Yom Kippur with Sarah Aunty-A rare Ocassion

On the evening of 27th Sep 2009( 9th Tishri) the Cochin Jews observed the day of Atonement -“Yom Kippur”, wearing white clothes and carrying their bags of books to be read in the time of Yom Kippur service and they walked through the Jew street, this evening was a rare scenery to me. Today when I went to Sarah Auntie’s house there she was reciting the prayer I wished her and entered the home.
There Thaha was setting the special oil lamp known as “Tamid” (which means “always” as told by Sarah Aunty), which is lit in this festival.

he gave me a brief explanation about the setting up of the Tamid lamp this consists of a glass cup with “Kundiris” (A brass stand for the cotton thread) at the bottom and half water and then half Coconut oil, the cotton thread which has a "Darbha pullu" (A grass variety used by Hindus for their religious rituals) inside it for reinforcement even one more outside is attached to the kundiris, where the extra grass placed is lighted first.

Sarah Aunty explained many stories and traditions followed by them and she had her food and got ready for the Yom Kippur fasting after she wore white clothes and lit the Menorah and then the Talmeed lamp.
She took her books and went to the synagogue with the help of her maid Seli Chechi. Other members of the community also gathered in the synagogue, there were the members from the Ernakulum Jewish community and some foreigners.
I and Thaha went to a heritage Café to have tea, I ordered Masala tea which is my favourite, and after having it we went back to click more pictures of the synagogue.

The synagogue was also lighted with a candle and this auspicious evening helped me to know more about the Cochin Jews and their traditions.