Chamba Sashti

Picture from HinduPad website

Chamba Sashti is a six day celebration with the main festival on the last day - November 30, 2011. It is dedicated to Lord Khandoba who is worshipped as a form of Krishna. Devotees believe that on the sixth day of the month of Margashirsha, Khandoba was victorious in a great fight with the demon Mani-Malla.

Father, today we pray for all of those who will participate in this celebration. We ask you to shine light in the darkness and show them that they are celebrating the victory of one demon over another. We pray that in the last days they will not be fighting with the demons against You. Please release them from the bondage of sin. In Jesus' name we ask. Amen

Muharram - Islamic New Year

Muharram, the first month of the Islamic calendar, begins at sunset on November 26th this year. Unlike many New Year's celebrations, Muharram is a month marked by fasting and mourning. Fighting is also forbidden.

Picture from Mumineen website

This month is particularly somber for Shia Muslims who remember the martyrdom of one of their Imams (religious leaders), who was also Mohammad's grandson. Fasting is an important part of their mourning as well as the observing of Ashura on the tenth day of the month.

Many Sunni Muslims observe a fast on the tenth day of the month because they believe it was on this day that Moses lead his people to victory over the Egyptian Pharoah. Many Muslims believe that fasting is consider a good work and earns favor with God.
 
Please pray for Muslims in Bangalore today as they celebrate their new year. As they fast and observe religious rituals this month, ask God to prepare their hearts to hear a new word from Him this year. Ask that the Word of God would enter their ears and hearts and change their lives forever. Pray that Sunni and Shia Muslims would come to Christ and live at peace with each other.

Eunuchs of Bangalore



Photo from TribuneIndia website

As part of Bangalore's "Pride Week," a vigil was held tonight to commemorate the "Transgender Day of Remembrance." The most prominant group of transgender people in Bangalore is eunuchs. This marginalized group has been present in India for hundreds of years. Sometimes they earn money by performing at weddings or other community ceremonies. Many of them have been forced into begging and prostitution.

In Bangalore, new laws have signicantly decreased the number of eunuchs begging at traffic lights throughout the city. As you drive around today, let red traffic lights serve as a reminder to pray for this special group of people. Pray specifically that believers would be able to overcome personal fears and prejudices to show compassion and kindness to begging eunuchs who are often pushy, rude and a little intimidating. Pray that, like eunuchs who historically served kings, the eunuchs of Bangalore will one day serve the King of Kings!

Isaiah 56:3-5 (NLT)

“Don’t let foreigners who commit themselves to the Lord say,
      ‘The Lord will never let me be part of his people.’
   And don’t let the eunuchs say,
      ‘I’m a dried-up tree with no children and no future.’
For this is what the Lord says:
   I will bless those eunuchs
      who keep my Sabbath days holy
   and who choose to do what pleases me
      and commit their lives to me.
I will give them—within the walls of my house—
      a memorial and a name
      far greater than sons and daughters could give.
   For the name I give them is an everlasting one.
      It will never disappear!"

Ragging the New Kids

The British influence in India is still apparent even today. One ritual borrowed from the English is the custom of ragging. It’s a form of interaction between seniors and lower-classmen in schools and colleges. Unlike hazing in the US, which is an initiation into a group, ragging was originally meant to establish a social hierarchy and teach important life values.


Ragging involves insults, physical punishments (physical, emotional or sexual in nature), running errands for seniors, and many other activities. Over time this tradition has become twisted and even dangerous. Past incidents have led to injuries and suicides. In India activities between the genders is generally limited. Recent newspaper articles about ragging in Bangalore reported that female seniors are now taking part in ragging the male underclassmen. The government has passed strict laws to ensure the safety of students.

Photo from IndiaBuzzing website

Please pray for students in Bangalore (those in colleges, universities and medical institutions). Ask that God would help each student know how special he or she is to Him. Pray that upper-classmen would not subject newcomers to cruel or harmful requests. Pray that underclassmen would stick up for each other and confidently oppose inappropriate requests. Pray that during this time away from family, students would be protected and drawn into a relationship with God through Jesus.

Electronic City

Picture from Siliconeer website

Have you ever called about a broken computer or a problem with your cable television only to find yourself talking to someone in India? Call centers are located in many major cities throughout the country, but Bangalore's Electronic City is not only the IT center for India but home to a significant number of call centers used by Western companies.

Please pray for what many consider to be the outsourcing capital of the world. Ask God to help Christians whose calls connect with call centers in Electronic City to show His love to those who answer even when communication is challenging. As young professionals from all over India relocate to Electronic City for jobs, please ask God to bring the Gospel to them. Next time you hear an Indian voice on the line in response to a troubleshooting call, please stop and say a prayer for the person on the other end of the call. You might be the first Christian to whom he or she has ever spoken!

Children’s Day

India's first prime minister, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, was born on November 14th. After his death in 1963, his birthday has been celebrated as Children's Day in India. Apart from being known for his skills as a statesman, Nehru was also immensely fond of children. Children's Day is celebrated all over India.

Photo from AFP/Getty Images

Father, today we lift up the many children in Bangalore to You. We know that some families are very poor and see children as a financial burden too heavy for them. God we ask you to make Psalm 127: 3-5 (NLT) a reality for them. May they see their children as a gift from you. May those who have many children be full of joy and not know shame. God please give each child in Bangalore an opportunity to know You. Save them and their families! In Jesus name, we ask. Amen. 

Lingayat People

The Lingayat are one of the largest people groups in Karnataka. Many work in goverment service as well as other professions. A larger number likely reside in Bangalore.

Photo from bangaloremirror website

They are a Hindu sect who previously rejected caste distinctions.They continue to be anti-Brahmancial and are opposed to the worship of many gods. They worship Shiva as the only deity. The followers take their name (“lingam-wearers”) from the small representations of a lingam, symbolizing Shiva, which both the men and women wear around their necks.

Please pray for that the Lingayat would become disillusioned with their worship of Shiva. Ask God to draw them into relationship with Himself. Ask God to strengthen and encourage any believers among this people group. Pray that they would be able to effectively communicate the Gospel with their friends and family members.

Guru Nanak Jayanti



Picture by Raja / RTMC

Today Sikhs celebrate the birthday of their first guru and founder of thie religion, Guru Nanak Dev. An Jearly morning procession starts from the Gurdwaras (Sikh temples) and then proceeds around the localities singing 'shabads' (hymns). The celebration also includes the three-day Akhand path, during which the holy book, the Guru Granth Sahib is read continuously, from beginning to end without a break.

Free sweets and community lunches, or langar, are offered to everyone irrespective of religious faith. Men, women, and children, participate in this as service to the community by cooking food and distributing it. Sikhs all over the world practice what Guru Nanak Dev preached.

There are only three Sikh Gurdwaras (temples) in Bangalore. The largest can hold about 500 worshippers. Pray for the small Sikh population residing in Bangalore. Ask God to free them from misconceptions about how to know and please Him. Ask God to pour out His Spirit on the Sikhs of Bangalore and cause a mighty turning to Jesus that spreads through the rest of the city!

Metro Workers

In October, the first phase of the Bangalore Metro opened for passengers. For the last few years, workers from all over the country have been living here and working countless hours to make this dream a reality. The first stretch only spans about seven kilometers. With a lot of work still ahead, the number of imigrant workers from other parts of India is not likely to deminish.

Photo from KarnatakaSpider.com

While these workers are away from home, please pray for their health and safety. Pray that believers in the city would reach out to these imigrants and bless them in the name of Jesus. Ask that many would become followers of Jesus and take the Gospel back to their families.

If there are any believers among the workers, pray that they would find local bodies of believers to meet with regularly for encouragement. Ask God to help them make time for their relationships with Him and to have a positive impact on others around them. Pray for His blessings on their families while they are away from them.

Festival of Sacrifice

Photo from wn.com

At the end of the Hajj, Muslims throughout the world celebrate Eid-al-Adha also known as the Festival of Sacrifice. In 2011, Eid-al-Adha will begin on or around November 7th, and will last for three days.

During the Hajj, Muslims commemorate the trials and triumphs of the Prophet Abraham. One of Abraham's main trials was to face the command of God to kill his only son. Upon hearing this command, he prepared to submit to God's will.

On the first morning of this holiday, Muslims remember Abraham's trials, by themselves slaughtering an animal such as a sheep, camel, or goat. The meat from the sacrifice of Eid-al-Adha is mostly given away to others. The act symbolizes a willingness to give up things that are of benefit to one’s self or close to one’s heart in order to follow God's commands. It also symbolizes a willingness to give from one’s own blessings to friends and those who are in need.

Please pray for one million Bangalorean Muslims as they celebrate Eid-al-Adha with their families. Pray that God will help them undestand how their animal sacrifices are actually a picture of His plan to restore their relationships with Him. Ask God to help them understand that Jesus is the last sacrifice, and he can bring them into right relationship with God.

Hajj: November 4-9, 2011

Picture from MuslimMatters website

Every year, Muslims from all over the world take part in one of the largest gatherings on the planet –the pilgrimage to Mecca. This is known as Hajj and is one of the five pillars of Islam. If financially and physically able, every Muslim must make this pilgrimage at least once in his or her lifetime.

During these days, Muslims from varied backgrounds will all stand before God as brothers and sisters asking Him to accept their good deeds. The Hajj is a re-enactment of the experiences of the Prophet Abraham, whose willingness to sacrifice his son in submission to God is a great example for Muslims.

The Hajj is also a reminder of the Grand Assembly on the Day of Judgment when people will stand equal before God waiting for their final destiny, and as the Prophet Muhammad said, "God does not judge according to your bodies and appearances, but he scans your hearts and looks into your deeds."

During the next few days, please pray specifically for Muslims from Bangalore who are participating in Hajj this year. Pray that the sinfulness of their hearts would be clear to them. Ask God to reveal the way of cleansing to them. Pray that Jesus would appear to them in visions and dreams explaining that His blood alone can make them pure.

Bangalore Peanut Festival

As the peanut crops are harvested during the month of November, tourists and locals alike will join in the revelry of Kadalekaye Parishe (Peanut Festival). Most of the merriment centers around the famous Bull Temple. Many will worship at this temple as farmers offer their firstfruits to the gods.

Photo from vignaufamily blog

The Bull temple of Bangalore is dedicated to Nandi Bull, the animal Lord Shiva rides, and is situated in Basavanagudi. According to legend, the Bull Temple was built to appease a bull that used to consume and destroy all the peanuts grown in the area. After the temple was built, the bull stopped damaging the crops. As a celebration of this event, the farmers of Basavanagudi organized Kadalekaye Parishe near the temple. This fair continues till now and is attended by the people of Bangalore in large numbers.

This month please pray for the many worshippers who will gather at the Bull Temple. Ask God to have mercy on those who give worship and food offerings to idols. Pray that they would see the futility of these act. Any time you eat peanuts this month, please take a moment to intercede for the Peanut Festival in Bangalore.

Happy Birthday, Karnataka!

Photo from Dakshin Times website

In South India, there is tremendous linguistic diversity. On November 1, 1956, the Kannada speaking regions were grouped together to form the state of Karnataka. Kannada Rajyotsava is the yearly celebration of this event.

The capital city is full of lights and flags as the birth of the state is commemorated. Join in the festivities by asking God's blessings on this state. Ask God to give them the gift of repentance and sorrow over sin. Pray that corruption would be brought into the light and that leaders would rule in righteousness. Pray that Bangalore would be a city that turns radically to Christ and leads the entire state to be reconciled to God.