

The focal point of Ashenda festival, which traditionally draws thousands of young women dressed in their finery, was to be a mass gathering at a stadium in Mekelle on Saturday.

Tigray is still recovering from a brutal two-year civil war that ended in 2022. There are concerns the conflict might reignite with the regional authorities blaming a recent series of deadly drone strikes on federal armed forces.

The government has not responded to a BBC request for comment on the accusations.

The three-day festival of Ashenda takes places as Orthodox Christians commemorate the Virgin Mary. Its name means "the tall green grass" in Tigrinya and has grown into a wider cultural event that celebrates women.

It is eagerly anticipated by girls and young women in Tigray and other parts of northern Ethiopia.

They dress up, braid their hair in a special way and are free to dance and play together outside, something which is traditionally frowned upon at other times of the year.

The latest drone strike hit Mekelle on Thursday, injuring 13 civilians and damaging homes, Tigray's communications affairs bureau said.