March 8, 2012
The Hindu “Holi Festival of Colors” is one of the most popular holidays in India. It is based on Hindu mythology. It commemorates the fiery death of Holika and celebrates the love of Krishna and his consort Radha. This festival marks the beginning of spring and is like our Valentine’s Day and Mardi Gras combined—except more colorful.
On the first day of spring, people worship Krishna by smearing colored powder and liquids on his idol. Then, they throw colored powder and water on each other. Men throw red, pink, yellow, blue, green, orange, and purple powder on the women, and the women tear the clothes off of the men.
In March this year, this festival became an obstacle to our work in Odissa and Chattisgargh, states where radical Hindus are hostile toward Christianity. WEI students were afraid to attend their graduation ceremonies and to be baptized that day. Hindu men, women, and children roamed the streets covered with bright colors, and anyone without colors stood out. If caught, WEI students could have been beaten, arrested, and put in jail during the festival.
The next day, WEI graduation ceremonies were conducted in several places. Thirteen people were baptized—three in Palsambadi, Chattisgargh and ten in Sariya, Odissa.
New branches of WEI have recently been established in Tora, Bargargh and Bhuktha, Odissa. Prabhu is on schedule to establish WEI branches in every state in India by 2014.
