The month of Cheshvan

Cheshvan (also called Marcheshvan) is the eighth month of the ecclesiastical year and the second month of the civil year in the Jewish calendar, usually occurring in October-November. The name Cheshvan derives from the Babylonian word  Marcheshvan, while its original Hebrew name was Bul, meaning "rain" or "drip," reflecting its association with the rainy season in Israel. The prefix  "Mar" was later interpreted as "bitter" because Cheshvan is unique for having no holidays or festivals, making it a month of reflection and solemnity following the busy holiday month of Tishrei. It is also called "Chodesh Bul" referring to its connection to the rainy season and agricultural significance.

 Religiously and biblically, Cheshvan holds significance as the month during which the Great Flood began (17th of Cheshvan) according to Jewish tradition, an event described in Genesis 6-8. Noah and his family endured the flood, and it marked divine judgment on a wicked generation. Cheshvan is also linked to the completion of Solomon's First Temple, although its dedication was delayed until Tishrei. Additionally, the rainy season (Yoreh) begins during Cheshvan, critical for sustaining life and crops in Israel. The month is also seen symbolically as a time of judgment and grace, and some traditions view it as a preparatory period for the Messiah and future redemption.

 Traditional customs during Cheshvan include several fasts, most notably the Fast of Behab, consisting of fasts on the Monday, Thursday, and subsequent Monday after the festivals of Sukkot and Passover, observed mainly by Ashkenazi communities. On the 27th of Cheshvan, some observe a minor fast called Yom Kippur Katan ("small Yom Kippur"), with prayers and introspection. On the 7th of Cheshvan, prayers for rain are added to the daily Amidah (Shmoneh Esreh) to invoke a fruitful rainy season. Despite no major holidays, Cheshvan is a time of spiritual reflection, fasting, and preparation with hopes for growth and renewal.

 Cheshvan is a month of sober reflection tied to important biblical events and natural cycles, marked by customs of fasting and prayer, and is symbolically connected to themes of judgment, grace, and hope for future redemption.

 

Happy Diwali

Diwali – The Festival of Lights

For those who are not from India, Diwali (or Deepavali) is one of India’s most beloved festivals — a celebration that brings together light, renewal, and hope. The word Deepavali means “a row of lamps.” Across India and beyond, families light small clay lamps, called diyas, and place them in their homes, doorways, and streets. The glow of these lamps symbolizes the triumph of light over darkness, and good over evil.

The stories behind Diwali vary from region to region. In northern India, it marks the homecoming of Lord Rama after fourteen years of exile, when the people of Ayodhya lit lamps to welcome him. In western India, it celebrates the goddess Lakshmi, who brings prosperity and well-being. In the south, it commemorates the victory of Lord Krishna over the tyrant Narakasura. Beyond these tales, Diwali carries a universal message — that every human heart holds a lamp, and it is meant to shine.

Diwali also marks a new beginning. Many people clean and decorate their homes, exchange sweets, and offer prayers for abundance and harmony. It coincides with the end of the harvest season, making it both a spiritual and seasonal renewal.

At its heart, Diwali is about kindling inner light — compassion, wisdom, and clarity — and sharing it with others. The festival reminds us that even a small flame can dispel great darkness.

Seasonal and Scientific Dimensions of Diwali

Diwali usually falls between mid-October and mid-November — the time when days begin to shorten, the air cools, and winter approaches in the Indian subcontinent. In traditional calendars, this period leads toward the winter solstice, when the sun appears at its southernmost point before turning northward again. It is nature’s reminder of a cosmic rhythm — darkness deepens before the return of light.

Lighting lamps at this time of year is therefore more than symbolic. In earlier centuries, the oil lamps helped purify and brighten homes during long evenings when sunlight was scarce. The gentle warmth and faint fragrance of sesame or mustard oil also had practical effects — reducing dampness, repelling insects, and improving air quality.

From a scientific perspective, the human body and mind are responsive to light. Exposure to warm light in darker months can lift mood, regulate sleep, and promote a sense of wellbeing — something ancient cultures understood intuitively. Thus, the lighting of diyas served not only a ritual purpose but also a biological and psychological one: keeping the community healthy, joyful, and attuned to the cycles of the earth and sun.

In this way, Diwali is both a festival of the spirit and a festival of nature — a luminous bridge between the outer and the inner worlds.

Sixth day of Sukkot

Fifth day of Sukkot

Third day of Sukkot

Third day of the Sukkot

Best time to take our guided Mattancherry Jew Town Heritage Walk. 

Sukkot Week

Yom Kippur