Why Pray for the Peoples of India at Diwali

An invitation to pray for India

Praying for the peoples of India at Diwali means asking that people from many peoples, languages and religions come to know Jesus, the light of the world, just as the country celebrates the festival of lights. It is an invitation to get to know one large unreached people group of the country, a community that still needs support so that the message of Jesus can be known among its members. That is why Route of Nations offers the Peoples of India prayer campaign, which accompanies the season of Diwali.

You do not need to know the names of the peoples or the history of India in order to pray. All you need is the desire to learn who these people are and to talk with God in simple words.

One country, many peoples

To pray for India is to look at people of different languages, histories and religions. The country is home to Hindus, Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists and Jains, as the Pew Research Center records. Knowing this diversity helps us avoid the idea that every Indian holds the same beliefs or lives out faith in the same way.

A language can also be shared by different peoples. In South Asia, a community’s history, religious tradition and social ties help tell one people from another. That is why it is worth getting to know one people at a time: we want to learn who these people are, rather than speaking of the country only in general terms.

Data from Route of Nations show how big the call to prayer is: among the Hindi-speaking peoples alone, 671 of 682 are unreached. This number refers to peoples, not to individuals, and does not represent India as a whole. It shows that sharing a language does not mean having the same opportunities to hear the gospel.

An unreached people group is a community in which local Christians do not yet have enough people and resources to bring the gospel to their entire own people without outside help. In prayer, we ask that this message be understood and shared with care. We also remember Indian Christians and ask God to give them wisdom to teach and to walk with those who want to know Jesus.

Why pray at Diwali

Diwali is known as the festival of lights and expresses, for those who celebrate it, the victory of good over evil and of light over darkness. One of the Hindu traditions linked to the festival recalls Rama’s return to his people after a period of exile. The Peoples of India campaign walks with you through this season, so that your prayer happens alongside the festival.

During the celebrations, families clean and decorate their homes, light oil lamps called diyas, and use candles and electric lights. Many Hindus also worship Lakshmi, the goddess associated with wealth and prosperity. The festival follows the Hindu calendar, with the main day tied to the new moon of the month of Kartik, so its date changes on our calendar.

This is a good time to remember the people who live the festival and to pray that they come to know Jesus. The image of light leads us to the words he spoke about himself, an invitation to trust him and follow in his steps:

“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

John 8:12, NIV

In speaking of the light of life, Jesus invites people to follow what he teaches. Our prayer is that the peoples of India may hear this message, understand who he is and respond in faith. Ask also that churches be patient in listening to questions and explain the gospel clearly, without dismissing the story of those who are coming to know the Christian faith.

Respect for those who celebrate should show in the way we speak and act. If you know an Indian family, you can listen to what this season means to them and learn more about their story. Pray that your conversations be marked by friendship, honesty and a willingness to listen, as you share your faith in Jesus.

Pray with the Peoples of India campaign

Come and pray with us: sign up for the Peoples of India campaign and invite your church to ask that the light of Jesus reach these peoples.