CRI听力:Jews Celebrate Most Joyful Festival of Purim

Over 5-thousand performers have taken part in the annual 'Adloyada' parade in Holon to celebrate the Jewish festival of Purim, as well as 75th anniversary of the establishment of the city itself.

The parade, including floats, artists, dancers and acrobats took to the street at noon on Thursday, surrounded by thousands of people wearing colorful costumes.

"Purim is a very special holiday from all the holidays we have. The 'Adloyada' is very happy. You see things you don't see all the year, so everyone is excited. After they finish here, they'll take all the dolls and put them in a library for several days. We'll go to visit there as well."

The event in Holon draws families from across Israel to watch the annual performance.

"They (the performers) come to the children. They speak with them. So the children are very enjoying."

"The 'Adloyada' here is the best. It was great. It was fun, very colorful. This is the great holiday for children."

Purim is marked every year to commemorate the salvation of the Jews in Persia.

While most Hebrew ceremonies such as Yom Kippur and Shabbat are traditionally more solemn events, Purim is the opposite.

Dubbed by some as the 'Jewish Halloween," Purim is a carnival-like holiday where religious precepts allow for people to go out and get drunk.

People are also encouraged to dress up in costumes.

That element of the festival has sparked controversy in recent years.

Part of the Purim tradition allows for people to dress up as different races, stirring up anger among some against Jewish communities, particularly in a racially-charged United States.

But Israel these days, especially in Holon, which is known as 'the children's city' in Israel, Purim is mainly for the kids.

"She (my daughter) chose it because she loves the television show 'Teletubbies', she watches it every day, and she loves Laa Laa, so we ordered it online."

"He (the kid) likes it. It's a vacation. He doesn't go to the kindergarten. He spends with his brothers and friends and family so it's nice, and every day he picks up a new costume."

While many of the celebrations for Purim in Israel have been held on Thursday, Jerusalem and a few other cities in the country are celebrating the holiday this Friday.

For CRI, I'm Yin Xiuqi.