The Jewish community considered Passover as one of the largest festivals that is celebrated with huge pomp and glory across the world. This holy festival is marked on the 15th day of the first Hebrew month, Nisan, of the Jewish calendar. This date usually falls in months of either March or April as per the Gregorian calendar. Passover, or Pesach, commemorates the liberation of the Israelites from the slavery of the Egyptians about 3,000 years ago. Since then, the festival celebrates freedom and the start of a new life every year. The Indian Jews celebrate the festival with accurate rituals and customs. One can feel the wonderful amalgamation of Indian and Jewish traditions in Passover celebrations here. Know more about Indian Pesach celebrations in the following lines.
Passover Celebrations In India
The Jews have existed in India for more 2,000 years now. The oldest known Jewish colony in India is Bene Israel located on the Malabar Coast. History says that the Jews came to this place somewhere in the 2nd century B.C. However, their ship was destroyed at Konkan on the Malabar Coast. Luckily, some seven men and women survived the destruction and hence, started the establishment of the community in India. Till date, a memorial is known to have been standing in the memory of the people were lost their lives in the sea.
The second group of Jews is known as Cochin Jews. They are believed to have landed in India after the Roman destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D. Eventually in the later centuries, Iraqi and European Jews came to India. Until recently, the Bene Israel and Cochini Jews were not known to the Western World. It was only when they started making exodus from India to Israel and the United Sates that the world got familiar with them. Today, one can find Indian Jews settled in Los Angeles and New York.
However, the customs and traditions followed by Indian Jews are similar to Hindus both temperamentally and linguistically. Even the delicacies prepared are a blend of Indo-Jewish flavors. Unlike the chopped liver, potato pancakes, brisket of beef and matzo ball soup found in a Jewish home, the food is typically different in India. For Passover, the Indian Jews prepare molagachi (mahogany chicken with black pepper), ellegal (spice-rubbed fish in cool herb salsa), masalachi (mutton braised with garlic and coriander) and appam (coconut crepes with date sauce).
They strictly follow the Sabbath, its customs and the kashrut (kosher laws). The men put on the mondoo (the Malabari sarong) while the women dress up in flowing silk saris and sparkling jewelry. Soft songs of exodus are hummed to the tunes of Indian melodies while women engross themselves in preparing the Seder platter. Six ritual foods, namely, lamb bone shank ad roasted eggs, romaine lettuce, celery, date jam with walnuts, lime juice, and matzo are neatly arranged on the plate. Since Indian Jews are fond of rice, the innumerable delicacies definitely include rice right from meat pilafs and casseroles to puddings, muffins and cakes.
