Dalits have been consigned to jobs like street sweeping and leather work. The Hadi people are street sweepers. They have very low status in Hindu society. Hadi people live primarily in India, but they have smaller populations in Bangladesh and Nepal.

Members of the Hadi community trudge to their section of a street. Cars whiz by. Auto-rickshaws putter. Bikes peddle. Their brooms swish left and right stirring up dust as trash collects into a pile. They drag a metal drum next to the garbage and deposits the sweepings into it. All morning long, six days a week, they repeat this routine.

The Had people practice Hinduism, the ancient religion of India. Hinduism is a catch-all phrase for the local religions of South Asia, so it is very diverse. At the popular level, Hindus worship and serve the gods of the Hindu pantheon. They visit Hindu temples and offer prayers, food, flowers, and incense to their gods in hopes of gaining protection and benefits. They do not have a personal or familial relationship with their gods like Christians or Jews. There are other Hindus who are much more philosophical, especially among the Brahmins. Almost all Hindus participate in yearly celebrations like Holi, the festival of colors and the start of spring / Diwali, the festival of lights / Navratri, the celebration of autumn / and Rama Navami, Rama’s birthday.

In many cases, low status people lack educational and occupational opportunities. They usually do not have good medical care. On a spiritual level, the Hadi people need to submit to Jesus Christ so they can experience the abundant life he offers them in John 10:10.

* Scripture Prayers for the Hadi in Bangladesh.

Pray that the Holy Spirit will give courage to thousands of Haddis who seek a better way of life. Pray for the Lord to provide for their physical and spiritual needs as a testimony of his power and love. Pray that the Haddi people will have a spiritual hunger that will open their hearts to the King of kings. Pray for workers who are driven by the love and boldness of the Holy Spirit to go to them. Pray for a movement to Christ among them to begin this decade.