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Independence Day

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Yesterday was Janamashtami, the birthday of Sri Krishna, one of the most popular Hindu gods, and certainly the most well known in the western world. At midnight, bells rang out all over our housing colony and the echoing of hymns, to celebrate the incarnation of the Almighty Vishnu, a major Hindu deity, born into the world around five thousand years ago to vanquish darkness and deliver the world from demonic powers. This is what Hindu mythology teaches us. As a believing Christian, I find this description very close to the Christian teaching on Jesus or Yeshua - God the Father's perfect son, born as a man to deliver humanity from slavery and darkness. I personally feel that the likenesses are not mere coincidences - there is something altogether prophetic in those ancient Krishna stories.

Today - 15th August - was Indian's sixty second Independence Day. The 63rd Independence Day. The founding fathers of modern India envisaged a nation where all communities would live together in communal harmony. My prayer for India today would be that the founding father's vision would be realised - and that India may successfully deal with the problem of terrorism and live in harmony with its' neighbours.

Today is also the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary - today Catholic Christians celebrate the day she was assumed into Heaven, body and soul. Indian Catholics usually avail of this opportunity to go to church and pray for the country.

Quite a lot of festivals for one weekend!

Jai Hind
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