Jewish holiday Sukkot begins

JERUSALEM, Sept. 30 (UPI) -- Markets in Israel bustled over the weekend as people gathered materials to prepare for the Jewish holiday Sukkot.

Sunday evening at sundown marked the start of Sukkot, the Jewish Feast of Tabernacle celebrating the fall harvest and commemorating the desert wandering of Jews during the Exodus.

Sukkot, which starts immediately after the solemn month of Elul and the High Holidays, is the holiday on which Jews are encouraged to "be wholly happy," the Israeli broadcaster Arutz Sheva said.

The celebrations take place in sukkah, small ceremonial huts or booths that are constructed outside of homes.