We Have Come to Earn Salvation

Devotion to gods plays a huge part in Indian lifestyle.

The mythical marriage of two Hindu gods is the basis for the Sitalsasti festival in Orissa, India. Thousands of devotees, hijras and curious Westerners came to the festival for dancing, rituals and celebrations. The Lord provided Gospel for Asia missionaries with an opportunity to reach out to many people with the love of Jesus, including a group 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. These are men who dress like women and 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.

Many people hear of Jesus for the first time through reading a tract.

Knowing that so many people were nearby and did not know of Jesus, 10 pastors of GFA-related churches gave out tracts and literature to those seeking hope.

"Within three days, our brothers distributed 50,000 tracts, 10,000 booklets and 5,000 New Testaments," our correspondent wrote. One pastor reported that at least 200 people showed interest in the message of hope and salvation. The pastors will be doing follow-up work in the days ahead.

Our correspondent asks for prayer that people from all parts of society will read the literature they received and turn to the Lord for salvation.

The Sitalsasti festival took place in Orissa.

Gospel literature is one of a missionary's most effective tools.