100 million Hindus gather in search of graceThe Phantom Intercessor - 17 Jan 2013

This January and February is expected to see the biggest religious gathering on earth as 100 million [Hindu] pilgrims flock to Allahabad in Northern India. 

The 55-day festival known as Kumbh Mela takes place every 12 years and occurs at the confluence of the rivers Ganges and Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati - the mudflats surrounding the delta being transformed into a city of tents. 

During the festival, the 100 million Hindu pilgrims will bathe at the converging point of the rivers - believing it will cleanse their sins and help to bring salvation. As Christians we know that salvation is found in the person of Jesus. 

The Kumbh Mela festival is not only the biggest religious gathering on Earth, but the largest gathering of humans for any event. As millions are gathering to try and find cleansing (purification of sin) in the waters of the Ganges It illustrates the longing in the heart of every person to encounter grace.

These months provide a perfect opportunity to pray the Hindu world. As so many pilgrimage to find God, I am reminded of the words of Paul as he addressed the Areopagus in Acts 17:

“Men of Athens, I perceive that in every way you are very religious. For as I passed along and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription, ‘To the unknown god.’ What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you. The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything. And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us, for

“‘In him we live and move and have our being’;

Pray that as millions of Hindu's feel their way towards God, they might encounter the full expression of the love and grace of God in Christ Jesus!

Images are derivatives of the images 'India } Haridwar } Kumbh Mela } Mar 2010' and 'India } Haridwar } Kumbh Mela } Mar 2010' and 'India } Rishikesh } Kumbh Mela } Apr 2010'by travelmeasia and is used by permission in accordance with commons copyright license terms.