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Osun-Osogbo Festival
The annual festival at the sacred grove of Osun — goddess of the river and fertility.
📅 August 1 – 2 days🌙 Lunar calendar
✦ Why It Matters
The UNESCO World Heritage Osun-Osogbo festival at the sacred Osun grove in Nigeria draws hundreds of thousands of pilgrims of all faiths. Osun is the Yoruba Orisha of rivers, fertility, love, and healing.
✦ How It Is Observed
The Arugba (sacred virgin) carries the calabash offering to the river, prayers for fertility and healing, music and dance, oracle consultation, offerings of honey at the river bank.
Note on dates: This holiday follows a lunar or lunisolar calendar. The date shown is approximate for 2025–2026. Exact dates may vary by one or two days depending on moon sighting and regional tradition. Always confirm with your local community.