Passover
festival Jewish Synagogue Mattancherry, Kochi. Kerala |
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| You are here now »» Kerala Tourism home »»Festival / Feast / Utsavam »» Passover festival Passover festival Jewish Synagogue Mattancherry, Kochi.
Passover festival It is believed that the Jews of Kerala migrated to this place following the destruction of the second temple of Jerusalem in 72 AD. They settled mainly in and around Mattancherry in Kochi. This community celebrates the Passover Festival on first April to commemorate the liberation of the Jews from Egyptian slavery. The Pentecost festival which follows the Passover, and the Feast of the Tabernacles are also observed with much faith. The New Year celebration which falls in September/October and Hanukka, the ''festival of lights', are other festivals celebrated by the Jewish community in Kerala. The Jewish Synagogue at Mattancherry, was built in 1568 AD. The synagogue still has the sacred scrolls of the Old Testament and the copper plates which recorded the grants of privilege bequeathed by the Kochi rulers to the immigrants. The exquisite hand-painted blue Chinese tiles adorning the floors of the synagogue are without parallel. Not one of the nearly two hundred year old tiles resembles another. Several finely wrought gold and silver crowns gifted to the synagogue by various patrons are also on display here. Chennamangalam was one of the chief Jewish centres settlement in Kerala. The remains of an Oriental Jewish Synagogue is still there. In its vicinity lie the ruins of the Vypeenkotta Seminary built by the Portuguese (16th century) and an ancient Syrian Catholic Church dating from the13th century. Getting there: Nearest railway station: Ernakulam, about 10 km. Nearest airport: Cochin International Airport, about 30 km.
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