Nehru Jayanti - Children's Day!

Today is a holiday called Children's Day! This holiday is internationally celebrated on the 20th of November, but India celebrates it today on the birthday of Jawaharlal Nehru (India's first Prime Minister) who loved children. Children get special treatment on this day and it is a day loved by all children!

Please pray for the children of Delhi! There are millions of children in Delhi that don't have a relationship with Jesus Christ! Please pray for them as they go about their day. Pray that they will learn about Jesus. pray for the Christian children in Delhi, that they won't be afraid to share Jesus with their friends! Pray that they are bold!

Raksha Bandhan

Today is a Hindu holiday called "Raksha Bandhan". It is sometimes called the brother-sister holiday. On this holiday, sisters tie a Rakhi (a bracelet like seen above) on their brothers wrists. The brother then offers a gift to his sister and promises to look after her and protect her. She will also give sweets to her brother.

This holiday, like many holidays, family members get together and spend time with each other. Sometimes sisters will travel a far distance to see their brothers. This is a great opportunity for the Gospel to spread in Delhi and outside of Delhi!! Pray for those sisters and other family members that are Christians. Pray that they are bold in sharing their faith as they travel to see their family. Pray that they aren't afraid to share with unbelieving family members! Pray for the brothers that are believers too, pray that they share with their unbelieving families during this time also!

Makar Sankranti / Pongal / Maghi

Today is the first day of a holiday called Pongal or Makar Sankranti or Maghi.  This is a holiday that is called different names and celebrated differently all over the country (and all over Delhi as well).  

On this holiday, many Hindus will go to the Ganges (or stay in Delhi and go to the Yamuna River) and bathe (to clean themselves and get a new start to the new year).

Many Sikhs will visit the Gurdwara (temple) to honor the Forty Liberated Ones (Chali Mukte) that sacrificed their own lives defending an attack and pursuit of Guru Gobind Singh.

Today, some groups of people in Delhi completely clean out their homes.  They collect all of their unwanted things and give them away.  All of the useless household items will be burnt in a fire tonight.  This day marks the start of a new cycle or a new beginning.  

This day is supposed to be for domestic activities and being together with family.  Please pray for new Christians in Delhi on this day. Pray that they will be together with their families for this holiday and share the love of Jesus as they work to help clean.  Pray that Christians will use today to share with their friends, family and neighbors how they can really have a New Beginning by having a relationship with Jesus!!  Pray that many people today will have a new beginning!

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come:  The old has gone, the new is here!"

2 Corinthians 5:17  

Lorhi

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!