Purim Festival

Month : February/March
Place : All over the world
Famous For : Remembrance Festival
Attractions : Listeningng & reading of the Book of Esther, Charity, Sending Food Parcels, Festive Meals, Drinking Wine, Wearing of Masks & Costumes

Purim is a Jewish festival celebrated annually according to the Hebrew calendar on 14th day of the Hebrew month of Adar. This day is observed to commemorate the victory of Jews over their enemies. The festival is celebrated every year during the month of February or March. Purim is actually the celebration of Jewish deliverance as told in the Book of Esther. After the destruction of the Kingdom of Judah, the Jews were taken into the seventy-year Babylonian captivity. When ancient Persia took control, Haman, royal vizier to King Ahasuerus, planned to kill the Jews, but his plans were foiled by Esther and Mordecai.

Major Attractions

The celebrations during Purim festival include listening to the reading of the Book of Esther in synagogue, giving charity to the poor, sending food parcels and eating a festive meal. Other customs include drinking wine, wearing of masks and costumes, and public celebration. Purim begins at sundown on the previous secular day. On Purim, triangular pastries called Hamantaschen ("Haman's pockets") or Oznei Haman ("Haman's ears") are served. A sweet cookie dough is rolled out, cut into circles, and traditionally filled with a sweet poppy seed or prune filling, then wrapped up into a triangular shape with the filling either hidden or showing. The Fast of Esther, observed before Purim, on the 13th of Adar, is an original part of the Purim celebration, referred to in Esther 9:31-32. The fast of the 13th is still commonly observed; but when that date falls on Sabbath, the fast is pushed forward to the preceding Thursday, Friday being needed to prepare for Sabbath and the following Purim festival.