Rathasapthami Festival



Photo from ikolam.com

Last week, many Asian countries celebrated the beginning of Spring with Chinese New Year. In South India, Rathasapthami marks the end of winter. During this festival the sun god is believed to ride on a chariot from the southeast to the northeast causing the days to get warmer.

Hindus celebrate this festival with special puddings as well as special chalk drawings of the sun chariot in front of their doors. Bathing rituals, prayers and offerings to the sun god are thought to bring blessings in the coming year.

Please pray for Hindus in Bangalore today who will participate in this festival. Ask God to help them to turn from worshipping creation to worshipping the Creator. May they know the glory and light found in Jesus.





Beating Retreat

Picture from TheHindu.com

In 16th century England, the Beating Retreat was used to recall patrolling units to their castles. In India it is a ceremony conducted on the evening of January 29 to officially close out Republic Day celebrations. It is performed by the bands of the three wings of the military, the Indian Army, Indian Navy and Indian Air Force. The President of India is the primary guest.

Bangalore is home to many military bases and personnel. Today please pray for those serving in the Indian Army, Navy and Air Force who are stationed in Bangalore. Pray for Christian military personnel to live out their faith in authenticity. Ask God to use them to draw others to himself. Ask God to grow these men and women into mighty warriors for His kingdom who will impact the entire country for His sake.

Republic Day

When India gained its independence in 1947, it did not have a permanent constitution. Its laws were based on the former colonial government. It took more than two years to draft and edit a suitable constitution. On January 26, 1950 the new constitution came into effect. Since that time, January 26 has been celebrated as Republic Day in India to honor those who helped gain its freedom.

Republic Day is celebrated with tremendous enthusiasm all over the country. In Delhi the celebrations begins with the Presidential address to the nation. It is a solemn reminder of the sacrifice of those who died for the country.

Today, join us in thanking God for India. Praise Him for this diverse nation that is home to over one billion people - Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Buddhists and Jains. Ask God to guide India's leaders to make wise choices that will bless the people and help them desire to know the God.

Photo from Moblog.net

 

Anand Nagar

Picture from samraksha.org website

Anand Nagar is a small area near a major highway and overpass. It is a middle class neighborhood, which is primarily Hindu. A large Hindu temple is situated in this area.

There are several churches and as well as a prominent Christian hospital in this neighborhood. There are believers scattered among residents.

Please pray for the people living in Anand Nagar. Ask God to use the churches, believers, and Christian institutions to have a positive impact on the neighborhood. Pray that the lost would be discontented with their own efforts to find salvation. Pray that seekers would readily hear the Gospel from believers.

Harvest Festival

The harvest festival is celebrated throughout in India. In Bangalore it is known as Sankranthi and marks the beginning of the harvest season. Men, women and children wear colorful clothing and visit freinds and neighbors. They exchange sweet dishes made from coconut, molasses and seasame seeds as well as sugarcane. This is a way of wishing that only sweetness will visit those involved in the exchange. Special prayers are also offered on this auspicious day.

Photo from IndiaShots website

Cows and bulls are also decorated for the festival and fed sweets too. In the evening, the cattle are led out in procession to the beat of drums and music. A bonfire is lit and the animals are made to jump over the fire. The Sri Gavi Gangadhareswara Temple of Bangalore is special importance since it was specifically designed to have sunlight pass through the bull idol's horns and light up the Shiva Lingam (another type of idol) for one hour on this day each year.

As Sankranthi is celebrated today, please pray that the harvest fields in Bangalore would be ripe. Ask God to do a mighty work among Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Jains and Christians. Pray that God would call out more laborers to join His work in Bangalore.

Laughter Yoga

Photo from sarahsuequinn.tumblr.com

Maybe you have heard the old saying that laughter is the best medicine. In India, this was taken to heart. More than a decade ago, it was learned that the body does not distinguish between genuine and fake laughter - both produce the same physical benefits. Laughter Yoga was developed around this idea. Now there are more than 6000 social laughter clubs worldwide.

January 9-13th, a Laughter Yoga training will be held in Bangalore to certify instructors for this discipline. Please pray that all those attending would find true joy in a relationship with Jesus. Pray that the physical benefits from uncontrolled laughter would not be a substitute for a living life to the full. Ask God to make them acutely aware of the emptiness in their hearts.

Guru Govind Singh Jayanti



Photo from 4to40 Website

Today Sikhs celebrate the birthday of their tenth and last guru, Govind Singh. Sikhism is a monotheistic religion founded by Guru Nanak Dev and continued to progress with ten successive Sikh gurus. It is the fifth-largest organized religion in the world, with over 25 million followers. One of their religious beliefs includes not cutting their hair - perhaps you have seen Sikh men and women with turbans on their heads.

Gurudwaras (Sikh temples) in Bangalore will hold large processions and gatherings to mark this special occasion. It is estimated that there are about 35,000 Sikhs in Bangalore. Please pray for the Sikhs in Bangalore today. Ask God to help them understand that Jesus is the only one who can teach them how to know and worship Him. Pray that this year would be a year of spiritual awakening for Sikhs in Bangalore and the world.

Kalal People

Photo from TravelPod blog



The Kalal are traditionally sellers of mutton.They work closely with Muslims in this occupation. The Muslims slaughter the animals, and the Kalal clean and sell the meat. With a background in Islam, this Hindu people group holds a unique place in the community. 

Even though this group no longer holds to Muslim traditions, like circumcision, their background gives them a special relationship with Muslims. This relationship is evident in many areas.  The sharing of food is unique in India.  Most communities will not accept food from those they see as beneath them.  Most communities in Karnataka see the Kalal as beneath them and will not accept food from them, but the Muslim communities of Karnataka will accept food from only this Hindu community. 

Because of this community's unique position in society, they may be a special key to the gospel flowing between the Muslim and Hindu communities.  Pray that the Kalal will embrace the truth of the Gospel and that we will see the gospel spread from Hindu background belivers to Muslims as never before!