Abimbola Daniyan, the Chairman of Osun State Tourism Board, said preparations to hold the annual Osun-Osogbo Cultural Festival are in top gear.
Daniyan revealed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Wednesday in Abuja.
He said: “The preparations for Osun-Osogbo Festival are ongoing.
“We are working out ways to make it smooth, attractive and inviting; and not forgetting the cultural value and importance as usual.
“The bottom line is that preparations have started.”
NAN reports the Osun-Osgogbo festival is celebrated yearly in the month of August at the grove and it attracts thousands of Osun worshippers, spectators and tourists from all walk of life.
The Osun-Osogbo Grove is among the last of the sacred forests which adjoined the edges of most Yoruba cities before urbanisation sets in.
In recognition of its global significance and its cultural value, the Sacred Grove was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2005.
Daniyan said: “For the people of Osogboland, August is a month of celebration, traditional cleansing of the city and cultural reunion of the people with their ancestors and founders of the Osogbo Kingdom.
“Therefore, we are preparing to receive both local and international visitors as usual.”
NAN also reports that the Osun-Osogbo Festival is a two-week-long programme.
It starts with the traditional cleansing of the town called “Iwopopo”, which is followed in three days by the lighting of the over 500-year-old 16-point lamp called “Ina Olojumerindinlogun”.
NAN.