Yom Kippur

Yom Kippur, celebrated ten days after Rosh Hashanah (the new year of Jews), is considered to be the day when God forgave the Jewish people. It is a day of penance during which Jewish people undertake fast, pray and atone for their sins. It is believed that on this auspicious day, one could avert severe decrees, already inscribed by God on Rosh Hashanah, through repentance, prayer and charity. Indian Jews live in and around Mumbai, mainly in Thane, and in Kochi. The Indian Jewish community has shrunk considerably in recent years, primarily due to emigration.