The Hindu Holiday called Holi is tomorrow, but Holi celebrations in Delhi begin tonight! Holi is also called the Festival of Colors. You can read the Hindu stories that make up the history of Holi here. On the main day of this holiday, people meet with friends and neighbors and put colors on each other, spray each other with water and eat sweets together.

Things you can pray for Delhi during this holiday!

- Pray for the Christians during this holiday! Pray that they won't stay hidden in their houses, but that they will play Holi with their Hindu neighbors and spend time getting to know them!

- Pray that the Christians of Delhi will have many opportunities to share with their neighbors!

Mahashivratri

Today is a holiday called Shivratri. This holiday is focused on the worship of Shiva. People will offer Bael leaves to Shiva and fast all day and worship him that night. Many people will have an all night long vigil andm any people will perform rituals in order to repent of their sins on this day in order to gain benefits.

Please pray for the Hindus of Delhi who are worshiping Shiva today. Pray that they learn about the only one who can take their sins away. Pray that someone will tell them about Jesus today!!

Republic Day 2012

Tomorrow is Republic Day in India! This is a big and very popular holiday in Delhi. Whenever there is a big event or celebration, there are many opportunities. This holiday is one that brings all Indians together - no matter their religion or class - to celebrate becoming a Republic together. Unlike other holidays which come from the many different religions, this holiday brings everyone together. Christians have many opportunities during this holiday to share with their friends and neighbors. Please pray that they will be bold in sharing with everyone they come in contact with during this holiday!

Please Pray!!

A high caste family in Delhi has just decided they want to follow Jesus!!  The whole family learned about Jesus the other night and want to follow Jesus only!  

The night they all decided to follow Jesus, the mother (who has severe health problems), had to be rushed to the hospital.  Her health is struggling!  

Please pray for this family of new believers!!!  Pray that God works a miracle in the life of the mother!  Pray that their faith stays strong!

Lohri

Today is a holiday called Lohri.   It's a Punjabi holiday that is dedicated to the end of the Winter Season.  Tonight, many people will build fires and stand around them together singing songs and celebrating that the weather will begin to get warmer now.  There are a few religious things that can be associated with the holiday, but for most people in Delhi it is just a "folk" holiday.  They will sing folk songs, throw popcorn into the fire and sing and dance until the fire goes out.  Drummers will walk around the neighborhoods and play for the people around the fires.  

Please pray for those celebrating tonight.  Please pray for the Christians that are in those groups of people celebrating Lohri.   Pray that they use their opportunity with their friends and neighbors to tell a Bible story or teach a song about Jesus.  Pray that they are bold in sharing their faith!

Fire in Central Delhi

Last night there was a big fire in a slum area in Central Delhi.  Over 1000 people are left homeless!  Over 100 cycle rickshaws were burned in the fire also, so many people have not just lost their homes, but have lost their jobs as well.  It is the cold time of year here in Delhi, and many people are left without a shelter or anything.  Please pray for these families that have lost so much!  Please pray that they can find jobs, find shelter and find food.  Please pray for that the Christians of Delhi will share the love of Jesus with those people.  Pray that they will share their food, blankets and shelter with them as well!  

Happy 100th Birthday Delhi!

Today is the 100th Anniversary of Delhi being the Capital of India.  Please pray for Delhi and the people of Delhi today!  Pray that the Christians of Delhi will share the Gospel today with those around them!!

Salt of the Earth

¹³ “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. ¹⁴ “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. ¹⁵ Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. ¹⁶ In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven."

Matthew 5:13-16

Ashura

Today is a Muslim holiday called Ashura (sometimes called Moharram in Delhi). It is mostly celebrated by Shia Muslims as a day of mourning for the martyrdom of Husayn ibn Ali (the grandson of the Islamic Prophet Muhammad). Sunni Muslims also remember the day saying that Moses fasted on that day to thank God for taking the Israelites from Egypt.

This day is very significant for Shia Muslims. There are more than 40-55 million Shias in India! This day is very significant to Shias. They consider Husayn (the one that was martyred) the third Imam and the rightful successor of Muhammad. On this day, to connect with Husayn's martyrdom, Shias express mourning by crying and listening to poems about it and sermons on how he and his family were martyred. There are many groups of Shias that will cut themselves and hit themselves with chains on this day so that they can relate to his pain.

Many Shia believe that taking part in Ashura is to be absolved of sin. There is a popular Shia saying says: "A single tear shed for Husayn washes away a hundred sins."

Please pray for those Shias celebrating this holiday. Pray that they learn about Jesus and how he is the only one that can absolve sin and is the only way their sins can be washed away. Pray that someone will tell them that today!

Guru Nanak Jayanti

Guru Nanak's birthday is November 10th (it changes based on the moon). His birthday is also celebrated the 2 days before it. This weekend the Sikhs of Delhi will be celebrating the birthday of this Guru.

Guru Nanak was the first of the 10 Sikh Gurus. He is famous for preaching against idol worship.

Sikhism follows the teachings of these Gurus, but they consider themselves a monotheistic religion. Sikhs believe there is only one God who has infinite qualities and names.

Please pray for the Sikhs of Delhi as they are celebrating this holiday. They already state that they believe that there is only one God - please pray that they will learn to know the ONE TRUE GOD! Pray for opportunities for Christians to share with them about Him!

Northeast Delhi

Northeast Delhi is a very populated part of the city.  There are more than 29,000 people per sq kilometer!  According to an article on NPR that is only slightly more than Manhattan BUT Manhattan is a city full of high-rises where people are stacked up tens of stories high... Northeast Delhi is not...   Most buildings in Northeast Delhi have no more than 4 or 5 floors - so the people are crowded into a much smaller area - "The mosh pit of modern Indian life."   

"Most Americans know what it's like to be part of a sea of people at a rally or a rock concert.  It's exhilarating and exhausting, but sooner or later, it comes to an end.  The noise stops.  The people go home.  Now, try to imagine a place where the crush of people and the noise and motion never stop."

There are millions of people in this district of Delhi.... most of them do not have a relationship with Jesus!  Northeast Delhi is a very lost area!  Pray that house churches will spring up all over this district!!!  Pray that many people will come to a relationship with Jesus!!

Eid al-Adha

Today is Eid. Today Muslim families and friends will get together and sacrifice a goat to remember Abraham's sacrifice. In the morning, men will go to the Mosques for morning prayers. After the prayers, the men will come home and sacrifice the goats (or other animal that they may have). The sacrificed meat will be divided into three parts - one for the poor, one for their neighbors and one for themselves.

Please pray for Delhi's Muslims. Please pray that they will learn about Jesus' sacrifice once and for all (Hebrews 10:1-18). Pray that Christians will share with the Muslims of Delhi about Jesus' sacrifice!


There is a broadcast going on TVs today in Delhi and all over India to share with Muslims about Jesus!  Please pray that many Muslims watch and want to know more about Jesus!


⁴ It is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.

 ⁵ Therefore, when Christ came into the world, he said:

   “Sacrifice and offering you did not desire,
   but a body you prepared for me;
⁶ with burnt offerings and sin offerings
   you were not pleased.
⁷ Then I said, ‘Here I am—it is written about me in the scroll—
   I have come to do your will, my God.’”^[a]

 ⁸ First he said, “Sacrifices and offerings, burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not desire, nor were you pleased with them”—though they were offered in accordance with the law. ⁹Then he said, “Here I am, I have come to do your will.” He sets aside the first to establish the second. ¹⁰ And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

Hebrews 10:4-10