15 Days of Prayer for the Hindu World: Day 11

Diwali, popularly known as the Festival of Lights, is probably the most significant and well-known Hindu celebration. This cultural and religious extravaganza takes place each year in October or November and stands out among the many Hindu festivals for its fireworks and colorful displays.

Stories of the festival’s origins vary across regions. The word Diwali is a shortened form of Deepavali, which means “row of lamps”. It celebrates the triumph of light over darkness, good over evil. It lasts five days and includes many rituals and festivities in various forms across the Hindu world.

Like most other Indian festivals, Diwali is also a time for visiting with relatives and friends. The mixture of social, traditional, and spiritual affairs in Indian festivals is both fascinating and complex; it represents a time of great openness among Hindus, including to the gospel.

Hindus place great importance on the Festival of Lights, so it’s appropriate that we pray for them to receive the greatest blessing of all: Revelation of Jesus, the Light of the world and Savior of all humanity. “Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life’”
(John 8:12).

Ways to Pray

1. Pray that Hindus worldwide would receive the greatest blessing of all, a revelation of Jesus, who is the Light of the world and Savior of all humanity.
2. Pray for disciples of Christ to find ways to join with their Hindu neighbors and share the gospel with boldness and love.
3. Pray that Hindus around the world will be drawn to the story of Jesus, the one who overcame darkness once and for all.

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