Gondar , Ethiopia ( CNN ) -- France has Lourdes , India has the Ganges . Ethiopia , meanwhile , has Gondar . Situated about 450 miles north of Addis Ababa , encapsulated by hills and tall trees , and dotted with 17th-century relics from the city 's glory days ( when it was the country 's capital ) , Gondar today can seem somewhat remote . During the religious festival of `` Timket , '' however , the city is inundated with pilgrims who come to re-enact the baptism of Jesus in the River Jordan , and take a dip in the holy waters at the historical Fasilides Bath . Nearly two thirds of Ethiopia 's 94 million population is Christian , and the majority of those belong to the Orthodox church . For them , Timket -- celebrating the Epiphany -- is among the most important occasions of the year . It 's is a two-day affair that begins with a procession of `` tabots , '' holy replicas of the Ark of the Covenant -- the sacred chests described in the Book of Exodus as carrying the stone tablets on which the 10 Commandments were written . The tabots are wrapped in cloth and placed on the heads of Ethiopian Orthodox Christian priests , who parade the streets en route to the bath . The priests , clad in ceremonial robes , are escorted by drums and by the clapping and singing of worshipers , who hold an overnight vigil until dawn . There are services the following morning which culminate in the priests blessing the waters of the historic bath , while onlookers crowd every nook surrounding the bath -- some getting a pristine view from nearby trees . When the priests are done , the mood turns jubilant , and the spectators rush to jump into the pool . `` The water is blessed in the name of the Holy Trinity ... in the name of God . The water is now sacred , and the sick shall be cured , '' explains Ezra Adis , the head priest at the local Medhanelem Church . `` That is why the young people who jump in first get excited ; it is a spiritual love , '' he adds . Read this : Ethiopia 's churches `` built by angels '' The plunge is so swift that some participants get battered in the process -- though most are unperturbed by a few scratches . `` I jumped from high above , '' boasts one man who dived into the waters from one of the nearby trees . `` I was apprehensive , '' he adds . `` The branches could give way and you could fall on the rock edge of the pool , and there was a possibility I could have lost my life , but at this moment , I am doing what I feel good about , and that possibility of death does n't scare me . '' The Timket festival dates back to the 16th century , but it was marked only in churches until the baptismal ceremonies were introduced , explains Bantalem Tadesse Tedla , a historian at the University of Gondar . The baptisms , usually held on January 19 , are celebrated differently in other parts of the country . `` There are three options for Timket , '' says Tedla . `` To be immersed , to collect water from three pipes and pour it on people , or to collect water and sprinkle it -- it depends on the availability of water . `` In Gondar , the first is implemented , because of the existence of this very important building , '' he adds , referring to the stone bath -- a UNESCO world heritage site built in 1632 for King Fasil ( Fasiledes ) . As the afternoon winds down , people begin to leave the pool and head back to the streets , but the festivities are n't quite over . Each tabot is now paraded back to its respective church with crowds of onlookers eager to get one last look at them . Back at the churches , it 's a different , quieter scene . Congregants fill the church grounds to listen in on a final service , and after a closing prayer it 's time to send the tabot back inside the church to its resting place . The locals will eventually return to their homes for a special feast , but in the meantime , the celebrations on the streets of Gondar continue -- a chance for orthodox Christians to celebrate and come together for one of the most sacred and festive days of the year . Read more : Mysterious stone kingdom of Great Zimbabwe . Read more : Cameroon : The next tourism hotspot ?
It is an Ethiopian holy festival that re - celebrates the baptism of Jesus . Historical bath is filled with holy water for the festival , people jump in . Thousands of people flock to Gondar for the event . Priests carry parts of the Ark of the Covenant .