Hindu, Jewish community to celebrate Diwali, Chanukah together in Chicago

Chicago: The Hindu and the Jewish community are set to organise a joint celebration of Diwali and Chanukah as the "Festival of Lights" in the Chicago city on November 18. Both the festivals have different historical contexts but signify the same essence.

The Consul General of both India and Israel will attend the event, which will mark as a symbol of love and tolerance, mutual respect and brotherhood.

The celebration will also mark as a tribute to the spirit of Swami Vivekananda's belief in respect for and understanding of other religions.

Chanukah commemorates the Jewish uprising against the Greek-Syrian kingdom, which tried to force its culture on Jews and desecrated the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem. Despite all odds, Jews rededicated the temple. They found only enough oil to light the temple for one day, but the light miraculously lasted eight days. Since then, the festival is observed for eight nights and days in the month of November or December by lighting the candles of a candelabrum.

Similarly, Hindu festival Diwali is celebrated to mark the triumph of good over evil and light over darkness. During the celebration, temples, homes, shops and office buildings are brightly illuminated.