Cheers to the spirit of bonhomie
The first ever Mumbai-Jerusalem festival, hosted in the city, saw locals enjoying good music and food
It’s never wise to risk missing the life experiences that call for celebration. While this city revels in its unifying character of diverse dreams, the other one, on a plateau in the Judaean Mountains, exults in an assortment of religious testimonies, historical fables and antiquity. The confluence of such miscellany can only make way for cheerful bonhomie. On that note, the Municipality of Jerusalem, Israel, in partnership with the Consulate General of Israel in Mumbai, and Federation of India-Israel Chamber Of Commerce held the very first Jerusalem-Mumbai Festival over the last weekend.
The event was inaugurated on February 15, by Amit Deshmukh, Minister of Culture, Maharashtra, and Moshe Lion, Mayor of Jerusalem. The mayor said that the main aim of the festival was to promote fruitful cooperation among artistes and experts in fields such as cinema, music, tourism and technology. It was a vibrant day with performances by DJ Baba Guzamba, percussion artiste and ensemble leader Liron Meyuhas, and the band Gute Gute, known for blending traditional and contemporary instruments. The festival did not miss out on food being a potent viaduct across countless cultures. Chef Amninder Sandhu, a national award winner and chef at the Khar-based restaurant, Arth, collaborated with Ilan Garusi, owner of restaurant, Satya, Jerusalem, to come up with an array of contrasting flavours. Renowned Kathak dancer, Sonia Parchure, presented a fusion act titled Invincible, along with singer Hamsika Iyer and band. Ask her about the experience and Sonia says, “It was an honour for me. I was looking forward to work with Israeli performers and make them feel at home in Mumbai.”
The evening ended on high spirits with a joyous crowd asking for more.