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dimanche 12 août 2007, par Journalchretien.net
ORISSA, INDIA (ANS) — The mythical marriage of two Hindu gods is the basis for the Sitalsasti festival in Orissa , India, that draws thousands of people from Orissa and other states.
Gospel for Asia missionaries took this opportunity to reach out to people who do not know Jesus, including many who came hoping to be born into a better station in their next life. India's hijras are a group in society with specific religious duties. Most of these men, who dress like women, believe they were born this way because of sins in their past life. More than 500 hijras gathered at the Sitalsasti festival for two reasons : to discuss their problems as transgenders
as well as hoping to gain favor from the gods.
"We are born eunuchs because of the sins we committed in our last life," the Times of India website quoted Kamala, a hijra, as saying.
"We have come here to earn some Puniya (salvation) by observing the gods. We believe that in our next life we will be born as normal human beings."
According to the BBC, the number of hijras throughout India is between 500,000 and one million. For many hijras, their only work options are begging or prostitution . Some earn money performing classical dances.
While there are certain religious ceremonies reserved for hijras to perform, in daily life they are not accepted. They feel their choice to act as women has brought them injustices, which is one of the reasons they came together at the Sitalsasti festival.
Amidst the dancing, rituals and celebrations at the Sitalsasti festival, 10 pastors of GFA-related churches distributed tracts and literature among the crowd of devotees, hijras and some westerners who came out of curiosity.
"Within three days, GFA missionaries distributed 50,000 tracts, 10,000 Christian booklets and 5,000 New Testaments," our correspondent wrote.
One pastor reported that at least 200 people seemed genuinely interested in the Gospel message. The pastors will be doing follow-up work in the days ahead.
Our correspondent asks for prayer that people from all parts of society who attended this festival will read the literature they received and turn to Jesus for salvation.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- John Dayal <catholicunion@gmail.com>
to Manoj Padhi <manojpadhi@gmail.com> date
Aug 13, 2007 10:36 PM subject
Re: Sitalsasti & Jesus
dear manoj
you confuse me
many of your leaders write to me that HInduism is not a reglion. It is a way of life. Are you not satisfied with this defniton.
You cannot have it both ways.
Please ask the Sants [NOT SAINTS} and rishis to define Hinduism as a Relgion, Please ask parliametn to List it,a ndthe Supreme Court to re define it ina elgal phrase.
I fully respect the revcereance people like you ahve for other people, including objects of your worship, even if I pray to a god whose Son I beleive Jesus to be. Jesus was born of a mortal women, died as a mortal,a nd rose again as God Himself.
God bl4ss you
My god or your god or our god.
John Dayal
---------------------- Dear Dr. Dayal:
Thanks for your response.
There can't be any second opinion that Sanatana Dharma was existing in Bharat much before Christ was born.
In order to avoid any confusion, I would request you to read this .
Let us assume that you have accepted the definition of Hindutva of Supreme Court. It is a way of life of people around river Sindhu. Then shouldn't the Christians respect the right of an Indian's idol worshipping of Lord Ram, Krishna, Shiva and other gods.
How Jesus can only lead to the path of salvation, who was born 2000+ years ago ? Do you mean that before Jesus was born - people were not guided by any scriptures/ religious books.
The point is that you are well aware of your conversion agenda and target. Your missionary friends are given a target like a 'marketing' person to convert gullible and illiterate tribal or poor people of India.
When this agenda is confronted by educated people like Dara Singh, you shoot a letter to Ms. Sonia Gandhiji crying 'attacked by VHP/RSS/Bajrang Dal'; the truth is that any educated Indian will hate your agenda. You try to get sympathy of West by your mails and media reports 'attack by Hindu fundamentalists'.
I am a born in a Hindu family who read Ramayan, Mahabharata, Haribansh, Bhagvad Gita while I was in 6th standard. I have experienced the blessings of Hindu gods and Goddesses such as "Kalkaji' (Delhi), Vaishno Devi (Jammu), Venkataswara (TTD), Jagannatha (Puri), Sai baba (Shiridi). I have taken dip at Triveni Sangam (Allhabad). I visited the temples of Mathura & Brindavan too. In fact, an average Hindu wish to visit 'Char Dham' and 12 Jyoti Lingas of Lord Shiva. We term these internal feeling as 'spirit of a Hindu'.
When we have a complete religion, which never discriminate any other religion, why we should embrace New testament and 'Jesus-the only saviour' - which is incorrect.
You live and let live. In fact I love my gods and goddesses so much that I can't imagine Jesus as a god. I can accept a stone as a god, but not Jesus as a saviour.
This is the general feeling of every Hindu and we mean it. Any effort to confuse gullible people by preaching about Jesus and his healing powers will be useless.
I have attended one of two so called 'healing gatherings' in Marina Beach, Chennai - organized by Shri D.G.S. Dinakaran and some foreigner lady. These are nothing but useless - no one is healed. I had observed blind remain blind - not a single person is healed. People come with great faith from long distance only to be frustated after the healing event. You people have simple explanation to your failures - 'his faith on Jesus was not up to the mark - better luck next time'.
They (the christians healers) will announce as follows:
"There is a person who is sitting in the 3rd row and was suffering from stomach pain is healed" - Praise the Lord". I challenge you can show me any single instance of a Jesus Miracle, where a blind is able to see. Where a broken leg is fixed or cancer/AIDs have been healed."
Where as I can guide you to see the power of Sai Baba/Kalkaji/Vaishno Devi, where people who lost all hope of becoming father/mother has become father/mother - without any farce - just by silent praying Hindu gods. Please visit TTD to see how people offer a small gift to god for fulfillment of their wish. This is true love between a god & his true follower.
With this mail, I urge you and all christian fellows of India - come - read our religious scriptures and embrace Hinduism - there is nothing wrong in it as this is a way of life too. 2000 years before all of you were Hindus and are 'converted Chirstians' . So your foreign fellows , who finance your mission can't be angry with you. Experience the power of ancient Hindu gods and I bet the mental satisfaction you will get will guide to the real path of salvation. You will realise that 'Jesus is not the only way to Heaven' - there are mush better paths of Salvation available in Hinduism.
Thanks in advance for understanding.
Manoj Padhi __._,_.___
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