Happy Hanukkah! Mumbai’s Jewish community reignites festive fervour with food and rituals

Like with many other festival celebrations, this Hanukkah is going to be different for the Jewish community in the city. They are able to enjoy and observe rituals of the ‘winter festival of lights' with their family and friends after a gap of nearly two Covid-impacted years. Herzl Simon, a member from the community, says happily, "Even the synagogues in the city will be actively celebrating the festivals this time. It is good that things are coming back to normal."

Every year around this time, the city is engulfed in festive cheer and the chill in the air lately is only adding to the joyful feeling. Over the years, while Christmas, the festival celebrated by Catholics, has become a multi-cultural event, Hanukkah remains relatively intimate and less known.

Simon, who has been a volunteer with various Jewish cultural organisations in the city and India, explains, "We are a microscopic community. In India, there are approximately around 5,000 Jews and about 3,000 of them are in Mumbai and that is why it is not known outside of the community."

Celebrations in 2021
Simon, who resides in Thane, says the community celebrated the start of the eight-day festival on November 28 this year with an annual gesture. "Candles were lit near the Gateway of India to pay respects to the Jews who were martyred in the 26/11 attacks in the city." They have been following this tradition ever since the chilling tragedy took place in 2008.

While Simon believes that the spirit has returned, Joel Pugawkar, another Thanekar, says it hasn't made much of a difference for his family, as far as celebrations go. "It is a festival we celebrate with our closest family members and not in the synagogue like others such as Rosh Hashannah and Purim," he explains.

The Hanukkah menorah has nine branches, which are lit every day, with the family or people in the community, for eight days, while singing the Hanukkah prayers. Photo: Joel Pugawkar

What is Hanukkah?
Pugawker has been a chazzan - a Jewish leader, who leads people in prayer at the synagogue - in the city. Explaining the rituals and symbols connected with the festival, he says, "Hannukah is the Jewish Festival of Lights. When our temple was destroyed, a lamp that had olive oil which could only last for 24 hours, lasted for eight whole days and that is known as the Hannukah miracle."

The Hanukkah menorah has nine branches (one on top and eight at the bottom) which are lit every day, with the family or people in the community, for eight days, while singing the Hanukkah prayers. The shamash, which is placed on the top, is used as the helper to light all the other candles till the last day. "While the candles are lit after sunset, on Sabbath (Friday), it is lit just before the Sabbath candle," adds Pugawkar.

Over the years, there has been a change in the way people light the menorah, says Simon. "Traditionally, people light oil lamps, but more recently candles are being used. The prayers are recited in Hebrew every day during the festival," he adds.

No festival is complete without food and so after the candles are lit, people feast on kubaneh (a traditional dish made from bread and jam). Pugawkar's mother used to whip up a custard sweet and chicken curry too. While they may not be celebrating as elaborately now, memories from the past years will fuel their festivities this year, which although simpler are still special.

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