With
4,000 years of historical development, the Jewish community in India has
maintained an unbroken line of ethnic and religious tradition and displayed
a remarkable adaptability to the changing times.
There are two
main Jewish communities in India: the Malayalam speaking Jews of Kochi
(Cochin) and the Marathi speaking Ben Israeli Jews of Mumbai (Bombay).
The tour gives good insight about the Jewish community in India and includes
visit to Temples, back waters and beaches of Kerala (God's Own Country).
Day 1: Thursday: Arrival in Mumbai (Bombay): Arrive
Bombay Meet and assistance at the airport and transfer to the Pre-booked
Hotel.
Day 2: Friday: Mumbai. Morning free or
walking tour of Mumbai. Afternoon visit Tifereth Synagogue and for evening
service at Magen David Synagogue (6:30pm). Breakfast and overnight in hotel.
Day 3: Saturday : Mumbai Optional 630 am service
at Gate of Mercy Synagogue (BÕnai Israel Jews) or Juni Masji,
established in 1896.
For those who observe Shabbat:
independent morning. Full day tour for those who do not
observe Shabbat: we visit the Prince of Wales Museum which is Indo
Saracenic architecture in keeping with the Gateway, but the dome of glazed
tiles gives it a very Persian and Central Asian flavor. At the museum we
will be walk through the excellent archeological section which has a well
displayed section on the Indus Valley civilization, a sophisticated and
advanced people who inhabited the Indus Valley from 8500BC to 3500BC. In
2000 BC the main city of Mohenjo Daro was deserted and within the next 250
years the entire civilization disappeared. The museum also houses an
excellent collection or jade and silver jewelry and Indian miniature
paintings. On the way to the Hanging Gardens we will pass the Victorian
Gothic buildings of the city, stopping at the most remarkable of them all,
the Victoria Terminus built in 1878. The frontage is symmetrical with a
large central dome flanked by two wings. The dome is capped by a 4m high
statue of Progress. The booking hall with its arcades, stained glass and
glazed tiles was inspired by LondonÕs St Pancreas station. The
Hanging Gardens offer a panoramic view of the harbor and a glimpse of the
Towers of Silence, the rather unusual crematorium of the Parsi community. We
stop for pictures at the Dhobi Ghat a sight unique to Mumbai and end at Mani
Bhavan. This is a private home where Mahatma Gandhi used to stay and today
is a museum dedicated to him and his achievements. Breakfats and overnight
in hotel.
Day 4: Sunday, Mumbai: A full day
excursion south of Mumbai to the rocky outcrop, where the legend of the Bnei
Yisrael started. The story is that 7 men and 7 women survived a shipwreck in
the time of Solomon. They became oil pressers and remained in the area.
There are a few shuls there and still Jews doing oil pressing today. The
area is also considered to be the holiest shrine for the Bene Israelies of
Mumbai. This is where it is believed Saint Elijah arrived on his chariot and
the mark can be seen on the rock.
Malida ceremony-The Malida is a
ceremonial offering which the Bene Israel describe as a dish offered in the
name of God, accompanied by an invocation for the presence and blessings of
the Prophet Elijah.ÊThis ceremony is also known as the Eliyahu-ha-navi
ceremony. The ceremony includes recitation of specific Hebrew verses.ÊThe
pizmon-Eliyahu-ha-navi is first read followed by several different blessings
quoted from the Bible, the first of which begins with the Hebrew words
vayiten-lecha.ÊThe verse Hamalach Hagoel is read thrice and then the
readings conclude with Psalm 121. A minyan is not required for this ceremony
and a cantor may or may not be present to lead this ceremony. The Bene
Israel offering usually consists of a mixture of so-called beaten rice,
grated fresh coconuts, raisins, cardamom, sugar, and five different kinds of
fresh fruits.Ê All this is nicely arranged together on a large
platter. Ê Occasions for which the malida ceremony is always performed
are: before the start of the preparation for a wedding; a house warming
ceremony; in times of illness or of other difficulties or crisis; whenever
there is reason to express deep gratitude; the evening following a
circumcision; on the holiday of Tu be shvat. The actual origins of the Bene
Israel Malida ceremony however remains a mystery. (Breakfast and Packed
Lunch)
Day 5: Monday, Mumbai: Visit to ORT with
Kosher lunch. We visit two Jewish schools operated by ORT. We first go to
the Mazgaon School, which we tour and then meet with the school
administrators. Our next stop is the ORT school in Worli. Here also we get a
brief introduction to the school, and have lunch. Afterwards visit several
other synagogues, depending on the time. Breakfast and overnight in Hotel.
Day 6: Tuesday, Mumbai-Kochi ( Cochin) After
breakfats transfer to the airport for flight to Kochi. Arrive Kochi and
transfer to the hotel.
An ancient harbor town, Cochin reflects the
influence of the many foreign traders who visited the city. After check-in,
we walk in the heritage zone, which has preserved the original architecture
of the city. We visit St FrancisÕs Church and the Chinese fishing
nets, which line the mouth of Cochin harbor.
In the evening we
attend a Kathakali performance. Kathakali is a classical dance form that has
its origins in Theyyam a ritual tribal dance of north Kerala and
Kalaripayyattu the martial arts which goes back 1000 years. The dancers use
dramatic costumes and exaggerated facial make up, and to accompaniment of
drums and cymbals, use stylized movements to relate episodes from the
Mahabharat and Ramayan. Breakfats and overnight in hotel.
Day
7, Wednesday: Kochi: In the morning, we visit the Jewish
Community and the beautiful Pardesi Synagogue. This Synagogue was built by
Samuel Castiel, David Belila, Ephrahim Sala and stands on the grounds of the
Maharaja of CochinÕs residence. It is the first synagogue in India,
and one of the oldest in the world. Near the synagogue is an interesting
market selling spices, and antiques, bursting with activity and variety. We
spend time in the markets and walk to the Mattancherry Palace, which was
commissioned by the Portuguese for the raja of Kochi in exchange for trading
rights. The palace is two storeys high and is built in the traditional
Kerala style known as nalukattu (four buildings). The palace exhibits
memorabilia from the raja of KochiÕ collection, but it is best known
for its outstanding murals painted on the wooden walls. The royal bedroom
has ceilings and walls covered with forty-five 16th century paintings
illustrating the Ramayana. Late afternoon sunset cruise on the backwaters of
Kerala. Breakfast and overnight in hotel.
Day 8, Thursday:
Kochi-Munnar: Morning after breakfast drive to Munnar (about
145kms/03hrs) is a beautiful, peaceful hill station covered with unending
expanse of tea plantations, with an altitude ranging from 1600 to 1800
metres from sea level. It's beauty further enchanced by great black roads
that thrust upwards suddenly from amidst the thick vegetation and the
winding lanes of the town are filled with heavenly fragrance of fresh tea
wafting out of the innumerable tea processing plants. Check into the hotel.
Afternoon walking tour through Tea Garden. Breakfast and overnight in hotel.
Day 9, Friday: Munnar- Thekkady: Morning after
breakfast drive to Thekkady (about 105kms/03hrs), the drive to Thekkady
itself is enchanting as the road winds through rich plantations and thick
jungles. Check into the hotel. Afternoon we will do a spice walk through
various plantations. The rest of the day to relax. Breakfast and overnight
in hotel.
Day 10, Saturday: Thekkady: Early
morning and late afternoon Guided Visits: Periyar Wild
Life Sanctuary is one of the India's major sanctuaries, with elephant,
monkeys and wild boar in abundance, as well as some other elusive but
occasionally spotted species such as tigers. The sanctuary offers a lovely
and comfortable way to see the animals, via boat rides on the man-made lake,
which the wildlife areas encircle. The greatest attractions are the herds of
wild elephants that come down to the lake to frolic on the waters, along
with their young ones. Morning or evening we can explore the sanctuary by
cruising. Breakfast and overnight in Hotel.
Day 11, Sunday:
Thekkady-Alleppey: Drive to Alleppey, interlocked with a
large number of canals and bridges. Board a houseboat from the Finishing
point boat jetty, cruise through the enchanting backwaters and lagoons.
Overnight in Houseboat. ( Breakfast/ Lunch/ Dinner).
Day 12,
Monday: Alleppey-Kovalam: Morning after breakfast disembark from the
houseboat, drive to Kovalam (about 180kms/04hrs) one of India's most
spectacular beach. Enroute visit the Napier Museum, an absolute gem of
architectural exuberance, combining traditional Kerala styles with good
doses of Chinese and Mughal influences. Visit the Padmanabhaswamy Temple
dedicated to Lord Vishnu. The temple is a sprawling complex with a
magnificent gopurams or tower. Check into the hotel. The rest of the day to
relax on beautiful beaches. O/n Hotel.
Day 13, Tuesday:
Kovalam: The boundless blue of the Arabian Sea and the unwinding mile
of fine sand washed by a surf which roars and hisses at the feet of coconuts
palms, Kovalam is a sheltered natural bay. A sheet of silvery sand curves
into an arc that is bordered on the one side by azure blue water and on the
other by a never-ending spread of green palmgroves. You can sunbathe on the
silver sands, the whole day on the beaches. O/n Hotel.
Day
14, Wednesday: Kovalam- Mumbai. Morning free to relax. Afternoon
transfer to the Trivandrum domestic airport, board flight to Mumbai.
Upon arrival, we will have the dinner from a good local restaurant, transfer
to the Mumbai International airport to board flight to London.
Day 15, early morning fly to London.
