Israelis Embrace Purim Carnival 2013 ( Photos )

The festival commemorates the salvation of the Jewish people in ancient Persia from the 5th century BC vizier Haman's plot 'to destroy, kill and annihilate all the Jews, young and old, infants and women, in a single day'. It was celebrated in colourful style this weekend.

While people across China celebrated the end of this year's Spring Festival yesterday with the Lantern Festival, people in Israel also celebrated their own holiday of Purim.

Famous for Israel's largest annual Purim parade, the city of Holon has once again become the center of the carnival.



Known as "Adloyada", the parade this year features over 4,500 participants. Large exhibits and moving floats, hundreds of artists, dancers and acrobats began to march at noon.

Many have turned out in costume to be part of the celebrations.

"I'm very excited about it. Everyone is getting dressed very funny, and we're in a good mood, and even our dogs with accessories. It's very nice over here at Holon in Israel."

The festivities in Holon have drawn people from across the country.

Jacob Friedman drove an hour and a half from the city of Beersheba to show his children the parade.

"They are very happy. They are excited. They are waiting for the celebration to come here. It's our holiday. Every year we come to watch this. It's very interesting."

With the theme "Toy Symphony", this year's parade included a toy train containing 20,000 flowers and a gigantic baroque music box, from which burst out dancers and musicians to further enliven the celebrations.

Many of the children who take part in the event have dressed up as their favorite fairy tale figures.

"Alice in Wonderland. It's beautiful, and it's cute, sweet, I love it."

While many of the celebrations for Purim have been held on Sunday, Jerusalem and a few other cities are celebrating the holiday this Monday.

Purim celebrates the salvation of the Jews in Persia.

While many Hebrew ceremonies are considered solemn, Purim is a carnival-like holiday where religious precepts allow for drunkeness.

Source : Cri

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