There are typically nine nations considered part of South Asia: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Iran, Maldives, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Pakistan.
Whilst Hindi is the most well-known language there are several hundred languages across South Asia. India and Pakistan both had women Heads of State before Britain – which may come as a surprise to some, including myself.
I love the cultural diversity and beauty that has crossed the ocean; you only have to walk through the Golden Mile in Leicester, Green Street in Southall, Ealing Road in Wembley, or Birmingham, to smell the aroma of traditional Indian food, Bollywood music playing, people eating, glistening Indian sarees on mannequins in shopfront windows or Indian aunties gathering to get their ‘shak bhaji’ (Indian groceries).
As a young girl, I remember going both to Wembley and Leicester with my family to celebrate Diwali, with fond memories of fireworks. I saw shop owners doing ‘puja’ (worshipping Indian deities) for blessings for the year ahead, or people buying steel utensils for the Hindu New Year as a sign of ‘prosperity’, restaurants packed with families gathering and eating, buying ‘mithai’ (Indian sweets). Whilst it was beautiful, I never had any concept of a relationship with God – it was transactional for me personally.
Since embracing my faith in Jesus, I’ve had to navigate the complex relationship between faith and culture. Initially, it was challenging to separate the two as they were deeply intertwined. I felt as if I was losing a significant part of my identity, which was rooted in Hinduism.
However, after ten years, I’ve learned to appreciate and enjoy the positive aspects of my culture: the food, clothing, languages, etc., while remaining firmly rooted in my faith in Christ. This has brought me a sense of refreshment and liberation. It’s important to acknowledge and question the cultural influences that may have been imposed in the name of religion and strive for a more authentic and personal understanding of spirituality.
It’s interesting to observe how our nation has now been influenced by Hinduism spiritually. I’ve seen elements of Hinduism and new-age mysticism seeping into our culture and even some churches, from practices like Yoga and Reiki to events like the Colour Run, which is similar to the Hindu festival of Holi (see photo).
Yoga has been seen as a physical exercise for both adults and babies almost everywhere you look, and whilst Yoga is not bad, the root of where it comes from does not align with Jesus because Yoga, inherently, is yoking oneself to the Hindu believer’s deity Krishna – or some say the universal Hindu version of god.
The act of yoga is to eventually reach ‘moksha’ – freedom from the cycle of rebirth. Whilst we can learn from the aspects of yoga about exercise, breathing and meditation, the spiritual side can open us up to another realm and lead others and ourselves astray from what the Bible teaches us.
John 4:23 states: ‘But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him’. Our focus is on Jesus and to live equally yoked with Him – through His word and Holy Spirit, and yet not be bound by religion.
What does this mean for us as we pray and reflect. The world is seeking, and we have the answer in Jesus – there is ‘moksha’ in Him. How can we use the cultural influences to lead people to freedom in Christ? Where can we bring healing from strongholds through Jesus, and how can we be aware of where we may have created idols from culture and placed them above Jesus?
We are the hope and light carriers for Jesus. My prayer is that the world will sit up and take note of the freedom there is in Christ.
