Christmas 2023: Thousands queue up at 121-year-old iconic Jewish bakery shop in Kolkata
Dec 25, 2023
Kolkata (West Bengal) [India], December 25 : At least 1,000 people queued up to buy Christmas cakes at the 121-year-old iconic Jewish bakery shop 'Nahoum & Sons' in New Market Kolkata on Monday.
One of the most popular places in Kolkata for Christmas cakes, Nahoum & Sons, was established in 1902 in Hoggs Market (today called New Market). This iconic bakery in Kolkata is also one of the oldest operating Jewish bakeries in the country. This bakery, which is a family-run business, has no other branches. 
Nahum is famous for its fruit cakes, brownies and macarons. They are also known for their Christmas special, the Rich Fruit Cake. It is one of their oldest standing items. 
Nahoums is Kolkata's only Jewish bakery that remains, as do its original teakwood and glass display cases, which give this bakery its old-world charm. Adding charm to the bakery is the old-school decor, with vintage tones throughout. The store's exterior walls are made of glass, which displays the bakery's delicacies to passersby.
Nahoum and Sons was founded by Nahum Israel Mordechai, a Baghdadi Jews.
Christmas, celebrated on December 25th, is a commemoration of the birth of Jesus Christ. The festivities are marked by carol singing, glow of dazzling Christmas lights, and beautifully decked-out Christmas trees.
Atanu Chatterjee, who has been working in this shop for 26 years, said, "Nahoum & Sons owner's grandfather came to Kolkata and used to sell cakes on his head. As time progressed, this shop was established."
"Celebrities from around the world, like Usha Uthup and Munmun Sen, buy from Nahoum," he added.
Another customer who had been standing in line for 20 minutes said that he had also come yesterday to buy the cakes but was unable to do so. However, he was positive that he would be able to buy it today.
"I have been standing in line 15-20 times. I came yesterday but didn't get it, so today is another try. It seems like I will get their cake today," Saurya from Tollygunge told ANI.
Meanwhile, another customer who had come from Odisha's Bhubaneswar said that he had been standing in the queue for over an hour to buy Nahoum & Sons cakes. 
"My name is Dr BN Das, and I came here to buy cakes from Bhubaneswar, Odisha. My friend told me that these cakes are made without eggs. It's been an hour since I've been standing in line to get a cake so that my family can say that I have brought something good from Kolkata," Dr BN Das told ANI. 
"The cake here is different; that's why we come here every year to buy a cake, said Ishita from Tollygunge.
