Hanukkah Celebrations at Mumbai's Gateway of India

The Jewish festival of Hanukkah was joyfully celebrated at the iconic Gateway of India in Mumbai. The event featured the lighting of the fifth candle on the Hanukkah menorah, drawing a large crowd from the Jewish community who gathered with friends and family.

Special Guests and Historical Reflections

The celebration was graced by the presence of Kobbi Shoshani, the Consul General of Israel to Midwest India, Mumbai. In his address, Shoshani highlighted the historical significance of Hanukkah, marking the Jewish victory over Greek forces more than 2,000 years ago. He drew parallels between Jewish and Indian histories, noting the shared experiences of temple destruction and resilience.

Shared Cultural Roots

Shoshani emphasized the deep connection between Jewish and Indian people, rooted in their shared history of overcoming adversity and maintaining cultural traditions. He remarked, "Indians have had thousands of temples destroyed during your time. We had one temple, which is a very important temple, and it was destroyed two times, and one time it was rebuilt, and we are celebrating the victory against the Greeks more than two thousand years ago."

Hanukkah and Christmas Coincide

This year, Hanukkah began on the same day as Christmas, a rare occurrence that last happened in 2005. The festival, known as the "festival of lights," will continue through January 2, 2025. The menorah, central to the celebration, holds nine flames, with one additional flame lit each night until all are kindled by the eighth night.