The first day of the Jewish New Year 5786 began traditionally for Hasidic pilgrims in Uman with prayer and a prohibition on work, as Shabbat observance coincided with Rosh Hashanah celebrations on 23 September 2025.

Sounds of ram’s horn trumpets and prayers echoed through the Hasidic quarter near Rabbi Nachman’s grave from early morning, reports Suspilne. A rabbi from Israel demonstrated Torah scrolls to worshippers, though camera interviews were restricted due to Shabbat observance. Pilgrims prayed facing east, both in groups and individually.

“Today is a great holiday, excuse me. I am praying, it’s like Saturday when we cannot do anything or communicate,” pilgrim Hen told reporters near the local lake.

The lakeside location holds special significance for the “Tashlikh” ritual, explained Iryna Rybnytska, director of the charitable foundation “Historical and Cultural Center of Uman City.” She described the ceremony as “a ritual of shaking off sins” where “a large number of pilgrims will gather by the lake and will get rid of their sins.”

The observance includes wearing white clothing as symbols of purity and new beginnings. “This is the beginning of the year and it’s important to be where the Rabbi is buried. I am very happy,” said American pilgrim Irshi.

Israeli pilgrim Salek added: “We are in white because white is the color of the holiday and purity.”

Emergency services maintain round-the-clock monitoring throughout the quarter during celebrations, according to Yulia Norovkova, spokesperson for the Main Directorate of the State Emergency Service in the region. Personnel include “mobile and static posts – fire, rescue, diving post” along with specialized vehicles for traffic accident response and mobile monitoring posts for radiation and chemical situation assessment.

Law enforcement continues security operations with support from Israeli police delegation serving as communication facilitators, reported Serhiy Kovalenko, deputy head of the National Police Main Directorate in the region.

The Jewish New Year Rosh Hashanah celebrations in 2025 fall on 22 September and continue for two days. More than 35,000 pilgrims from around the world arrived in Uman for the observance, though earlier sources reported figures of 45,000 to 50,000 Jewish visitors.