Jews and Hindus Celebrate Festivals of Light

The metropolitan Detroit area’s Jewish and Hindu communities joined together for their first celebration of Chanukah and Diwali at the Bharatiya Temple in Troy. Sponsored by the Jewish Community Relations Council/AJC and the Hindu American Foundation, “Finding Common Ground through the Festivals of Light: A Chanukah & Diwali Celebration,” included a night of learning about the unique practices and traditions of the Jewish and Hindu religions. Participants enjoyed latkes and sufganiyot and samosas and traditional Indian sweets, representing the respective holidays, and lit the Chanukah menorah and Diwali diyas, the traditional ritual objects used during these holidays. During the program, JCRC/AJC Executive Director David Kurzmann and HAF Leadership Council member Frank Stella led a discussion about the holidays and also both communities approaches to political advocacy, The conversation was moderated by HAF board member Padma Kuppa. Rabbi Aura Ahuvia of Congregation Shir Tikvah and Nasy Sankagiri of the Bharatiya Temple led participants in song, a highlight of this festive evening.