Maharashtra Chanukah

Chanukha in Maharashtra, with the Chanukiah placed in the doorway as is the custom among Bombay Jews. Rashme and her son Awdud, my hindi neighboors, look on as the candles are lit. The different melodies of my new Indian/Israeli roomate and an American friend intermingle as we light the first candle together.

The Bene Israel tunes for Chanukah, like nearly every other prayer, have an ancient tonality to them, uncomlicated and low in register. A group gathered here at the JCC to light candles, reading the transliterated al hanissim prayer before sitting down and watching a beaming young mother from the community preform traditional indian folkdance. we celebrated not with jelly filled sufganiyot donuts but with kaju (chashew nut) snacks and a spicy fish red curry lunch.

Tomorrow night is our "Khai Fest", a communtiy-wide show that I have been working on with various groups for the past month . The childrens' costumes for their Chanuka Crorepati play are completed, their lines memorized; The tabla and harmonium players have been hired, The sparkling tops for the girls' Israeli dance found, the slide show set up, the souvenirs proof-read and finally printed. All that's left now is to get through the next 24 hours with out any major catastrophe...

...and not forget steps to the Bollywood dance number ;)

Chag Urim Sameach, Happy Chanukah and Happy Holidays to all my family and friends. I miss you all more than ever at this time of the year and love hearing from you. Hope that all is well with everyone. Best wishes for 2006!