Festivals and Holidays

Chinese New Year

Feb 5, 2026 | Festivals and Holidays, Stories

This year, Chinese New Year (CNY) begins on Tuesday, February 17, marking the new year’s arrival (on the traditional Chinese calendar) for nearly one-sixth of the world’s population. The whole celebration lasts 16 days, from New Year’s Eve through the Lantern Festival on the 15th day of the new year. For a portion of those days, nearly 1.4 billion people return to their family homes, making it the largest annual migration of people on earth.

Once home, families usher in the New Year by eating a family meal together, honoring their ancestors with offerings, exchanging gifts of money, and generally welcoming good fortune into their lives for the upcoming year.

The reunion meal, eaten on the Eve of Chinese New Year, is considered to be the most important meal of the year. Before the meal begins, the family honors their ancestors by offering food and lighting incense. Then the family enjoys many symbolic foods, which, when consumed, are believed to ensure a happy, healthy, and prosperous year. On the stroke of midnight, fireworks are set off to scare away evil spirits and bad luck. Many cities have huge public displays, but some families and businesses also have private ones.

Liberal use of the auspicious color red also courts good fortune in the new year. Red lanterns, banners, couplets, and symbols decorate businesses and homes. Red clothing is a must and is thought to protect people and bring good luck and fortune.

Giving money in bright red packets is a way to pass on good luck. Children delightedly receive the envelopes from family members and close friends. Married people pass these packets to their single friends, and businesses often give them to their employees and loyal customers.

During this time, people adhere to many rituals and taboos. There is to be no cleaning of the home, laundry, or even oneself on New Year’s Day. To do so would be to sweep or wash good fortune away, ensuring a difficult year. One should not use sharp objects such as knives, get a haircut, break anything, say unlucky words (“death” or “sickness”) or do anything taboo that could cause good fortune to leave the family.

Please pray that people would realize that wealth alone can blind one to their true state of being. As Revelation 3:17 says: “You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked.”

Numerous traditions and beliefs are associated with each day of the Lunar New Year, and each can serve as a unique prompt to pray. Click the button to access a prayer guide that will name one tradition or belief for each day and a related prayer request.

15 Days of Prayer for the Lunar Year

The Light that Overcame Darkness

Oct 15, 2025 | Festivals and Holidays

On October 20th, millions around the world will celebrate Diwali—the Festival of Light. Streets will shimmer with rows of oil lamps, and homes will glow in the soft radiance of diyas (clay lamps) placed carefully along windows and doorsteps. Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, and Newar Buddhists will clean their homes, share sweets, and exchange gifts, all in the hope of welcoming Lakshmi, the goddess of prosperity.

But Lakshmi doesn’t come easily. Devotees believe she must be drawn in—enticed by bright lights, clean homes, and lavish offerings. Families feast and gamble late into the night, believing that good fortune will follow the year’s first winners. The atmosphere sparkles with joy, color, and hope. And yet, beneath the celebration, hearts still ache for something lasting—for light that does not fade when the lamps burn out.

As followers of Jesus, we understand that longing. We too desire light, blessing, and peace. But how beautiful it is to know that Jesus didn’t need to be enticed to come near to us. He came willingly—entering our darkness, not to bring temporary good fortune, but eternal hope.

We don’t have to hope luck will favor us next year; we can rest in the truth that Christ’s plans are already good—far better than we could imagine. As our Hindu neighbors light their lamps, praying for blessing and prosperity, we remember the words of Luke 1:79:

“The true Light came to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace.”

How can we share this Light with our Hindu friends?

Start with the Story of Creation
Sharing the story of creation opens hearts to the One True God—Creator of all things, perfect and holy. Unlike Hindu gods, who are often portrayed as both good and evil, the Creator God is wholly good and righteous. In the beginning, He made a beautiful, perfect world. But when sin entered through Adam and Eve, it spread so deeply that God’s holiness could no longer allow it to continue. He sent a flood, began anew with Noah, and ultimately came Himself—as Jesus Christ—to deal with sin once and for all. Beginning with creation lays the foundation to explain why Jesus alone is the True Light of the world, the only One who can remove sin and restore our relationship with God.

Follow Jesus’ Strategy
We can also follow Jesus’ approach to outreach found in Luke 10: pray, go, and expect God to work powerfully.

A believer from a Hindu background shared how her family came to faith. When her sister Judy was just sixteen, she was diagnosed with lupus. Desperate for healing, their family turned to temple rituals, witch doctors, and shamans. Nothing worked. Then, a Christian classmate asked if she could pray for Judy in Jesus’ name. The family agreed, willing to try anything.

The classmate shared stories from Scripture about Jesus healing the sick, and then she and her brothers prayed—not only for Judy but for the whole family. Within days, Judy began to improve. A miracle! Their entire household, including extended relatives, soon chose to follow Christ.

Across India today, thousands of former Hindus testify to similar stories—hearts turned to Jesus because someone prayed, and God revealed His power. As one field worker admitted, “We sometimes wonder if God will actually do what we ask—but we pray anyway. And He does. He proves again that He is the only way.”

PRAY WITH US

Pray that Hindus seeking blessing and peace during Diwali will encounter Jesus, the Light of the World.
Pray for believers to share the story of creation and redemption clearly and lovingly.
Pray for miracles of healing and provision that display God’s power and draw many to faith.
Pray that the light of Christ will pierce the spiritual darkness surrounding those celebrating Diwali this year.

OTHER HINDU HOLIDAYS

THE FESTIVAL OF COLORS
Holi, the Indian festival marking the beginning of spring, falls on March 14 this year. Holi is also known as the “Festival of Colors” due to the bright, powdered pigments read more …

DUSSEHRA
Different parts of India celebrate Dussehra in different ways. Scenes from Rama’s life might be enacted, grand processions may take place or effigies of Ravana burned. read more …

RAKHSHA BANDHAN
Rakhsha Bandhan is an annual Hindu festival celebrating the special bond between brothers and sisters or unrelated persons with a similar familial bond. read more …

Yom Kippur

Sep 24, 2025 | Festivals and Holidays, NAME

Yom Kippur (October 2), the Day of Atonement, is the holiest and most solemn day of the Jewish year. It concludes the Ten Days of Awe, which begin with Rosh Hashanah (the Jewish New Year). Together, these days call for honest reflection—looking back in repentance for past sins and looking ahead to a new year cleansed and renewed.

We hear of the Day of Atonement in Leviticus (16:29), underscoring its profound importance. On this day, both the high priest and the people had roles to play. The priest performed sacrifices of atonement while the people refrained from work and humbled themselves before the Lord.

Leviticus 16 outlines the high priest’s unique responsibilities. Clothed in white linen as a sign of purity, he would enter the Holy of Holies with offerings: a bull for his household and a goat for the sins of the people. A second goat—the scapegoat—was symbolically burdened with the sins of Israel and sent into the wilderness, signifying removal of guilt and cleansing of the community.

Even today, observant Jews prepare for Yom Kippur by spending the Ten Days of Awe seeking reconciliation with others. The belief is clear: one must be right with one’s neighbor in order to be right with God. This reflects the commandments to love God wholeheartedly (Deuteronomy 6:5) and to love one’s neighbor as oneself (Leviticus 19:18)—commandments Jesus also affirmed again in Mark 12:30–31.

Traditions include sharing a meal before the fast begins, lighting memorial candles for deceased parents, and observing a 25-hour period of fasting and abstinence. According to Jewish law, this “self-denial” includes refraining from eating, drinking, bathing, wearing leather shoes, and marital relations. These practices create space for prayer, repentance, and deep dependence on God’s mercy.

At its heart, Yom Kippur is a day of humility and hope—an invitation to turn from sin, repair relationships, and seek forgiveness from the God who cleanses His people.

HOW TO PRAY FOR DURING THIS HOLIDAY:

Pray that Jewish people observing Yom Kippur would experience God’s presence in a profound and personal way.

Pray that as they seek forgiveness and renewal, they would encounter the fullness of God’s mercy and grace.

Pray for peace and reconciliation within families and communities during this sacred season.

Pray that Jewish people seeking forgiveness and peace with God would encounter the atoning sacrifice of Jesus, our Messiah.

Pray for softened hearts to recognize God’s everlasting covenant love and His provision of redemption through Jesus.

Pray that Jewish families and communities would experience the presence of God in a personal and transformative way.

LEARN ABOUT OTHER FESTIVALS AND HOLIDAYS

VESAK
The celebration honors Buddha’s birth, enlightenment and death. Many believe that … LEARN MORE

THE NIGHT OF POWER
…the night when Mohammed is thought to have begun receiving the … LEARN MORE

THE FESTIVAL OF COLORS
… bright, powdered pigments that are a trademark of this festival… LEARN MORE

Eid Al Adha

Jun 4, 2025 | Festivals and Holidays

Every year Muslims around the world celebrate Eid al-Adha (June 6), the Feast of Sacrifice. It is considered to be one of the most significant holidays of the year and is celebrated for one to four days, depending on regional cultural norms. Eid al-Adha marks Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice Ishmael, his son by Hagar. God, however, seeing Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his son, provided a ram to sacrifice in Ishmael’s place.

Muslim families remember Abraham’s willingness to serve God by slaughtering a costly animal — a sheep, goat, cow, or camel. The animal is divided into thirds; one-third is kept for one’s own family, one-third for friends and neighbors, and one-third is given to the poor.

Join us in prayer for Muslims during Eid al-Adha:

Ask God to show Muslims that He provided the ultimate sacrifice for us, “the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.” (John 1:29b)
Pray that Muslims will understand Jesus’ sacrifice. “People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood.” (Romans 3:25b)
Pray the Good News of Jesus’ sacrifice will be joyfully shared among family, friends, and neighbors, producing a wave of new followers of Jesus Christ.

LEARN ABOUT OTHER FESTIVALS AND HOLIDAYS

VESAK
The celebration honors Buddha’s birth, enlightenment and death. Many believe that … LEARN MORE

THE NIGHT OF POWER
…the night when Mohammed is thought to have begun receiving the … LEARN MORE

THE FESTIVAL OF COLORS
… bright, powdered pigments that are a trademark of this festival… LEARN MORE

Thaipusam Observed

Feb 5, 2025 | Festivals and Holidays, South East Asia

Thaipusam is an Indian festival originating from southern India, celebrated exclusively by the Tamil people. This year it will be observed on February 8.

Within minutes of Frank and his team mates witnessing the event, it became undeniably clear that those who consider themselves devoted followers of these Hindu gods are wholly committed—body, mind, and soul.

This festival demands extreme acts of devotion. Participants pierce their bodies with needles, hooks, or even small jugs of milk, while others carry enormous burdens—such as intricately decorated chariots or gallon-sized containers of milk—on a grueling two-mile trek uphill. This particular Thaipusum journey started at a Hindu temple at the base of a mountain to another at the summit, where offerings were made to specific idols. All this took place in the midst of the sweltering Southeast Asian heat and the throngs of thousands making the ascent together.

Frank and his teammates arrived in the midst of it all, determined to witness the spectacle firsthand and pray for every soul they encountered. The oppressive heat bore down on them, leaving them drenched in sweat and eventually with sunburns that lingered for days. After two exhausting hours, they finally reached the temple at the top.

Inside, the air pulsed with the sound of lively Indian music, yet the atmosphere was oppressive. People offered their life savings to the idols, while those who had pierced their bodies as acts of sacrifice stood motionless while the objects were carefully removed. Hundreds—perhaps thousands—of gallons of milk were poured over the golden and bronze statues, a sacred offering, given the holiness of cows in Hindu tradition.

Despite the intensity of the rituals, something was strikingly absent—joy. No one smiled. No one looked fulfilled. Instead, a heavy darkness seemed to overshadow everything, an unsettling oppressive presence. Amidst all the devotion, pain, and sacrifice, Frank and his teammates saw no peace or sense of hope. It all seemed tragically empty.

Yet, as Frank observed, he couldn’t ignore one undeniable truth: These worshippers, while far from knowing the one true God, willingly sacrificed everything in their desperate search for divine connection. Their faith—though misplaced—was real to them, shaping their actions and defining their lives.

Many participate in Thaipusam out of deep religious obligation, ancestral ties, or fear of displeasing the gods. Pray that Jesus would break any spiritual chains holding them back from experiencing freedom in Jesus. Pray that those participating in this festival would come to understand that Jesus has already made the ultimate sacrifice for them, and they do not need to endure suffering to earn divine favor.

OTHER HINDU HOLIDAYS

SHARING THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD WITH HINDUS
All over the world Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, and Newar Buddhists will light oil lamps and place them in their homes and businesses to invite the Goddess of Prosperity, read more …

DUSSEHRA
Different parts of India celebrate Dussehra in different ways. Scenes from Rama’s life might be enacted, grand processions may take place or effigies of Ravana burned. read more …

RAKHSHA BANDHAN
Rakhsha Bandhan is an annual Hindu festival celebrating the special bond between brothers and sisters or unrelated persons with a similar familial bond. read more …