[Avodah] Unusual Chanukah Minhag?

[Simon Wanderer]

I davened maariv at a satmar shul tonightand saw something I never have before. 

At hadlakas neiros, a crowd gathered, holding towels, around the madlik and the menorah. As he is about to start lighting, everyone throws the towels at him and the menorah.

It certainly took me by surprise- let's just say it's not the sort of thing that happens in the yekkish shul I grew up in! I was going to use the word bizarre in the subject line until I thought what klapping hoshanos must look like to the initiated...

1- Is anyone familiar with this minhag and who it is practiced by?
2- Do any written sources discuss?
3- What's the meaning? (My only guess is it symbolises overcoming adversity to light the menorah?)


KT
-- SW
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