The Curator of the National Gallery of Art in Osun, Mr. Samuel Adekunle, has urged Osun-Osogbo festival devotees and residents in the state to celebrate the grand finale of the festival, scheduled for 8 Aug., in moderation to prevent public disturbances and violent acts.
Adekunle, made this known in an interview on Tuesday in Osogbo.
He said that the annual festival, which had gained world recognition by UNESCO as a heritage site comprising two segments, included the spiritual and tourism aspects.
According to him, the spiritual segment is where the devotees show a deep sense of religious commitment through a sacrifice to the river goddess by a young virgin lady called “Arugba”.
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“The tourism aspect is when visitors from home and abroad enjoy the beautiful sights of the grove and other cultural aspects of the festival,” he said.
Adekunle, however, said that the Osun river was now cleaner and better compared to what it was some years back. He called on security agencies to ensure the safety of all participants of the grand-finale of the festival.
The annual Osun-Osogbo Cultural festival commenced on Monday with the spiritual ‘cleansing of paths’ popularly known as ‘Iwopopo’.
The Ataoja of Osogboland, Oba Jimoh Olanipekun, and his wives, prayed for different groups, traditionalists, and devotees who paid homage during the cleansing.
