June 1, 1861 was the day the first East Indians arrived in St Vincent and Grenadines. They started off as indentured workers who labored on sugarcane estates. Two major natural disasters hit between 1898 and 1902, destroying most of the sugar plantations. The East Indians moved on to other work as farmers, shop owners or traders. Most of the East Indians went to the UK, the US or Canada to earn a better living. Those who remained usually took on British names and became Christian.
They have managed to maintain Hindi as their main language. Some of them have visited India to reinforce their ethnic identity. They have at least one Indian cultural association in St Vincent and Grenadines. The government of this island nation passed an act to recognize Indian Heritage Day and Indian Arrival Day.
Though they are largely assimilated with the greater population, the East Asians have their own cultural associations in St Vincent and Grenadines.
The East Indians in Saint Lucia are mainly Hindu, but there are Christians among them.
Like all other peoples of the world, the East Indians in St Vincent and Grenadines need to put Jesus first in their lives.
Pray for East Indian disciplers to make more disciples in St Vincent and Grenadines.
Pray for a spiritual hunger that will lead them to the cross.
Pray that Christian East Indians will take Christ to their Hindu neighbors.
Scripture Prayers for the East Indian in St Vincent and Grenadines.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indo-Vincentian
https://hindupost.in/world/the-east-indian-community-in-st-vincent-in-the-caribbean/
https://www.searchlight.vc/special-features/2006/03/17/east-indians-in-svg/
Profile Source: Joshua Project |