Sujata Mary Das, Daniel Bor and Maharaj Ekka come from different ethnic groups but have one thing in common. The former Hindus are grateful to God for leading them to the Christian faith.

They shared their experiences during the Oct. 3-4 Prabhu Yesu Mahotsav (Lord Jesus mega festival) held in Kolkata, eastern India.

Calcutta archdiocese organized the celebration with the theme, “I am the Light of the World,” with the sub-theme, “Let your light shine.” The event was held in preparation for the Indian Mission Congress scheduled for Oct. 14-18 in Mumbai, western India.

The Indian Mission Congress is the follow-up to the Asian Mission Congress held in Chiang Mai, Thailand two years ago. One of the resolutions made during the event was that similar national, regional and diocesan congresses would be held in future.

During the recent Kolkata program, various participants shared their faith stories. They included Catholics who rediscovered their faith and people of other faiths who came to know Christ. Liturgical and other issues were also discussed as during the Asian Mission Congress.

Das, who was born into a Brahmin (Hindu priestly caste) family, said her first encounter with Christianity was at the age of 9 when she saw a picture of the crucified Christ.

“That was the moment when I realized God’s love for me,” she told about 500 people on the festival’s opening day.

The 38-year-old Catholic convert said she later met some Missionaries of Charity nuns who helped deepen her knowledge of Christ. She said her new faith has helped her through severe difficulties, such as when her husband became bedridden and the family had no money for food. She started praying to Jesus and soon her husband recovered and was able to resume his work.

Bor’s entry to Catholicism was through Hindu scripture. The son of a Hindu priest said he had been hostile toward Christianity from childhood.

He recalled that about 20 years ago, someone gave him books on Christianity including the New Testament. During an illness, he started reading the Bible and came across a verse in St. John’s Gospel where Christ said he has come to give people “life in abundance.”

Bor said these words were similar to a verse from the Hindu holy book, the Bhagavad Gita, which says that God comes to establish righteousness whenever there is moral degradation.

Bor later embraced Catholicism.

Ekka, 51, from Our Lady of Happy Voyage parish in Howrah, was a practicing Hindu until 1992 when he fell critically ill and planned to commit suicide.

“That was the time when I read the Bible and the words ‘ask and you will be given, knock and it will be opened to you, search and you will find’ became real to me,” said the railway employee, as he described how he began to find his faith in Christ.

Father Santanam Irudaya Raj, who coordinated the festival, said seven members from the archdiocese, including four lay people, will attend the Indian Mission Congress.

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