Holi (March 8, 2012)



Photo from totallycoolpix.com

If you venture outside in Bangalore on Holi, you might come home looking like a brightly decorated Easter egg. Thousands of Hindus and others will join in the revelry of Holi by throwing colored powder and water on one another. Originally this holiday was a celebration of Spring, but for many it honors Hindu legends.

One such story is about a king who required everyone to worship him. Out of loyalty to Vishnu, the king's son refused to do this. The king tried unsuccessfully to kill the son many times. Finally the king’s evil sister, Holika, who was immune to fire carried the son into the flames and held him there. Due to his devotion to Vishnu, he escaped without injury and Holika was destroyed. During Holi many bonfires are lit to commemorate this event.



Nowadays Holi is associated with a loosening of moral and social codes between castes and genders. A once frivolous holiday has become increasingly dangerous as some add chemicals or harmful things to colored powder.



Today, please stop and pray for Hindus in Bangalore. Pray that no one would be hurt during the festival this year. Pray that like the legendary son who was willing to die before bowing down to any other god, Hindus would turn to Christ and forsake all other gods. Pray that they would have the faith and integrity of men in the Bible who endured a fiery furnace for their faith.