(November 18, 2011) More than 10,000 people from several faiths have attended a charismatic
Bible convention and inter-religious prayer meeting in Varanasi in the north Indian
state of Uttar Pradesh. Hindu sages, a Muslim and a Sikh priest and a Jain teacher
prayed along with Christians. Most of the estimated 10,500 people who attended the
15th annual prayer meet were Hindus from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar states. There were
also over 400 Catholics at the Matridham Ashram in the Hindu holy town, for the November
11-13 prayer meeting. Opening the event, Bishop Raphy Manjaly of Varanasi said “to
attain Godly experience, we must renounce worldly attractions and become the temple
of God.” Father Anil Dev, leader of the event, later led the heads of the different
faiths in the prayer of St. Francis of Assisi, “Lord make me an instrument of peace.”
The Hindu, Muslim, Sikh, Jain and Christian leaders spoke about the need to eradicate
falsehood, greed, selfishness and corruption in India.