“Purim in Russia” will be Chabad Lubavitch of Fountain Hills’ creative twist to this year’s community Purim celebration.

The event will feature the Arizona Balalaika Orchestra at 4 p.m. Sunday, March 12, in the Fountain Hills Learning Center, 16000 Palisades Blvd.

Rabbi Mendy Lipskier, director of Chabad Lubavitch, said participants will enjoy authentic Russian cuisine and ice lugh. In addition, the celebration will feature a Matryoshkah doll photo opportunity, silent auction, chess competition and child-friendly reading of the biblical scroll of Esther, known in Hebrew as the Megillah.

The Arizona Balalaika Orchestra began in 1980 in Tucson as a small ensemble within the University of Arizona Russian Department. Members of the non-profit community folk orchestra play native Slavic instruments and wear colorful costumes. The group has toured throughout Arizona and Mexico.

In the spirit of Purim, participants are encouraged to dress in costume and enter the competition, which will award prizes to contestants with the most innovative or funny costumes.

The event is a community-wide program, and all are welcome to join regardless of Jewish affiliation or background.

To help cover expenses, guests are requested to pay $25 per adult or $17 per child. Program sponsorship starts at $180.

Purim is celebrated annually on the 14th of the Hebrew month of Adar. It begins this year after sundown on March 11 and ends at nightfall March 12.

The holiday commemorates the salvation of the Jewish people in Ancient Persia from Haman’s plot “to destroy, kill and annihilate all the Jews, young and old, infants and women, in a single day.”

The name of the holiday, Purim, literally means “lots” for Haman determined the day of the annihilation by drawing a lottery.

It is observed by public readings of the Megillah, or Scroll of Esther, to recount the story of the Purim miracle, sending food gifts to friends, giving gifts of money to the poor and enjoying a festive Purim meal.