Jerusalem, March 2 A planned joint Holi-Purim celebration at the Jaffa Port in Israel has been cancelled due to escalating tensions in the region.
The event was scheduled to take place on Wednesday.
"The Jaffa Port (authorities) have informed us that, due to the situation and the Home Front Command’s directives, they are cancelling the planned Purim-Holi events for this week," said Rafi Bhonker, Chairman of the Indian Jewish Heritage Centre (IJHC), in a written communication to community members.
The event was being organised by the IJHC and the Cochin Jewish Heritage Centre in collaboration with the Indian Embassy in Israel.
The celebrations were intended to highlight the cultural similarities between the Hindu festival of Holi and the Jewish festival of Purim, which fall around the same time of the year – a parallel that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had noted earlier during his address to the Israeli Parliament (Knesset).
The event was also to showcase the remarkable legacy of Jam Sahib Digvijaysinhji Ranjitsinhji Jadeja, the Maharaja of Jamnagar, who sheltered over 1,000 Polish orphans, including Jewish children, during World War II.
Last year, the Indian Jewish community unveiled a statue of the Maharaja to honour his humanitarian contribution.
Artifacts showcasing the rich history of the four Indian Jewish communities – Bene Israel, the Cochinis, the Baghdadis, and the Bnei Menashe – were also to be displayed during the celebrations.
These included rare ketubot (marriage contracts) from the Cochin Jewish community, reflecting centuries of intricate artistry, faith, and cultural continuity.
Holi, also known as the ‘festival of colours’, and the Jewish festival of Purim, when people wear colourful costumes, share many commonalities.
Both festivals mark the victory of good over evil, celebrate the arrival of spring and the end of winter, and are celebrated outdoors where communities gather to dance, sing, eat, and have fun in a spirit of togetherness.
Students at the Hebrew University had also planned a joint celebration of the festivals, but decided to defer it due to the situation.