This page is all about India...anything and everything. Features may include religious beliefs, traditions, interesting 1news stories, video, or just pictures. I will be posting a new feature about the country as often as I can. It is my hope that through this you will come to better understand the people of India and know how to better pray for them. I am so excited to learn more and share it with you! More to come.
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Rupee
The Indian Rupee is the original official currency of India. The English translation of "Rupee" is "silver," and the name exists because it was previously a silver coin. This very fact had severe consequences in the 19th century, when the strongest economies in the world were on the gold standard.1 Indian Rupee= 2 American cents
Info taken from www.gocurrency.com/countries/india
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A Short Look Into India
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The National Sport
Hockey is the National Game of India. Unmatched excellence and incomparable virtuosity brought India a string of Olympic gold medals. The brilliant Indians brought a touch of black magic to their play and the ball juggling feats of the Indians were a sheer delight.
The Golden Era of hockey in India was the period from 1928 - 1956 when India won 6 consecutive gold medals in the Olympics. During the Golden Era, India played 24 Olympic matches, won all 24, scored 178 goals (at an average of 7.43 goals per match) and conceded only 7 goals. The two other gold medals for India came in the 1964 Tokyo Olympics and the 1980 Moscow Olympics.
(Info taken from: TourIndia)
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The Flag
The Indian flag is a tri-color horizontal pattern of deep orange (saffron) on the top, white in the middle and dark green at the bottom. The dark blue wheel in the center of the flag indicates the Dharma Chakra which is considered the wheel of law in the Sarnath Lion Capital. This symbol or the 'CHAKRA', is a Buddhist symbol that dates back to 200th century BC.
The wheel has 24 spokes, which intends to show that there is life in movement and death in stagnation. The saffron stands for courage, sacrifice and the spirit of renunciation; the white, for purity and truth; the green for faith and fertility. The design of the National Flag of India was adopted on July 22, 1947. "It's use and display are regulated by a code. The flag symbolizes freedom. The late Prime Minister Pandit Nehru called it a flag not only of freedom for ourselves, but a symbol of freedom for all people."
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The Ganges River
Over the past couple of months I have come to develop a heart for India. It has set my mind on a whole new thinking level calling me to action. This summer can't come fast enough when I think about the time that stands between me and the people who I will influence with the message of Christ.I have spent so much time watching videos about India on YouTube and researching various website information to educate myself. What I find, so often, leaves me in a state of shock and with a sense of helplessness. I must remind myself however that I am not helpless; my journey to India starts now before I ever leave the country.
India is desperate for salvation. One of the most important Hindi beliefs about salvation involves the Ganges River. Men, women, and children of all ages gather along its banks every day, morning till evening.
The river is said to be holy and capable of washing away all sin and impurity. People pray, play, and bathe in the infested waters that is 80 percent sewage. It is believed that just touching the water guarantees the soul will escape the material world of pain and suffering.
Many older people migrate to major religious cities to prepare to die. Their bodies are cremated and thrown into the water, or if cremation is not afforded, their dead bodies are just tossed in. Doing one or the other is said to end the cycle of reincarnation.
"If only the bone of a person should touch the water of the Gangese, that person shall dwell- honored in heaven." said a quote from the Mahabharata, an ancient epic Indian poem.
While I am sure the people are amazing, I find my heart has been gripped by the need of salvation for these "religious" people. They are trusting in this filthy water to save them and yet missing out on the truly satisfying Living Water as spoken about in John 4:13-14.
"India has more people groups with no Christian and no churches than any other part of the world." said Operation World.
India's religion hopes in false ancient Hindu myths and not the truth that Jesus Christ is the only way to heaven. 96 percent of the world's Hindu followers reside in India. I am so excited to interact with a few of those 96 percent and show them what real hope and even what real Christianity is. I want to know their culture and speak into it.
Continue to pray for the people of India, that their hearts and their eyes may be opened! to truth.
