BENGALURU: Bengaluru can add one more feather to its cosmopolitan cap, with one more new festival celebrated in the city. Hanukkah, the Jewish festival of lights, was celebrated in the city for the first time as Jews from different corners of the world came together in Shangri-La Hotel on December 11. This eight-day festival will be observed till December 18.Luciano, an Argentinian Jew, came to the city on Sunday after purchasing Hanukkah candles from Sri Lanka. “The idea of the festival here is to gather people and seek blessing,” says Luciano. “I grew up in a Jewish tradition in Argentina,” he adds.
The Jewish population in Bengaluru is comparatively lesser, when compared to other Indian metros. So for the celebration of Hanukkah, non-Jews participated in the first day of the fest and lighting of the Hanukkah candles in a nine-branched menorah.Hanukkah, which means inauguration, also coincided with the introduction of new consulate general of Israel in Bengaluru, Dana Kursh.“These eight days a candle will be lit in all Jewish homes to symbolise the triumph of light over darkness, just like Diwali,” says Dana. Hanukkah falls between Diwali and Christmas from the 25 day of Kislev (in December).
The tradition in entirety was followed, including that of a speech by the Rabbi, who remembered the 2008 Mumbai terrorist attack, where one Rabbi was killed in the attack, which too occurred during the Hanukkah period. “May the light that is lit every night defend us from darkness and terrorism,” says the Rabbi.
A traditional Hanukkah song was sung and a toast was raised to welcome 2018. “In 2018, we are going to complete 25 years of diplomatic relationship between India and Israel,” says Dana. The festive celebration had many guests including R V Deshpande, state minister of large and small industries. Authetic Hanukkah cuisines such as cauliflower latkes and sweet potato kugal were served.“For eight days candles will be lit to celebrate the miracle of oil that was to last a day but was burning for full eight days,” shares Dana.
The Jewish Holiday
Hanukkah which means “dedication” and “inauguration” is an eight-day festival of lights, celebrating two miracles. The first miracle is the victory of Maccabees over the Greek army who occupied the holy land. The second miracle is the lighting of a Menorah that burned for eight days and eight nights on oil that was only supposed to last one night.
About this fest
Food
Dana, the consul general of Israel in Bengaluru started the introduction of the fest with food and that is because it is customary during Hanukkah to serve fried foods, including Latkas, a fried potato pancake.
Dreidel
A toy was also demonstrated in Bengaluru Hanukkah celebration. The “Dreidel” is a wooden top traditionally played by children. There is a Hebrew letter printed on each of the four sides of the Dreidel, and depending on where it lands, the spinner wins a prize or wins nothing.
Menorah
It’s a traditional nine-candle holder that represents the eight nights the original Menorah burned. The ninth candle is called the Shamash (meaning helper) and is used to light the other eight candles. The candles are added onto the Menorah from right to left but they are lit from left to right. This is because the candles must be lit from “newest” to “oldest” by the Shamash. They are also lit one night at a time.